IELTS for work and migration
In brief, by country
| Who asks | For what | Test | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship CanadaCanada | Express Entry | IELTS General Training | IELTS General Training only; result less than two years old; One Skill Retake is not accepted |
| Department of Home AffairsAustralia | “Competent English” | Academic or General Training | at least 6 in each of the four parts |
| Immigration New ZealandNew Zealand | skilled residence visas, principal applicant | Academic or General Training | overall 6.5result no more than two years old |
| UK Visas and ImmigrationUnited Kingdom | Skilled Worker visa | IELTS for UKVI | English to at least level B2, shown with a SELT (IELTS for UKVI) unless you are exempt |
| UK Visas and ImmigrationUnited Kingdom | visas that require level B2 | IELTS for UKVI | IELTS for UKVI: at least 5.5 in each of the four parts |
Examples from the institutions’ own pages, read on 13 October 2026. Requirements change: the institution’s page, linked from its name, is the one that counts.
Canada
For Express Entry the Canadian authorities accept only IELTS General Training. The result must be less than two years old when you submit your application, and One Skill Retake is not accepted. Results are converted to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels:
| CLB level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| 9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| 10 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
The Federal Skilled Worker programme requires at least CLB 7 in all four parts.
Australia
The Australian Department of Home Affairs distinguishes five levels of English; the page for each visa says which one is required. Both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are accepted, but not tests taken entirely remotely, such as IELTS Online.
| Level | IELTS |
|---|---|
| Functional English | an average of at least 4.5 across the four parts |
| Vocational English | at least 5 in each part |
| Competent English | at least 6 in each part |
| Proficient English | at least 7 in each part |
| Superior English | at least 8 in each part |
New Zealand
For skilled residence visas, the principal applicant needs an overall band score of at least 6.5, in General Training or Academic. The result must be no more than two years old, and tests taken at home are not accepted.
United Kingdom
Since 1 January 2021, Croatian and Slovenian citizens have needed a visa to work in the United Kingdom, unless they already have status there under the EU Settlement Scheme. The Skilled Worker visa requires English at level B2, which you prove with a Secure English Language Test (SELT) unless you are exempt. IELTS for UKVI is such a test, and it is taken in Zagreb and Ljubljana.
Ireland
European Union citizens enter Ireland without a visa and work without a work permit, so they do not need an English test for immigration. An employer or a professional regulator may ask for one: Professional registration.
Before you book a test
- Open the official page for the visa or programme and check which test is accepted and which score is required in each part.
- Check how old the result may be when you submit your application.
- If you are planning to use One Skill Retake, check whether that organisation accepts it.
Questions about the test for migration
Do I need IELTS for a job in Germany or Austria?
IELTS is a test of English. EU citizens do not need a visa to work in European Union countries, and whether an employer asks for a certificate of English is up to the employer.
Academic or General Training?
For Canada’s Express Entry, General Training only. Australia and New Zealand accept both. If, alongside your move, you are also planning to study or apply for professional registration, check what the university or regulator requires: the regulators on our professional registration page, apart from the Health and Care Professions Council, require Academic.
How far in advance should I take the test?
The result arrives in one to five days, and the immigration authorities of Canada and New Zealand require it to be no more than two years old when you submit your application. Take the test when you are ready, and submit your application while the result is valid.