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186 Visa English requirements

Amasha

May 8, 2026

3 min read

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Satisfying the English language requirement is crucial to a successful 186 visa application. This blog will cover all your burning questions regarding the English language requirement and will discuss:

Recent update
What is the 186 visa
English level rquired for the 186 visa
Ways to fulfill the English requirement
Accepted English tests for the 186 visa
Easier English test
Restrictions on online English tests
How long your English tests are valid for the 186 visa
English language exemptions for the 186 visa
English language requirements for your partner
Consequences if you do not meet the English language requirement for the 186 visa
Can You Combine English Test Scores for the 186 Visa?
FAQs

Recent update

On 7 August 2025, the English language tests approved for Australian visa purposes changed.

The information in this blog is updated to reflect the changes

What is the 186 visa

The 186 visa is a PR visa for migrants who wish to permanently settle in Australia through employer sponsorship.With this visa you and your family can live, work, and study in Australia permanently, with a pathway to citizenship. There are three streams for this visa,

Direct Entry Stream
Temporary Residence Transition Stream
Labour Agreement stream

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FAQs

Find answers to commonly asked questions

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Keith James

Keith James

Keith is a graduate of Monash Law School. He moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2014 and has a passion for working with migrants, who aspire to call Australia their dream home. Being a migrant himself, he has a tremendous capacity to empathise with the problems his clients face and focuses on providing them with outcomes that leads to Permanent Residency in the shortest possible time.

Keith practices in all aspects of Migration law, with a particular focus on Skilled Migration and Family visas. He stays abreast on the latest updates in state nomination criteria and has a wide range of options available to assist his clients navigate their migration aspirations.

LLB (Monash University, Australia)
Member (Law Institute of Victoria)
Member (Migration Institute of Australia)

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kavindu amugoda

I’m really grateful to Keith and the whole MJ Legal team for all the help and support throughout the process. Keith was always very helpful, professional and easy to talk to. Whenever I had questions or was stressed about something, he explained everything clearly and always made me feel supported. The whole team was really good with communication and handled everything very professionally. I’m really happy with the outcome and I truly appreciate all the work they did for me. I would definitely recommend MJ Legal to anyone who needs immigration help. Thank you so much Keith and the team for everything. I really appreciate it.

in the last week

Neth Udakara

I’m so happy to have received my visa! A big thank you to MJ Legal for their support throughout the process. Special thanks to Amasha for being so helpful, and supportive every step of the way. She and team made the whole process much easier and stress-free. Really appreciate all your help and highly recommend MJ Legal!

in the last week

Janith Dissanayake

As an applicant, one of the most important things you need from your lawyer or migration agent is communication. You want to know what’s happening, what comes next, and that someone is actually there when you need them. Tamasha, Amasha, Keith, and the whole team at MJ were exceptional at this. From the very beginning to the end of the process, we never felt left in the dark. We always knew where things stood, what was needed from us, and what the next step was. They were honest, transparent, easy to reach, and always willing to explain things properly whenever we had a question. Our case wasn’t particularly complicated, but the way they handled everything still gave us a lot of confidence and peace of mind. We never felt like just another file, and you could tell the team genuinely cared about getting things right. If our case had been more complex, or if I ever had to go through this process again, there genuinely isn’t another firm I would want handling it. We’re incredibly grateful to the whole team at MJ, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone going through the migration process.

2 weeks ago

Kasun Tharaka

MJ Legal has been behind me throughout my entire journey since 2019, when I first arrived in Australia as an international student. Their professional guidance and support have helped me move forward through every chapter of my Australian journey — especially during the challenging COVID-19 period, my Temporary Graduate Visa (485), my partner’s dependent visa, Employer Sponsored Visa, and finally, my Permanent Residency. A special thank you to Keith and the entire team for their continuous support, professionalism, and guidance throughout the years. I truly appreciate everything you have done for me and my family. I highly recommend Keith and the MJ Legal team to anyone looking for reliable and professional migration assistance. Keep it up, team! 👏🇦🇺

2 weeks ago

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Sarah Johnson

Excellent service from MJ Legal. They handled my visa application professionally and efficiently. Highly recommend their expertise in immigration matters.

2 weeks ago

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