For sponsored workers · English
English for trades: two visas, two levels.
The 482 and the 186 ask for different English scores. Many workers clear the first and are caught by the second years later. Here are the current levels, the exemptions, and how to plan the test around the visa, not the other way round.
The scores
What each visa requires.
| Test | 482 Core Skills stream | 186 (competent English) |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 5.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking | 6.0 in each component |
| PTE Academic | Listening 33, Reading 36, Writing 29, Speaking 24 | Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51, Speaking 54 |
| TOEFL iBT | Listening 8, Reading 8, Writing 9, Speaking 14 | Listening 16, Reading 16, Writing 19, Speaking 19 |
| OET | Listening 220, Reading 240, Writing 200, Speaking 270 | Listening 290, Reading 310, Writing 290, Speaking 330 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | Only for tests sat before 13 September 2025: 154 overall and in each component | Listening 163, Reading 163, Writing 170, Speaking 179 |
| CELPIP | 5 in each component | 7 in each component |
Scores from LIN 25/082 (482, in force from 13 September 2025) and LIN 25/016 (186, in force from 7 August 2025). A test sat before those dates can still be used if it meets the transitional scores in the same instrument. For the 186, the test must be taken within three years before you apply; for the 482, a result must be no more than three years old when you provide it.
Exemptions
- Passport. Holders of a Canadian, New Zealand, Irish, UK or US passport are exempt for both visas.
- Study in English (482). At least five years of full-time study in English at secondary or higher level.
- Licence (482). Where you hold the licence, registration or membership your occupation requires, and getting it required English at the same level or higher.
- 186. Passport exemption only. There is no study-based exemption for the 186.
Why this trips up tradespeople
The 482 level is modest. The 186 level, competent English, is a full band higher in IELTS terms and the equivalent in every other test. A worker who passes the 482 test with the minimum and then spends three years on site speaking English every day often assumes the 186 will take care of itself. It won’t: the 186 asks for a test result, and the writing component is where site English and test English diverge most.
Our rule. Sit a practice test before the 482 is lodged, so the 186 gap is known from the start. Build test preparation into the second year of the 482, not the last six months.
Google reviews
What clients say about the Solve Migration team.
Lucas K.Pia was knowledgeable, approachable, and always went the extra mile to ensure I understood every step. She made a complex process feel straightforward and manageable. Any questions I had were answered promptly and clearly, and her attention to detail gave me complete confidence that my application was in safe hands.
Monik D.Shabna provided clear guidance and the best advice when it came to organizing the necessary documents for my application. Thanks to their expertise, my 186 DE visa was approved on time.
Reviews are of Solve Migration, the firm behind Trade Visa, and are shown as written by clients on Google. Rating as at 18 October 2026. Every matter is different and no outcome is guaranteed. Read all reviews on Google.
FAQ
Common questions
General information only. Figures change: we confirm the current rule for your matter in your SolvePlan.
Which test should I sit?
For the 482, the approved tests are IELTS (Academic or General Training), PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic and the Michigan English Test. Cambridge C1 Advanced is accepted for the 186, but for the 482 only if you sat it before 13 September 2025. Tradespeople often find PTE’s computer-based format quicker to book and faster to score. Pick the test you can prepare for, not the one you have heard is easiest.
How old can my test result be?
For the 186, the test must be taken within three years before you apply. For the 482, a result must be no more than three years old when you provide it. A result that expires while the nomination is pending causes problems, so check the dates against the likely lodgement date.
I was educated in English. Am I exempt?
For the 482, at least five years of full-time study at secondary or higher level, where the teaching was in English, is an exemption. For the 186, there is no study-based exemption: only the passport exemption applies.
Which passports are exempt?
Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States, for both the 482 and the 186.
My English is fine on site but I’ve never sat a test. What do I do?
Sit a practice test early, before anything is lodged. The 482 level is reachable for most working tradespeople with a few weeks of targeted preparation; the 186 level needs more. Knowing your starting point changes the plan.
Not sure where your English sits?
Bring any result you have to the SolvePlan. We check it against the current scores for both visas and build the test timing into your plan.