TOEFL iBT for Australian visas: "Taking TOEFL for Australia" and the scores you need

TOEFL iBT is back on the list of tests Australia accepts for visas, but with conditions that are easy to miss. Get the registration wrong, and your result may not count, however well you score.

This guide reflects the Department of Home Affairs website as of October 2026. Always confirm on the Home Affairs English language page before you book.

Rule 1: register as "Taking TOEFL for Australia"

Home Affairs says that to make sure your TOEFL iBT result is valid for Australian visa purposes, you must select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when registering. Results not registered under this pathway are not eligible for Australian visa purposes.

This is the most important thing in this article. If you're taking TOEFL for any Australian visa, check the option before you pay.

Rule 2: sit it at a test centre

Home Affairs doesn't accept tests delivered entirely online. TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not accepted for Australian visas. Book a test centre session.

Minimum section scores by English level

For TOEFL iBT tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Home Affairs lists these minimums. They apply to each section, not the total.

For Functional English, Home Affairs lists a total score of at least 26.

These figures are section scores on the 0–30 scale used in the Home Affairs tables, not the new 1–6 scale. Since 21 January 2026 there have been two versions of the test. TOEFL iBT Australia keeps the format used before that date (about two hours) and reports on the familiar 0–120 scale, with 0–30 for each section. The updated TOEFL iBT is shorter, adaptive and scored 1–6. As of October 2026 only TOEFL iBT Australia is accepted for Australian visas; the updated test may be accepted by some universities for admission, but not by Home Affairs. Read the eligibility page for your visa before you book. If you are preparing for a visa, practise with a TOEFL iBT Australia practice test rather than the 2026 format.

Student and graduate visas

Student visa (subclass 500) and Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) applicants need to meet the English requirement for that visa, and education providers usually set a higher bar for admission. The test-centre and "Taking TOEFL for Australia" rules apply to these visas too. Check the visa page and your provider's English requirements before booking.

Results from before 7 August 2025

If you took TOEFL iBT on or before 6 August 2025, your result may still be usable, depending on the visa, until 6 August 2028 at the latest. The scores required for those older tests are different. See the Home Affairs page for the details.

Universities and registration bodies

Universities set their own TOEFL requirements and are moving them to the 1–6 scale. Professional registration bodies, for example in health, may accept only a short list of tests. Check each organisation, not just the visa rules. See TOEFL scores for university admission.

A checklist before you book

1. Confirm the visa accepts TOEFL iBT and note the English level it needs.
2. Confirm your university or registration body accepts TOEFL iBT.
3. Book a test centre session, not Home Edition.
4. Select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" during registration.
5. Write down your target for each section, not just the total.