Which English test does each country actually accept?
The list of approved tests is set by each government, not by the test providers — and the three big destinations disagree with each other in ways that cost people money every week. This page compiles the official lists for the UK, Canada and Australia straight from the source.
Last checked: 14 August 2026. Every entry below is taken directly from the government pages linked at the bottom. Rules change — always confirm on the official page before you book.
The three mistakes that cost the most
1. Booking IELTS One Skill Retake for Canada. IRCC does not accept it for Express Entry. Australia does. Same test, opposite answer.
2. Booking PTE Academic for Canada. Express Entry needs PTE Core. PTE Academic is the one Australia accepts.
3. Booking TOEFL without the Australia pathway. Home Affairs requires you to select “Taking TOEFL for Australia” at registration, or the result may not be accepted at all.
Canada — Express Entry
IRCC accepts these tests, and is specific about which option of each:
| English test | What IRCC requires |
|---|---|
| CELPIP | Must be the CELPIP-General test. |
| IELTS | Must be the General Training option. IRCC does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake for Express Entry. |
| PTE Core | Must be the PTE Core option (not PTE Academic). |
French tests accepted:
| French test | Full name |
|---|---|
| TEF Canada | Test d’évaluation de français |
| TCF Canada | Test de connaissance du français |
Validity: results must be less than 2 years old both when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence.
Australia — visa applications
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Home Affairs accepts scores from these tests when sat at a secure test centre:
| Test | Notes |
|---|---|
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | |
| CELPIP General | |
| IELTS Academic | including One Skill Retake (OSR) |
| IELTS General Training | including One Skill Retake (OSR) |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | including Single Section Retake (SSR) |
| OET | |
| PTE Academic | |
| TOEFL iBT | You must select “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when registering, or the result may not be accepted. |
Tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 (Cambridge C1 Advanced, IELTS incl. OSR, PTE Academic, OET, TOEFL iBT) may still be used until 6 August 2028 inclusive, depending on the visa subclass.
United Kingdom — approved SELT providers
UK visa routes require a Secure English Language Test (SELT). A standard IELTS or TOEFL sitting does not qualify — it must be the SELT version, from an approved provider. The approved list differs depending on where you sit the test.
Taking the test in the UK:
| Provider | Accepted tests |
|---|---|
| Trinity College London | Secure English Language Tests for UKVI (ISE or GESE) |
| IELTS SELT Consortium | IELTS for UKVI, or IELTS Life Skills |
| LANGUAGECERT | International ESOL SELT, Academic SELT, or General SELT |
| Pearson | PTE Academic UKVI, or PTE Home |
Taking the test outside the UK:
| Provider | Accepted tests |
|---|---|
| PSI Services (UK) Ltd | Skills for English UKVI |
| IELTS SELT Consortium | IELTS for UKVI, or IELTS Life Skills |
| LANGUAGECERT | International ESOL SELT, Academic SELT, or General SELT |
| Pearson | PTE Academic UKVI, or PTE Home |
Different visa routes require different skills (all four, versus speaking and listening only) and different CEFR levels — check the route you are applying for.
A note on fees
We list a fee only where the test owner publishes one. IDP publishes IELTS fees for India: ₹19,000 for Academic and General Training, ₹19,250 for IELTS for UKVI, ₹18,000 for Life Skills and ₹12,650 for One Skill Retake. Pearson does not publish a fixed India price for PTE — it is quoted in the booking flow, so we do not state one here rather than repeat a figure we cannot verify. Aggregator sites currently disagree with each other on this, which is exactly why it is worth checking at the source.
Frequently asked questions
Does Canada accept the IELTS One Skill Retake?
No. IRCC states plainly that IELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted for Express Entry. Australia does accept it. If you are applying to Canada you must sit all four skills again.
Is IELTS Academic or General Training needed for Canada?
For Express Entry, IRCC requires IELTS General Training. Academic is not accepted for that route.
Is PTE Academic accepted for Canada?
Not for Express Entry — IRCC requires PTE Core. PTE Academic is accepted by Australia, and PTE Academic UKVI is an approved UK SELT.
Why might a valid TOEFL score be rejected by Australia?
Home Affairs requires you to select “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when you register. Results not registered under that pathway may not be accepted, even if the score itself is fine.
How long are results valid?
For Canadian Express Entry, results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you submit your PR application. Australia has separate timeframes by visa subclass; tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 may be usable until 6 August 2028 inclusive, depending on the visa.
Can I use any IELTS test for a UK visa?
No. UK visa routes need a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider — for IELTS that means IELTS for UKVI or IELTS Life Skills, not the standard IELTS test.
• UK: GOV.UK — Prove your English language abilities with a SELT
• Canada: Government of Canada — Express Entry: Language test results
• Australia: Department of Home Affairs — English language visa requirements
• IELTS fees (India): IDP India — IELTS test fee
Written by Sanket Anil Joshi, founder of CourPro. If you spot an official change we have missed, tell us and we will correct it and re-date the page.
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