Australian immigration increases English requirements for visa applicants
April 14 2009 by Ranjan Chakraborty
The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has increased the minimum requirement for English language competence for subclass 457 Australian work visa applicants. A spokesman explained, “this change applies to all subclass 457 applications lodged from today based on trades level and chef qualifications.”
The limit has been increased from International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score 4.5, to IELTS 5. The increase brings the language skills needed, for 457 trades and for chefs wishing to move to Australia to work, in line with the skills needed by permanent sponsored work visas for trades people.
The change is one of several brought that apply to subclass 457 applicants, “the requirement to ensure at least a ‘modest’ level of English – as defined under IELTS standards – is the first to be implemented after the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship announced a number of changes to the programme," said the DIAC spokesman.
The DIAC claims the increased minimum English standards, which are applicable to anyone hoping to work in Australia from 14 April 2009, are intended to prevent the exploitation of workers from non-English speaking countries, who have only very basic levels of English themselves.
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