- The 190's English minimum
- DHA levels in CELPIP terms
- How to read the table
- Where state nomination fits
- Secure test centre only
- Which CELPIP, and how long it lasts
- 189 vs 190 vs 491
- Practise for 7 in every component
The 190's English minimum: Competent English
The subclass 190 is a points-tested, state or territory nominated permanent residence visa. DHA requires applicants to hold at least Competent English when they are invited to apply, and the criterion appears on the visa page as Competent English documents. In CELPIP General terms, Competent English means a level of 7 or higher in listening, 7 or higher in reading, 7 or higher in writing and 7 or higher in speaking.
The same floor applies to the other points-tested skilled visas: the subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) and the subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional). What makes the 190 different is the pathway, not the English level: you need a state or territory nomination before you can be invited, and nomination is assessed separately from the points test.
Two details catch people out early:
- Per component, never averaged. Each of the four abilities is scored and assessed separately. Excellent writing does not offset a reading level of 6 — every component has to reach the required level on its own.
- Only one test type counts. For Australia you sit CELPIP General; the shorter CELPIP General LS covers listening and speaking only and is used for Canadian citizenship.
DHA English levels in CELPIP terms
DHA assesses CELPIP against four English levels. Below is the full table in CELPIP terms, per component, with the points each level is worth:
| DHA level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Points (skilled visas) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior English | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | +20 |
| Proficient English | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8 | +10 |
| Competent English | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 (eligibility floor) |
| Vocational English | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Note the shape of the Proficient and Superior rows: they are not a flat band. Superior English is 10 listening, 10 reading, 12 writing and 10 speaking; Proficient is 9, 8, 10 and 8. The level differs by component, so one strong skill cannot carry a weak one. Separately, DHA's Functional English level for CELPIP is an overall band score of at least 5, which is what a family member needs rather than what you need.
How to read the table against your own result
CELPIP reports a level from 1 to 12 per component, and the scale runs one-to-one with the Canadian Language Benchmarks — CELPIP 7 equals CLB 7, and so on. DHA reads the CELPIP level itself, so nothing needs converting: your reported level in each skill is what is assessed.
Work through your result line by line:
| Your situation | What it means for the 190 |
|---|---|
| 7, 7, 7, 7 or higher in every component | Competent English is met — you clear the eligibility floor. Points added: 0. |
| One component below 7 | Competent English is not met, even if the other three are 9 or above. There is no averaging. |
| Meets the Proficient row (9 / 8 / 10 / 8) | Competent English is met and you can claim 10 points for Proficient English. |
| Meets the Superior row (10 / 10 / 12 / 10) | Competent English is met and you can claim 20 points for Superior English. |
Because Competent English adds no points, a 7/7/7/7 result satisfies the visa but moves your total not at all. If you are close to the pass mark, an attempt aimed at the Proficient row is often the fastest lever available, and unlike work experience it does not depend on a state's nomination quota. The points test minimum is 65 points at invitation, under the same points test that applies to the 189.
For the wider picture of what each level is worth, see the DHA requirements by visa page; to convert your own component levels for Canada's systems, use the CELPIP to CLB & CRS calculator.
Where state or territory nomination fits
This is the point where Australian and Canadian rules get mixed up, so it is worth stating plainly. In Canada's Express Entry system, a provincial nomination carries a large fixed block of CRS points — a single award that reshapes the ranking. Australia has no equivalent. State or territory nomination for the 190 is an eligibility requirement, not a points award, and the number of nomination points you may have read about elsewhere belongs to Canada's system. Do not carry it across when you estimate your Australian score.
What nomination does in the 190 pathway:
- It sits on top of the federal minimum. DHA's Competent English rule is the federal floor, and a state or territory sets its own criteria on top: it may ask for a higher English level, a particular occupation, or local study or work. Criteria differ between states and change without much notice, so read the current rules for the state you are targeting.
- It is a separate step from the points test. You lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect, a state or territory nominates you, and only then can you be invited to apply for the 190. Your points total and your nomination are assessed as different things.
- English is the part you control. Nomination criteria and invitation rounds are outside your hands; your CELPIP level is not, and raising Competent to Proficient improves your total without needing anything from a state.
For the state-nominated and independent routes compared, including what each involves, see our Australian PR process and cost guide.
Secure test centre only — CELPIP Online is not accepted
DHA does not accept online or at-home English tests. CELPIP Online is excluded, along with the other at-home variants such as IELTS Online and the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. The test must be taken at a secure test centre.
Practically, that means booking a physical venue and travelling to it, and preparing for the centre sitting with its fixed timing and no separate speaking appointment. A home-format mock is practice only. The published CELPIP test format — 6 Listening parts, 4 Reading parts, 2 Writing tasks and 8 Speaking tasks in one sitting — is what you will meet there.
Which CELPIP test, and how long a result lasts
| Question | Answer for the 190 |
|---|---|
| Which test type? | CELPIP General — the four-component test (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). |
| Is CELPIP General LS accepted? | No. It covers listening and speaking only and is used for Canadian citizenship applications. |
| Can I take it online? | No. DHA accepts only tests sat at a secure test centre. |
| How long is the result valid? | 2 years from the test date, under CELPIP's own validity rule. |
| When was CELPIP accepted by DHA? | CELPIP General was added to DHA's accepted test list on 7 August 2025. |
| What about older results? | Results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 may still be valid, up to 3 years depending on the subclass, and are usable until 6 August 2028. |
| Results turnaround | Online in 8 business days, or 3 business days with express rating. |
Plan the timing deliberately: the usual mistake is testing so early that the result expires before invitation, or so late that you miss a round. Check the two-year window against when you expect an invitation, not when you intend to lodge.
189 vs 190 vs 491: where the 190 sits
All three use the same points test and the same English floor. The differences are in how you get invited and what you get:
| 189 Skilled Independent | 190 Skilled Nominated | 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomination required | No — independent | Yes — state or territory nominated | Yes — state, territory or eligible family member in a regional area |
| Result | Permanent residence | Permanent residence | Provisional, 5 years, with a PR pathway after 3 years |
| Where you live | Anywhere in Australia | The nominating state or territory's criteria apply | Regional Australia |
| English floor | Competent English — CELPIP 7 in each component | Competent English — CELPIP 7 in each component | Competent English — CELPIP 7 in each component |
| Proficient / Superior | +10 / +20 points | +10 / +20 points | +10 / +20 points |
| Invitation | SkillSelect EOI; must be invited | Nomination first, then invitation | Nomination or sponsorship first, then invitation |
English preparation is identical for all three, so it is never wasted while you decide: a Proficient result is worth 10 points whether you apply for the 189, the 190 or the 491. Read the detail on the 189 page and the 491 page.
Practise for 7 in every component
The target for the 190 is not an overall band: it is a floor in each of the four skills, with real points above it. Practise your weakest component rather than the one you already enjoy. Every PrepSettle set follows the same structure and per-part question counts as the real CELPIP General format, with no login and no cost:
- CELPIP Listening practice — 6 parts, 38 questions
- CELPIP Reading practice — 4 parts, 38 questions
- CELPIP Writing practice — email and survey tasks
- CELPIP Speaking practice — 8 timed tasks
If you are still choosing a subclass, start with the DHA requirements by visa overview or the practice test home.