TOEFL 托福考试为其中一款最普遍用作申请澳洲签证时证明英语能力的考试。托福考试可分两种：笔试（PBT）及 网络考试（iBT）。

托福笔试曾是申请澳洲学生签证（签证类别500）其中一款受政府认可的英语能力认证。但托福笔试于2017年10月14日作出修改后，将不再测试考生的英语说话能力。基于上述变动，签证类别500将有最新规定：签证申请人将不可再以托福笔试的成绩证明其英语能力。此项新规定已于2018年6月5日生效。

纵然如此，部分学生签证类别500的申请人将不受影响。若申请人在2017年10月14日前完成托福笔试，而成绩达至签证申请的最低要求，将不受新规定所影响。同时，若申请人在2017年10月14日后、但在新规定生效日期（即2018年6月5日）以前，完成托福纸笔考试并达到申请签证最低要求的成绩，亦不受新规定所影响。

(冯煜华见习律师撰写 – 本信息不能用作为法律意见。如有须要，请与本行联系)

澳洲學生簽證類別500新英語要求－取消 TOEFL- PBT 托福筆試

TOEFL 托福考試為其中一款最普遍用作申請澳洲簽證時證明英語能力的考試。托福考試可分兩種：筆試（PBT）及 網絡考試（iBT）。

托福筆試曾是申請澳洲學生簽證（簽證類別500）其中一款受政府認可的英語能力認證。但托福筆試於2017年10月14日作出修改後，將不再測試考生的英語說話能力。基於上述變動，簽證類別500將有最新規定：簽證申請人將不可再以托福筆試的成績證明其英語能力。此項新規定已於2018年6月5日生效。

縱然如此，部分學生簽證類別500的申請人將不受影響。若申請人在2017年10月14日前完成托福筆試，而成績達至簽證申請的最低要求，將不受新規定所影響。同時，若申請人在2017年10月14日後、但在新規定生效日期（即2018年6月5日）以前，完成托福紙筆考試並達到申請簽證最低要求的成績，亦不受新規定所影響。

(馮煜華見習律師撰寫 – 本信息不能用作為法律意見。如有須要，請與本行聯絡)

New English Language Requirements for Student Visas

The Test of English as a Foreign Language Test (ie. TOEFL) is one of the most common English tests for visa applicants to fulfil the English language requirements when applying for visas in Australia. There are two types of TOEFL tests:  paper-based test (TOEFL-PBT) and internet-based test (TOEFL-IBT).

When applying for student visa (sub-class 500), the TOEFL-PBT was previously one of the recognized proof of an applicant’s English language proficiency. However, the TOEFL-PBT had been revised on 14 October 2017 and would no longer test candidates’ English-speaking skills.[1] In light of this change, the Migration (IMMI 18/015: English Language Tests and Evidence Exemptions for Subclass 500 (Student) Visa) Instrument 2018 stipulates that the TOEFL-PBT would be removed from the list of recognized English language test for student visa (sub-class 500) applications.[2] This change had been effective from 5 June 2018.

Despite the removal of TOEFL-PBT, student visa (sub-class 500) applicants would not be affected by the abovementioned changes, if the applicant had completed the TOEFL-PBT before 14 October 2017 and achieved the specified test score, or for those applicants who completed the TOEFL-PBT on or after 14 October 2017 but prior to the commencement day of 5 June 2018 and had achieved the requisite scores.

For latest updates of changes in immigration law and assistance in visa applications, please do not hesitate to contact our team for more information.

(Posted by Dora Fung, Articled Clerk – This message cannot be used as legal advice. If needed, please feel free to contact us).

[1] Federal Register of Legislation, Explanatory Statement: Migration (IMMI 18/015: English Language Tests and Evidence Exemptions for Subclass 500 (Student) Visa) Instrument 2018; Richard Johnson, Immigration Citizenship and Multiculturalism Policy Division and Delegate of the Minister for Home Affairs, Migration (IMMI 18/015: English Language Tests and Evidence Exemptions for Subclass 500 (Student) Visa) Instrument 2018, Sch. 1 and Sch. 2.

[2] Ibid.