If you are planning to study in Australia and have taken the Duolingo English Test, here is the direct answer: the Duolingo English Test is not accepted for the Australian student visa (Subclass 500). The Department of Home Affairs only accepts English tests sat at a secure test centre, and Duolingo is delivered online. The confusing part is that many Australian universities happily accept Duolingo for admission. This guide explains the difference, lists the tests that the visa does accept, and shows you exactly what to do if Duolingo is the only test you have sat.
Last updated: June 2026
Is the Duolingo English Test Accepted for the Australian Student Visa?
No. As of 2026, the Department of Home Affairs does not accept the Duolingo English Test as evidence of English proficiency for the Subclass 500 student visa. The department’s English language visa requirements page (last updated 2 February 2026) is explicit: the test “must take place in a secure testing centre,” and tests delivered completely online are not accepted. Duolingo is an at-home, remote-proctored test, so it does not qualify for the visa. That answer holds no matter which university has accepted your Duolingo score.
University Admission vs Student Visa: Two Different Requirements
This is where most students get caught out. Getting into an Australian university and getting your student visa approved are two separate processes, each with its own English rules. A Duolingo score can clear the first and still be useless for the second.
What Duolingo IS accepted for
More than 100 Australian universities accept the Duolingo English Test for admission, including the University of Melbourne, UNSW, UTS, Deakin, and Griffith University. Your university uses your English score to make an offer and to issue your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), the document you need before you can lodge a visa. So if a university has accepted your Duolingo result, your offer is genuine, and your CoE is valid.
What the visa requires
The visa is assessed by the Department of Home Affairs, not your university. The department runs its own English check and only recognises scores from its approved test list. Your CoE proves you have a place to study. It does not prove you meet the visa’s English requirement. For that, the department wants a secure test-centre result, which Duolingo is not. Both boxes have to be ticked, and they are ticked with different evidence.
Why Duolingo Isn’t Accepted for the Visa
The reason is the testing format, not the test’s quality. On 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs updated the list of English tests approved for Australian visa purposes. Under the current rules, an accepted test has to be sat in person at a secure testing centre. The department states plainly that it does not accept evidence from tests delivered completely online, described as “remote-proctored” or “at-home.”
It even names the online versions it rejects, including IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, OET@Home, and LANGUAGECERT Academic Online. The Duolingo English Test is taken entirely at home on your own computer, so it sits in the same excluded category. Important: this is a blanket rule about where and how the test is sat. A high Duolingo score will not change the outcome because the issue is the delivery method, not the result.
Caught between a Duolingo offer and the visa English rule? Book a consultation with RACC Indonesia and we will tell you exactly which test to sit.
English Tests Accepted for the Subclass 500 Student Visa
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs accepts the following, all sat at a secure test centre. The scores below are the minimums most providers apply for direct entry into a Subclass 500 course. Your exact requirement depends on your course and institution, so confirm it before you book.
| Accepted Test | Typical minimum for direct entry | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) | One Skill Retake available |
| PTE Academic | 50 overall | Widely accepted, fast results |
| TOEFL iBT | 60–64 overall | Must select “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when booking |
| OET | Grade B/C+ | Mainly for health-related study |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 169 | Also written as CAE |
Two points worth remembering. First, your test result must generally be no more than two years old at the time you lodge the visa. Second, lower scores can still work if you package an ELICOS (English language) course before your main program: roughly IELTS 5.5 with 10 weeks of ELICOS, or IELTS 5.0 with 20 weeks. Check the exact pathway on the Student Visa Australia (Subclass 500) guide and with your provider.
What to Do If You’ve Only Taken Duolingo
Do not panic, and do not cancel your university application. A Duolingo score still has value. Here is the practical path:
- Use your Duolingo score to secure your offer. If your university accepts Duolingo, let it issue your offer and CoE. That part of your application is sound.
- Book an accepted test for the visa. Register for IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, or TOEFL iBT at a secure test centre. PTE Academic often has the fastest turnaround if you are short on time.
- Match the score to your course. Confirm the exact English score your course and provider require, including any ELICOS packaging option, so you sit the test once and pass at the right level.
- Lodge the visa with the test-centre result. Submit your Subclass 500 application using the accepted score, with your CoE attached as proof of enrolment.
If you are unsure which test or score fits your situation, our free study-in-Australia self-assessment is a quick way to map out your next step.
How RACC Indonesia Can Help You
English test rules change, and the gap between what a university accepts and what the visa accepts is exactly where applications get delayed or refused. We have guided many Indonesian students through this, and the fix is almost always simple once you know which test to sit and at what score.
RACC Indonesia’s consultants are MARA-registered migration agents, so the advice you get is current and accountable. If you have a Duolingo score and a university offer but no clear plan for the visa, book a consultation with RACC Indonesia, and we will sort the English and visa side together. This article is general information only; for advice on your specific case, speak with a registered migration agent.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted for an Australian student visa? No. The Department of Home Affairs does not accept the Duolingo English Test for the Subclass 500 student visa, because it is delivered online. You must provide a score from a test taken at a secure test centre, such as IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, or TOEFL iBT.
Can I use Duolingo to get into an Australian university? Yes. More than 100 Australian universities accept the Duolingo English Test for admission and for issuing your Confirmation of Enrolment. University admission and the visa are separate steps, so a Duolingo score can secure your offer even though it cannot support the visa application itself.
Why does Australia not accept Duolingo for a student visa? The Department of Home Affairs does not accept any fully online, remote-proctored or at-home English test for visa purposes. Since 7 August 2025, the test must be sat at a secure test centre. The Duolingo English Test is taken online, so it falls outside the approved list.
Which English tests are accepted for the Subclass 500 student visa? For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs accepts IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic, and the Michigan English Test, all sat at a secure test centre.
What English score do I need for an Australian student visa? Most students need IELTS 6.0 overall, or 5.5 with at least 10 weeks of ELICOS, or 5.0 with 20 weeks. PTE Academic around 50 is equivalent. The exact score depends on your course and provider, so confirm with your institution before booking.
