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IELTS untuk WHV Australia: which score do Indonesian applicants need, and when should you book?

Visa guide · 2026-10-18 · 10 min read

For the Indonesian Letter of Support (SDUWHV), Imigrasi asks for an IELTS score with an average of at least 4,5 (four and a half) across all components, or another accepted test such as CELPIP General (overall at least 5) or TOEFL iBT (overall at least 26). Australia then asks for at least functional English for the Work and Holiday visa itself, from a test taken within 12 months before you apply. So the real question is not only which score to aim for, but when to sit the test so one result covers both steps.

This guide explains what the IELTS untuk WHV Australia rule actually says, how the other tests compare, and how to time your booking around the new ballot.

Two English checks, two different offices

Many Indonesian applicants think there is one English requirement for the WHV. In practice there are two checks, run by two governments, and they are written differently.

The first check is Indonesian. Before you can lodge a first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) application, you need a letter of support from the Directorate General of Immigration. That letter is the SDUWHV (Surat Dukungan untuk Work and Holiday Visa), and you apply for it through the official portal at sduwhv.imigrasi.go.id. An English certificate is one of its criteria.

The second check is Australian. The Department of Home Affairs says subclass 462 applicants need at least functional English, and that an English test must have been taken within 12 months before applying for the visa.

Keep both in mind. A score that works for the letter of support is your first target. The test date then has to stay inside the Australian time window when you finally lodge the visa.

The SDUWHV English scores, in plain words

Imigrasi's published requirement for the letter of support sets these minimums:

• IELTS: an average of 4,5 across all components.
• CELPIP General: an overall score of at least 5.
• TOEFL iBT: an overall score of at least 26.

Imigrasi presents CELPIP and TOEFL iBT as examples of other accepted tests, so the list may not be complete. If you are thinking about a different test, such as PTE Academic, confirm on the SDUWHV portal that it is accepted before you pay for it.

Average, not every band

The detail that matters most is the word "average". The IELTS rule Imigrasi publishes is an average across listening, reading, writing and speaking. It is not written as a minimum in each band. In other words, one weaker skill does not automatically stop you if your overall result reaches the line.

That said, a result sitting exactly on the minimum leaves you no room. If your practice scores are borderline, plan for a little more than the minimum rather than hoping the average lands where you need it.

How the SDUWHV minimum compares with sponsored work later

Some people use the Work and Holiday visa as a first look at working life in Australia and later aim for an employer-sponsored visa. It helps to know early that sponsored work asks for more. For the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams, the minimums for tests taken on or after 13 September 2025 are set for each skill, not as an average.

Two more differences are worth knowing. A 482 test can be up to 3 years old when you apply, while the Work and Holiday rule is 12 months. And the 482 sets a floor for every skill, so a weak writing score can hold you back even if the others are strong. You can read more in our simple guide to the Skills in Demand (482) visa.

Which tests Australia accepts for visas

For Australian visa purposes, Home Affairs accepts these tests when taken on or after 7 August 2025: C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, LANGUAGECERT Academic, Michigan English Test (MET), OET, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT taken at a secure test centre. You can see the current list on the Home Affairs English language page.

Two rules there catch people out:

• Home Affairs does not accept English tests delivered entirely online at home, such as IELTS Online, OET@Home and TOEFL iBT Home Edition.
• TOEFL iBT takers must select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when registering, or the result is not valid for Australian visa purposes.

Imigrasi's published SDUWHV requirement does not go into this level of detail. The simplest way to stay safe is to choose a test and format that Home Affairs accepts, sat at a test centre, so the same certificate can serve the letter of support and the visa.

When to book: the ballot changes the timing

Timing used to be simpler. Now Home Affairs says first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) applications from Indonesian passport holders will be managed through a ballot, with registrations expected to open later in 2026. The exact dates were not published when this guide was written.

That creates a real planning problem. If you sit your test too early, the result may be more than 12 months old by the time you are able to lodge the visa. If you sit it too late, you may not have a certificate ready for the letter of support. Our earlier guide on getting your Letter of Support ready for the 462 ballot explains how the letter and the ballot fit together.

A practical approach is to work backwards from the moment you would lodge the visa:

1. Check the Home Affairs Work and Holiday (subclass 462) page and its latest news for the ballot dates before you book anything.
2. Read the current SDUWHV requirements on the Imigrasi requirements page and confirm which tests and score formats the portal accepts.
3. Take a timed practice test to see where you stand. If your average is well below 4,5, give yourself several weeks of focused practice before booking the real test.
4. Book a centre-based test (not an at-home version). If it is TOEFL iBT, select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" at registration.
5. Choose a test date that leaves time to receive your result and apply for the SDUWHV, but that keeps the result less than 12 months old at the point you expect to lodge the visa.
6. Collect the rest of the SDUWHV documents at the same time, including the bank letter for the funds requirement, so the English certificate is not waiting on anything else.
7. Keep the original certificate and a clear digital copy together with your passport details, ready for the visa application.

Where English fits among the other SDUWHV criteria

The English certificate is one item on a longer list. Imigrasi's SDUWHV criteria are: aged 18 to 30, at least a Diploma III or 2 years of bachelor's study, never having done a Work and Holiday program, proof of identity, citizenship and residence, an English certificate, active funds, good health and conduct, and no immigration prevention order.

Two of those items take the most preparation time alongside the test. The first is the bank letter showing funds of at least 5,000 AUD, which we cover in how much Indonesian applicants should keep in the bank for the WHV. The second is a passport valid for at least 12 months.

Australia has its own education rule too. For Indonesian passport holders, Home Affairs requires a tertiary qualification (degree, graduate certificate or diploma) or 2 years of completed undergraduate university study, and Certificates I to IV do not count.

Not sure whether your D3, D4 or unfinished S1 fits? See how the WHV education rule applies to Indonesian study paths before you book your test.

Once you have the letter and a ballot place, the base application charge for a first subclass 462 visa is AUD840.00. The English test fee is a separate cost on top of that.

Common mistakes

• Reading the IELTS rule as "4,5 in every band". Imigrasi writes it as an average across all components. Applicants either panic over one weak skill or, the other way round, assume one strong skill will carry everything when the average still falls short.
• Booking an at-home test. Home Affairs does not accept tests delivered entirely online at home. A cheaper or more convenient online test is no saving if the visa cannot use it.
• Forgetting the TOEFL registration option. Without "Taking TOEFL for Australia" selected, a TOEFL iBT result is not valid for Australian visa purposes.
• Letting the result go stale. The Work and Holiday visa needs a test taken within 12 months before applying. With the ballot dates still to be published, a test sat too early can expire before you lodge.
• Treating the SDUWHV as a reserved place. Home Affairs says a letter of support from a previous program year lets you register for the ballot but does not reserve a place, give priority or exempt you from it.
• Paying someone who promises you a visa. The Australian Embassy in Jakarta warns that anyone who claims they can secure a visa for you or asks for a large upfront payment to "fast-track" an application is running a scam. Our guide on checking whether a WhatsApp agent is on the official register shows how to check.

Practising for the test

The skills that pull an average down are usually the ones people practise least: writing and speaking. Timed practice under real conditions shows you quickly which part needs work.

If you want structured practice, PractiseNow offers IELTS and PTE practice online. Use it to prepare, then sit the real test at an accepted test centre.

Frequently asked questions

What IELTS score do I need for the SDUWHV?

Imigrasi's minimum for the letter of support is an IELTS average of 4,5 across all components. The rule is written as an average, not as a minimum in each band, so check your overall result rather than each skill on its own.

Can I use TOEFL iBT or CELPIP instead of IELTS?

Yes. Imigrasi names TOEFL iBT (overall at least 26) and CELPIP General (overall at least 5) as accepted alternatives. For TOEFL iBT, select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when you register so the result is also valid for Australian visa purposes.

Is PTE Academic accepted for the Indonesian letter of support?

Home Affairs accepts PTE Academic for Australian visas, but Imigrasi's published SDUWHV requirement does not name it among its examples. Confirm on the SDUWHV portal that it is accepted before you book and pay for it.

How old can my English test be?

For the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa, Home Affairs says the test must have been taken within 12 months before you apply. Plan your test date around the expected ballot timing so the result is still valid when you lodge.

Does an IELTS Online result count?

Home Affairs does not accept English tests delivered entirely online at home, including IELTS Online, OET@Home and TOEFL iBT Home Edition. Sit your test at a test centre so one certificate can be used for both the letter and the visa.

Key takeaways

• The SDUWHV needs an IELTS average of 4,5, CELPIP General overall 5 or TOEFL iBT overall 26.
• The IELTS rule is an average across all components, not a minimum in each band.
• The Work and Holiday visa needs functional English from a test taken within 12 months before applying.
• Choose a centre-based test that Home Affairs accepts; at-home tests do not count.
• Time your test around the ballot dates, and check the official pages before you book.

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