Partners of Australians might have to do an English test from 2021

It was announced in the 2020-2021 Federal Budget that partner visa applicants will have to pass an English test before gaining permanent residency.

This requirement has not been welcomed by all in the immigration industry but it will apply from mid-2021 if it’s approved by parliament.

Applicants will require a ‘functional level of English’

Partner visa applications happens in two stages, namely a temporary residence application and a permanent residency application. The permanent residency application usually follows after having lived in Australia for at least two years.

The new English language requirement proposed in the Federal Budget won’t apply to temporary residency applications; it will only apply to permanent residency applications.

It has also been stipulated that the Australian sponsor must pass to English too if he or she is a permanent resident instead of a citizen.

What this means is that the applicant and the sponsor must meet a functional level of English or at least have made reasonable efforts to learn English.

‘Reasonable efforts to learn English’ constitutes an applicant taking about 500 hours of English classes which would be available under a free government programme, as explained by Immigration Minster Alan Tudge.

Why do the Australian government want to introduce this requirement?

During a press conference on 7 October, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that the rationale behind the English language requirements is promote social and economic inclusion and to protect migrants from domestic abuse and work exploitation.

“I am aware that a lack of English language skills particularly amongst partners has put many of those partners at risk in Australia, at risk of domestic violence, at risk of being abused in their workplace and having their rights overtaken,” said the prime minister.

He added, “The English language is absolutely critical to help people when they come to Australia to take the greatest opportunity of what life in Australia can mean.”

When asked about the test itself, PM Morrison said that “It’s much more basic level of English competency and we think this is important to enable people to engage to access government services, for example, to engage with those who are seeking to assist to access and get the best possible medical treatment to understand what teachers are saying at school at parent-teacher conferences, to understand their rights.”

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