TOEFL iBT testing unavailable in Iran: options for visa applicants

Official release date: 3 September 2026 · General

Home Affairs advises that TOEFL iBT testing is currently unavailable in Iran. Applicants there who need an approved English test may need to sit one in another country.

Picture this. You are in Iran, preparing an Australian visa application, and you have been studying hard for your TOEFL iBT so you can show your English ability. Then you discover that you cannot sit the test locally. That is the situation the Department of Home Affairs has now flagged.

What has changed

Here's the thing. ETS, the organisation that runs the TOEFL iBT, has told the Department that testing is currently unavailable in Iran. As a result, applicants in Iran who need an approved English language test for their visa may need to sit an approved test in another country.

This is an operational notice. It does not change the English language requirements for any visa. What it changes is where and how some applicants can meet those requirements.

Who is affected

• Applicants located in Iran who planned to use the TOEFL iBT to meet an English requirement
• Their family members and sponsors, who may need to adjust timelines
• Students, skilled migrants and others whose visa requires an approved English test result

How it compares

Before this notice, applicants in Iran could plan to sit the TOEFL iBT locally. Now they will need to think about sitting the test elsewhere, or considering whether another approved English test is suitable for their visa. Each visa has its own rules about which tests and scores are accepted, so it is important to check before booking anything.

What you should do

Start by confirming exactly what English evidence your visa needs, including the accepted tests, the minimum scores and how recent the result must be. Then build extra time into your plans for travel, test booking and results.

Timing really matters here. For many visas, the English test result must meet the requirement by a specific point, often the time of application or invitation. If that evidence is missing or does not meet the requirement, the application can be refused, and in some programs you may lose an invitation or a place in the process. A refusal can also affect future applications. Planning early helps you avoid these outcomes.

It is also worth keeping copies of all test bookings and results, and making sure your personal details match your passport exactly.

This is general information only and not personal advice. If you would like to talk through how this applies to you, our registered migration agents and lawyers at Auzworld are here to help.

Official source: Department of Home Affairs