IELTS for Parents Going Abroad 2026: Following Children Overseas

IELTS for parents going abroad is a growing need among Indian families in 2026. As more young Indians settle in Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, their parents naturally want to follow — to be close to their children and grandchildren, to access better healthcare, or to enjoy retirement in a new country. But the question arises: do parents need an English test? The answer varies by country and visa type, but for many routes, some form of English proof is needed. This guide explains IELTS for parents going abroad across all major destinations, the specific English requirements for each parent visa, preparation tips for 50+ test-takers, and how EEC's patient, flexible coaching at ₹7,500 helps Indian parents join their families worldwide.

The Growing Trend — Indian Parents Following Children Settled Abroad

India is witnessing a significant increase in parent migration. Over 500,000 Indian citizens settled abroad through permanent residency in 2023–2025, and their parents represent the next wave of migration. The motivations are deeply personal: being present for grandchildren's upbringing, healthcare access in countries with universal systems (Canada, UK, Australia), support for their children during early career years abroad, and the desire for a different quality of life in retirement. The challenge? Most parent visa routes require some level of English proficiency, and many Indian parents aged 50–65+ haven't taken an English test in decades — if ever.

The good news is that the English requirements for parent and family visas are generally much lower than for skilled migration. Canada's Super Visa has no language requirement. Australia's Parent Visa asks for "Functional English" (IELTS 4.5) or allows you to skip the test by paying VAC2. The UK's Adult Dependent Relative visa is complex but may not require IELTS depending on the route. New Zealand's Parent Category requires IELTS 4.0 minimum. These are achievable targets even for parents who haven't used English formally in years.

Visa Options for Parents — By Country

English Requirements by Visa — Detailed Breakdown

Canada: No English Test for Parent Visas

Canada does not require any English test for either the Super Visa or the Parent & Grandparent Sponsorship Program. This makes Canada the most accessible destination for Indian parents. However, basic English is strongly recommended for: navigating airports and immigration at arrival, accessing healthcare (doctor visits, pharmacies), daily life (grocery shopping, banking, public transport), and social integration. EEC's Spoken English programme is ideal for parents who want to build conversational confidence before moving to Canada.

Australia: IELTS 4.5 or Pay VAC2

Australia requires "Functional English" for the Parent Visa 143/173, which is IELTS 4.5 overall (any variant — Academic, GT, or UKVI). This is a very basic threshold. At IELTS 4.5, you can get many answers wrong and still pass. If you cannot achieve 4.5, you can pay the VAC2 fee (AUD $5,890 / ₹3.27 Lakhs) to skip the test and access free English classes in Australia through the AMEP programme. For most parents, spending ₹7,500 on EEC coaching + ₹16,250 on the IELTS test is far cheaper than paying VAC2.

New Zealand: IELTS 4.0

New Zealand's Parent Category requires IELTS 4.0 in each band — the lowest meaningful IELTS threshold. At 4.0, you need to demonstrate only basic English communication ability. Most parents who can hold a simple English conversation will score 4.0+ with minimal preparation. The Parent Category has an income requirement for the sponsoring child (NZD $106,080 in 2026 for a single sponsor) and is currently processing applications from the 2025/2026 intake.

Tips for Parents 50+ — Making IELTS Achievable

Spoken English Foundation First

If you haven't spoken or written English regularly in decades, start with EEC's Spoken English programme (₹5,000, 4–8 weeks) before attempting IELTS. This builds basic confidence in conversation, refreshes grammar fundamentals, introduces you to listening exercises, and prepares you for the IELTS format. Many parents who start with Spoken English and then move to IELTS achieve their target scores faster because they are not fighting language anxiety during IELTS preparation.

CD-IELTS vs Paper for Parents

For parents who are comfortable with computers and can type at a reasonable speed (even 20–25 WPM), CD-IELTS offers advantages: automatic word count in Writing, on-screen timer, and faster results (3–5 days). For parents who are not comfortable with computers, paper-based IELTS is perfectly fine — you write with a pen, mark answers on a paper sheet, and there is no technology barrier. Take EEC's free diagnostic in both formats to decide which is more comfortable.

Life Skills for UK Family Visa

If the UK is your destination and you are joining family on a visitor or dependent route, IELTS Life Skills (A1 or B1) may be required depending on your specific visa type. Life Skills tests only Speaking and Listening — no Reading, no Writing. This makes it significantly less intimidating for parents who may struggle with reading academic passages or writing essays. The test is 16–22 minutes of conversational English. See our Spouse & Dependent Visa guide for details.

EEC Parent-Friendly Coaching — ₹7,500

EEC's parent-friendly coaching is designed with patience and empathy. Our trainers understand that parents who haven't studied in 20–30 years need a different approach than a 22-year-old college student. The coaching includes: slower pace with more repetition, simplified explanations of test format and scoring, focus on the specific sections relevant to your visa (e.g., only Speaking and Listening for Life Skills), extra time for confidence building before mock tests, and emotional support throughout the process.

Available in three modes at ₹7,500: Classroom (26 Gujarat branches — come with your spouse for a "couples batch" if both need IELTS), Online Live (video sessions from home), and Pre-recorded (learn at your own pace, rewind as many times as you need). For parents outside Gujarat, Online Live and Pre-recorded modes are available India-wide.

“At 56, I thought IELTS was impossible. My son in Sydney said I needed 4.5 for the Parent Visa 143. EEC's trainer was so patient — she explained every section clearly and never made me feel embarrassed about my level. I scored IELTS 5.0 overall in 6 weeks. My son cried when I told him. Now I'm in Adelaide with my grandchildren. Age is truly just a number.”

— Kamala B., Age 56, Parent Visa 143, now in Adelaide with family

Families Preparing Together — Spouse + Parent IELTS Combos

Many Indian families prepare for IELTS together: both parents taking the test for an Australia Parent Visa, or a husband taking IELTS GT for Canada PR while the wife prepares for Life Skills A1 for a UK spouse visa. EEC encourages family preparation because: (1) it creates a supportive home study environment, (2) family members can practise Speaking together, (3) shared motivation keeps everyone accountable, and (4) EEC offers the same ₹7,500 per person regardless of family size.

For families where multiple members need different tests, EEC's counsellors create customised plans: the main applicant might prepare for IELTS GT (immigration), the spouse for LanguageCert A1 (UK spouse visa), and the parent for IELTS 4.5 (Australia Functional English). All three can attend EEC simultaneously with different coaching tracks. EEC's study abroad team coordinates visa applications for the entire family — ensuring everyone's English test, documents, and applications are aligned.

Frequently Asked Questions: IELTS for Parents Going Abroad

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