Migration guide · Language & tests
Free English classes for migrants: the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)
By XINGO teamUpdated 4 min read
English opens doors in Australia: to work, study, health care and your local community. If you're new and still learning, you may be able to study English for free through the Adult Migrant English Program.
This guide explains who can join, the deadlines, the ways to learn and other free options, based on the AMEP pages on the Home Affairs website, checked in October 2026.
At a glance
- The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) offers free English tuition for eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants, run by the Department of Home Affairs.
- It's generally for people 18 and over who speak little or no English and hold a permanent or eligible temporary visa.
- If your visa started after 1 October 2020, you need to register within 6 months, start within 12 months and finish within 5 years (extensions are sometimes possible).
- Study in class, by distance, online or with a volunteer tutor. Free child care may be available while you're in face-to-face classes.
What the AMEP is
The AMEP is a free English language program for eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants. Home Affairs says it helps around 70,000 people each year. Classes are run by AMEP providers around the country, and the aim is to build the English you need for everyday life, work and further study.
Home Affairs says free child care is available for children under school age while you attend face-to-face classes. AMEP study can also count towards mutual obligation requirements if you're with Workforce Australia.
Who can join
At the time of writing, you're generally eligible if you're 18 or older, speak little or no English, and you:
- Hold a permanent visa, or
- Hold an eligible temporary visa (Home Affairs publishes the list, which includes some partner, skilled regional and humanitarian visas), or
- Are an Australian citizen who previously held an eligible visa.
Some young people aged 15 to 17 may also be able to join. Check the About the program page or contact a provider to confirm.
Time limits: register early
The rules depend on when your visa started (commenced):
| Your visa started | Time limits |
|---|---|
| On or before 1 October 2020 | No time limits. You can study until you reach vocational English. |
| After 1 October 2020 | Register within 6 months, start within 12 months, finish within 5 years. Providers can sometimes extend these. |
Don't wait
If you arrived recently, check your deadline and register early, even if you can only study part-time at first.
Ways to learn
- Face-to-face classes at hundreds of locations, full-time, part-time, in the evening or at weekends.
- Distance learning, delivered by TAFE NSW, if you can't get to a class.
- AMEPOnline, a free website and app that anyone can use.
- Volunteer tutors through the Volunteer Tutor Scheme.
Mixing them works well: classes for structure, a volunteer tutor for conversation, and online study when you have spare time.
If you're looking for work: the SEE program
The Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program, run by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, offers free training in reading, writing, maths, English and digital skills, for up to 25 hours a week. At the time of writing it's open to Australian citizens, permanent visa holders, some temporary visa holders with work rights who are AMEP-eligible, and PALM scheme visa holders, aged 15 or over who have left school. You can't do SEE and the AMEP at the same time. See the SEE participants page.
Practising speaking outside class
Speaking improves fastest with lots of practice, and classes only give you so much time to talk. Try short daily conversations: with neighbours, at the shops, at community groups, or with a volunteer tutor. When a conversation really matters, such as at the doctor, use a free interpreter while you're still learning. See free interpreter services.
Later, if you need an English test for a visa or registration, our guide to English tests for Australian PR explains the levels.
How XINGO helps
The AMEP is the right place to start learning English, and it's free. XINGO is for a later stage: when you're preparing for a speaking test such as IELTS or OET and want to practise answering out loud, on real timings, with an AI examiner and feedback.
If you speak another language too, you can also practise interpreting between English and your language with NAATI-style dialogues.
Questions
Are AMEP classes really free?+
Yes. The AMEP is free for eligible people, and Home Affairs says free child care is available for children under school age while you attend face-to-face classes.
Is there a time limit to join the AMEP?+
If your visa started after 1 October 2020, you need to register within 6 months, start within 12 months and finish within 5 years, though providers can sometimes extend these. If your visa started on or before 1 October 2020, there are no time limits.
Can I study AMEP online?+
Yes. There's distance learning through TAFE NSW, and AMEPOnline is a free website and app that anyone can use.
Can I do the AMEP and the SEE program together?+
No. At the time of writing, you can't do SEE and the AMEP at the same time.
Official sources
- Home Affairs — Adult Migrant English Program
- Home Affairs — About the AMEP
- Home Affairs — AMEP distance learning
- Home Affairs — AMEP eligible temporary visas (PDF)
- DEWR — Skills for Education and Employment: participants
Checked 3 October 2026. Rules, fees and requirements change, so check the official source before you act. XINGO is independent and isn't affiliated with Home Affairs, NAATI, Ahpra or any test provider.