SR2.10 English Language Requirements

SR2.10.1 Minimum standard of English language for principal applicants

1. Principal applicants in a Skilled Residence application are considered to meet the minimum standard of English if they provide acceptable English language test results no more than two years old at the time the application is lodged, as set out at SR2.10.5, obtained by sitting the test in person at a test centre (tests taken remotely outside of a test centre, including ‘at home’ tests, are not acceptable).
2. Other evidence that a principal applicant meets the minimum standard of English is:
   1. citizenship of Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America, provided the applicant has spent at least five years in work or education in one or more of those countries or Australia or New Zealand; or
   2. a qualification meeting the requirement at (e) below comparable to a New Zealand level 7 bachelor’s degree and gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America as a result of study undertaken for at least two academic years in one or more of those countries; or
   3. a qualification meeting the requirement at (e) below comparable to a New Zealand qualification at level 8 or above and gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America as a result of study undertaken for at least one academic year in one or more of those countries.
3. In any case, an immigration officer may require a principal applicant to provide an English language test result in terms of paragraph SR2.10.1 (a). In such cases, the English language test result will be used to determine whether the principal applicant meets the minimum standard of English.
4. Skilled Residence applications must be declined if the principal applicant has not met the minimum standard of English.
5. Where evidence of a qualification is being used to meet English language requirements, the applicant must submit a qualification from one of the countries listed at SR2.10.1(b)(i) or (ii) and provide an International Qualification Assessment from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority unless:
   1. the qualification is included on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (Appendix 17); or
   2. the applicant has been awarded full or provisional registration by a New Zealand organisation authorised by law to give occupational registration, and registration involves an assessment that their overseas qualification(s) is comparable with a New Zealand qualification that is included in the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment.

SR2.10.5 Acceptable English language test results for principal applicants

The following English language test results are acceptable:

*A score of Grade C+ or higher in all four skills is required for the OET as there is no overall grade for this test.

SR2.10.10 English language requirements for non-principal applicants

1. Partners and dependent children aged 16 and older who are included in a Skilled Residence application must:
   1. show that they meet a minimum standard of English to enable successful settlement in New Zealand; or
   2. pre-purchase ESOL tuition (see SR2.10.25).
2. Non-principal applicants meet the minimum standard of English if they provide English language test results, no more than 2 years old at the time the application is lodged, as set out at SR2.10.20, obtained by sitting the test in person at a test centre (tests taken remotely outside of a test centre, including ‘at home’ tests, are not acceptable).
3. Other evidence that a non-principal applicant meets the minimum standard of English is:
   1. citizenship of Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America, provided the applicant has spent at least five years in work or education in one or more of those countries or Australia or New Zealand; or
   2. a qualification meeting the requirement at SR2.10.1(e) comparable to a New Zealand level 7 bachelor’s degree and gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America as a result of study undertaken for at least two academic years in one or more of those countries; or
   3. a qualification meeting the requirement at SR2.10.1(e) comparable to a New Zealand qualification at level 8 or above and gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America as a result of study undertaken for at least one academic year in one or more of those countries.
4. In any case, an immigration officer may require a non-principal applicant to provide an English language test result in terms of paragraph SR2.10.10(b). In such cases, the English language test result will be used to determine whether the applicant meets the minimum standard of English.

SR2.10.15 Decision to request English language test

Full consideration must be given to all evidence of English language ability provided before a decision to request an English language test under SR2.10.10(d) is made. If an English language test result is requested, the reason(s) behind the decision must be clearly documented and conveyed to the applicant.

SR2.10.20 Acceptable English language test results for non-principal applicants

The following English language test results are acceptable:

*A score of Grade C or higher in all four skills is required for the OET as there is no overall grade for this test.

SR2.10.25 Pre-purchase of ESOL tuition

1. Instead of meeting the minimum standard of English, non-principal applicants may pre-purchase ESOL tuition. ESOL tuition must be pre-purchased from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) by paying the required charge to Immigration New Zealand (INZ), who collect this charge on behalf of TEC.
2. Applicants must pay any ESOL charge due, sign the ESOL Agreement and return it to INZ within the time specified by INZ before a resident visa is granted.

SR2.10.30 Amount of ESOL tuition to be pre-purchased by non-principal applicants

1. The amount of ESOL tuition to be pre-purchased is determined by the applicant's English language test results according to the following table:

   Test	Overall score	Charge to be paid	ESOL entitlement
   International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - General or Academic Module	4.5 or more but less than 5.0	NZ$1,735	NZ$1,531.82
   Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT)	32 to 34
   Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)	30 to 35
   B2 First (First Certificate in English) (formerly Cambridge English: First (FCE)) or B2 First for Schools (First Certificate in English) (formerly Cambridge English: First (FCE) for Schools)	147 to 153
   Occupational English Test (OET)	Not applicable (see SR2.10.20)
   IELTS - General or Academic Module	4.0 or more, but less than 4.5	NZ$3,420	NZ$3,063.64
   TOEFL iBT	31
   PTE Academic	29
   B2 First (First Certificate in English) (formerly Cambridge English: First (FCE)) or B2 First for Schools (First Certificate in English) (formerly Cambridge English: First (FCE) for Schools)	142 to 146
   OET	Failed to achieve Grade C or higher in all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking), but achieved at least Grade D in all four skills*
   IELTS - General or Academic Module	3.5 or more, but less than 4.0	NZ$5,110	NZ$4,600.00
   IELTS - General or Academic Module	Less than 3.5	NZ$6,795	NZ$6,131.82
   TOEFL iBT	Less than 31
   PTE Academic	Less than 29
   B2 First (First Certificate in English) (formerly Cambridge English: First (FCE)) or B2 First for Schools (First Certificate in English) (formerly Cambridge English: First (FCE) for Schools)	Less than 142
   OET	Failed to achieve at least Grade D in all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)*

   * A score in all four skills is required for the OET as there is no overall grade for this test.

2. The charge includes the applicant's ESOL tuition entitlement, as well as the INZ and TEC administration costs.
3. If an applicant has not submitted English language test results when requested, the maximum charge of NZ$6,795 applies.

SR2.10.35 TEC to arrange ESOL tuition

1. The applicant is entitled to tuition to the value of the ESOL entitlement component of the ESOL tuition charge. This does not include the INZ and TEC administration costs.
2. TEC will advise the applicant of the list of suitable ESOL tuition providers in New Zealand, from which the applicant may nominate one or more of their own choice.
3. TEC will manage the contract between the ESOL tuition provider and the applicant.
4. The applicant must advise TEC of a contact email address.

SR2.10.40 Applicant's agreement with TEC

1. Each applicant who pre-purchases ESOL tuition must sign an Agreement with TEC by which they agree, among other things, that they understand the rules for taking up ESOL tuition in New Zealand and the refund provisions.
2. The content of the Agreement is determined by INZ and TEC.
3. Included with the Agreement is a Schedule that sets out the personal details of the applicant and the amount of tuition to be purchased.

SR2.10.45 Completion of Agreement

1. When an application for a resident visa is approved in principle, applicants will be given two copies of the Agreement to complete for each person in the application undertaking the ESOL tuition.
2. After completion of the Agreement, one copy is retained by the applicant, and the other copy is returned to INZ processing office with the tuition fee(s).
3. If the Agreement is not signed and returned to INZ within the time specified by INZ, the resident visa application must be declined.
4. The INZ copy of the Agreement should be sent to the TEC.

SR2.10.50 Failure to pre-purchase ESOL tuition

Any ESOL tuition charge due must be paid before the grant of a resident visa. If it is not paid to INZ within the specified time, the resident visa application will be declined.

SR2.10.55 Limited period to use ESOL tuition

1. If ESOL tuition is purchased, the applicant must complete the tuition within five years from the date of payment.
2. ESOL tuition will not be available without further payment, nor will refunds be given, to applicants who do not take up ESOL tuition within the five year time limit.

SR2.10.60 Refunds of ESOL tuition money

1. If ESOL tuition money is paid but the principal applicant and partner and dependent children do not take up residence, a refund may be granted upon request to INZ. The request must be made in writing.
2. Requests for refunds will be declined if they are made more than six months after the expiry of the travel conditions allowing travel to New Zealand.
3. Immigration officers considering requests for refunds must be satisfied that the principal applicant and partner and dependent children included in the application:
   1. have not entered New Zealand as residents; and
   2. do not hold resident visas with current travel conditions.
4. The person who paid the fee will be refunded only the ESOL entitlement. INZ and TEC administration costs will not be refunded.

Effective 26/06/2024