Last reviewed April 2026. Immigration New Zealand can change test scores and rules at short notice, so always check the official immigration.govt.nz pages before you apply.
If you're applying for a New Zealand residence visa, work visa or student visa, you will likely need to prove you can speak and understand English. This guide covers the current (2026) IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET and Cambridge English scores that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and NZQA accept, plus how to avoid paying for ESOL tuition if your score is just below the threshold.
Three quick ground rules before we get into the numbers:
- Tests must be no more than 2 years old on the day you lodge your visa application.
- The test must be sat in person at an approved test centre. At-home or remote-proctored tests are no longer accepted by INZ for work and residence visas.
- TOEFL iBT changed format on 21 January 2026. The new format is not accepted by non-university tertiary providers in New Zealand. If you're applying for a polytech or private training establishment, confirm with them which format they will accept before you book.
1. Residence visa: English requirements
These scores apply to all skilled residence visas, including the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa, Straight to Residence Visa (Green List), Work to Residence Visa, Care Workforce Work to Residence and Transport Work to Residence.
Principal applicant (main visa holder)
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|
| IELTS (General or Academic) | Overall 6.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | Overall 79 |
| PTE Academic | Overall 58 |
| B2 First / B2 First for Schools (Cambridge English) | Overall 176 |
| OET (Occupational English Test) | Grade C+ in all 4 skills |
Non-principal applicants (partner and dependent children aged 16+)
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|
| IELTS (General or Academic) | Overall 5.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | Overall 35 |
| PTE Academic | Overall 36 |
| B2 First / B2 First for Schools (Cambridge English) | Overall 154 |
| OET (Occupational English Test) | Grade C in all 4 skills |
Reference: Immigration New Zealand, Skilled Residence Instructions, English language requirements for skilled residence visas.
2. Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): lower-skilled roles (ANZSCO Skill Level 4 & 5)
From 8 December 2025, applicants for a regular Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) whose role has been assessed at the Job Check as ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 must meet an English language requirement.
If your role is skill level 1, 2 or 3, or if you are applying for a Global Workforce Seasonal Visa or a Peak Seasonal Visa, this requirement does not apply.
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|
| IELTS (General or Academic) | Overall 4.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | Overall 31 |
| PTE Academic | Overall 29 |
| B2 First / B2 First for Schools (Cambridge English) | Overall 142 |
| OET (Occupational English Test) | Grade D or higher in all 4 skills |
Reference: Immigration New Zealand, Work Instructions WA4.12, effective 08/12/2025.
3. Student visa: English requirements by NZQF level
NZQA sets the minimum English test scores for international students applying to enrol in approved tertiary programmes in New Zealand. Universities may set their own (higher) requirements on top of these floors.
| NZQF Level |
IELTS |
PTE Academic |
TOEFL iBT |
Cambridge |
OET |
| Certificate at Level 3 |
5.0 overall, no band < 5 |
36, no band < 36 |
35 (writing ≥ 14) |
B2 First 154, no skill < 154 |
Grade C / 200 all subtests |
| Certificate at Level 4 |
5.5 overall, no band < 5 |
42, no band < 36 |
46 (writing ≥ 14) |
B2 First 162, no skill < 154 |
Grade C / 200 all subtests |
| Certificate or Diploma at Level 5–6 |
Academic 5.5 overall, no band < 5 |
42, no band < 36 |
46 (writing ≥ 14) |
B2 First 162, no skill < 154 |
Grade C / 200 all subtests |
| Certificate / Graduate Certificate / Diploma / Degree at Level 7 |
Academic 6.0 overall, no band < 5.5 |
50, no band < 42 |
60 (writing ≥ 18) |
C1 Advanced 169, no skill < 162 |
Grade C / 200 all subtests |
| Post-grad Certificate/Diploma (L8), Bachelor Honours (L8), Master's (L9), Doctoral (L10) |
Academic 6.5 overall, no band < 6 |
58, no band < 50 |
79 (writing ≥ 21) |
C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 176, no skill < 169 |
Grade C+ / 300 all subtests |
Reference: NZQA Programme Approval, Recognition and Accreditation Rules 2025, Appendix 1, Table for Internationally Recognised English Proficiency Outcomes for International Students. See NZQA's page on English language entry requirements for the current list.
4. Regulated professions: Nursing and Teaching
If your qualification pathway is regulated by a New Zealand professional body, their English requirement is set by them, not Immigration New Zealand. You will need to meet the registration body's requirement before INZ will issue a work or residence visa on that basis.
- Nursing (Nursing Council of New Zealand). IELTS Academic 7.0 in each band, or OET Grade B in each sub-test (reading, listening, writing, speaking). This applies to internationally qualified nurses doing the Competence Assessment Programme (CAP). Check the Nursing Council website for the latest guidance.
- Teaching (Teaching Council of Aotearoa). IELTS Academic 7.0 in each band, or an approved equivalent. Check the Teaching Council website.
5. Exemptions: when you don't need an English test
You do not need to sit an English test if any one of the following applies:
- You are a citizen of Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States, and you have spent at least 5 years in work or education in one or more of those countries, Australia or New Zealand.
- You have a qualification comparable to a New Zealand Level 7 Bachelor's degree, gained in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the US, after at least 2 academic years of study in those countries.
- You have a qualification comparable to a New Zealand Level 8 or higher, gained in one of those same countries, after at least 1 academic year of study.
For qualifications in (2) and (3), you will normally need an International Qualification Assessment from NZQA, unless your qualification is on INZ's List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (Appendix 17) or you already hold registration with a New Zealand professional body whose registration involves that assessment.
Even if you meet an exemption, an immigration officer can still ask you to sit a test if they think it's needed to assess your application.
6. What if your score is just below the threshold? ESOL pre-purchase
For non-principal residence applicants (partner and dependants 16+) who come in under the minimum score but above a floor, Immigration New Zealand lets you pre-purchase ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) tuition through the Tertiary Education Commission instead of retaking the test. This is a practical option if you're close and don't want to pay again for IELTS/PTE.
The charge is calculated from your test score:
| Your score | ESOL charge | Tuition entitlement |
|---|
| IELTS 4.5 to < 5.0 (TOEFL iBT 32–34; PTE 30–35; B2 First 147–153) | NZ$1,735 | NZ$1,531.82 |
| IELTS 4.0 to < 4.5 (TOEFL iBT 31; PTE 29; B2 First 142–146; OET below Grade C in all 4) | NZ$3,420 | NZ$3,063.64 |
| IELTS 3.5 to < 4.0 | NZ$5,110 | NZ$4,600.00 |
| IELTS < 3.5 (TOEFL iBT < 31; PTE < 29; B2 First < 142; OET below Grade D) | NZ$6,795 | NZ$6,131.82 |
A few important notes:
- If the non-principal applicant has not submitted any test results when requested, the maximum charge of NZ$6,795 applies.
- The charge includes ESOL tuition plus the INZ and TEC administration fees.
- You must sign the ESOL Agreement and return it to INZ within the time INZ sets before the resident visa is granted.
- Tip: don't buy the ESOL package without sitting the test first. It's expensive, and in a lot of cases the applicant gets the score they need on the first or second attempt. The ESOL route is a backup, not a default.
Reference: Immigration New Zealand, Skilled Residence Instructions SR2.10.25 and SR2.10.30.
7. Frequently asked questions
Can I sit IELTS at home for my NZ visa?
No. IELTS Indicator and at-home / remote-proctored tests are not accepted by Immigration New Zealand for work or residence visa applications. You must sit the test in person at an approved test centre.
How long are my test results valid?
Your test result must be no more than 2 years old on the day you lodge the visa application.
Do I need to retake the whole test if I fail just one skill?
IELTS allows a One Skill Retake, and that result is accepted by INZ provided the overall requirements are still met. For other tests, you typically need to retake the whole test.
Does the TOEFL iBT 2026 format affect my visa application?
For residence and work visas, both the old and the new TOEFL iBT format are accepted. For student visas at polytechs or private training establishments, the new 2026 format is not accepted. Universities can still accept it. Ask your education provider before you book.
What if my partner has no English at all?
You can pre-purchase ESOL tuition. The maximum charge (NZ$6,795) applies if they don't submit any test results. See Section 6 above.
Getting ready to apply? At Kiwifern we've been helping applicants navigate NZ's English language rules for over 20 years, including the edge cases: which test to sit, when ESOL pre-purchase is worth it, and how to use qualifications to avoid a test entirely. Get in touch for a case-specific assessment.