We require people to have a reasonable standard of English to ensure they have the best opportunity to settle successfully into work and life in New Zealand.
Our requirements apply differently depending on whether you are the principal applicant – the person completing the form – or a non-principal applicant. Non-principal applicants include the partner and/or dependent children of the person completing the form.
As a principal applicant you must provide:
If you were granted a long-term business visa before 20 November 2002 and you’re now applying for residence under our Entrepreneur Category you may instead pre-purchase ESOL tuition as evidence of English language skills.
In all cases we may still require you to provide an IELTS certificate to confirm you meet our English requirements.
As a partner or a dependent child aged 16 and older you must:
As a partner you can score points because you‘re in skilled employment in New Zealand and have been for at least 12 months
or
you can show you:
In all cases we may still require you to provide an IELTS certificate to confirm you meet our English language requirements.
Non-principal applicants who do not meet the minimum standard of English may pre-purchase ESOL tuition in New Zealand. You purchase this tuition from us, on behalf of New Zealand’s Tertiary Education Commission. The resident visa will only be granted once you have paid the tuition charge.
Principal applicants who were granted a long-term business visa before 20 November 2002 and who are now applying for residence under our Entrepreneur Category may also pre-purchase ESOL tuition as evidence of English language skills.