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WA4.12 English Language Requirements

WA4.12.1 Minimum standard of English language for Accredited Employer work visa 

  1. Applicants for an Accredited Employer work visa, where their employment has been assessed at the Job Check as ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 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 WA4.12.5, 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 an 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 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 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 an applicant to provide an English language test result in terms of paragraph WA4.12.1(a). In such cases, the English language test result will be used to determine whether the applicant meets the minimum standard of English. 
  4. Accredited Employer work visa applications for a role assessed at the Job Check as ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 must be declined if the applicant has not met the minimum standard of English. 
  5. Despite WA4.12.1 (a), an immigration officer may accept that an applicant meets the minimum standard of English where an immigration officer has already assessed that they meet the minimum standard of English as part of a previous application.
  6. To protect animal welfare in the 2024 calving season, an applicant who is in New Zealand on 2 August 2024 is exempt from meeting the minimum standard of English if their application was submitted between 7 April 2024 and 2 August 2024 (inclusive) and is for a Dairy Cattle Farm Worker (ANZSCO code 841512).

WA4.12.5 Acceptable English language test results

The following English language test results are acceptable: 

Test 

Minimum score required 

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - General or Academic Module 

Overall score of 4 or more 

Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) 

Overall score of 31 or more 

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) 

Overall score of 29 or more 

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) 

Overall score of 142 or more 

Occupational English Test (OET) 

Grade D or higher in all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)* 

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

Effective 02/08/2024

IN THIS SECTION

WA4.1 Overview

WA4.5 Applying for an Accredited Employer work visa

WA4.10 Determining an Accredited Employer work visa

WA4.15 Currency and conditions of Accredited Employer work visas

PREVIOUS IMMIGRATION INSTRUCTIONS

WA4.12 English Language Requirements (26/06/2024)

WA4.12 English Language Requirements (07/04/2024)

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