Glossary
E
Eastern Europe
Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Estonia
Georgia
Hungary
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Lithuania
Moldovia
Poland
Romania
Russia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Ukraine
Edmund Hillary Fellowship
The Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF) gives visionary entrepreneurs, investors and startup teams a platform to incubate global impact ventures from Aotearoa New Zealand.
EHF is about creating and supporting a diverse community of entrepreneurs who push the boundaries of creativity and innovation, with fresh new ideas and different approaches to business.
Eligible Pacific countries
A group of Pacific countries from which employers in the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme are allowed to recruit RSE workers. The nations are:
- the Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Nauru
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- the Republic of Marshall Islands
- Samoa
- the Solomon Islands
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu.
Eligible sponsor (RFSC)
To be considered an eligible sponsor under the Refugee Family Support Category, sponsors must:
- be a New Zealand citizen or resident
- have been granted New Zealand residence because they were a refugee or protected person, or an Afghan interpreter or the partner or dependent child of an Afghan interpreter
- be a family member and want to sponsor you and your partner and dependent children for residence
- not have any other family member who is eligible to apply for New Zealand residence under any other category
- not have sponsored anyone else who has since been granted a resident visa under the Refugee Family Support Category
- live in New Zealand
- be 18 or over
- meet our requirements for acceptable sponsors
- be able to fulfil their obligations as your sponsor, like making sure the sponsored people have somewhere to live for their first 2 years in New Zealand
- meet the criteria for registering as a tier one sponsor or a tier two sponsor.
Emergency situation
A situation that requires someone to receive immediate medical treatment in New Zealand because:
- their life depends on an immediate transfer to New Zealand, as judged by local health authorities
- they have an accident or sudden illness while travelling on a ship or aircraft.
Employment outside Auckland
A place of work that is outside Auckland attracts bonus points as we want to ensure all of New Zealand can benefit from the skills of people moving here. To qualify for points, you will need to prove that your employment is outside the area covered by the Auckland Council.
English speaking background
If you are not providing an English language test result, you may be able to meet English language requirements by showing you have an English speaking background.
English translations
A translation of a document written in a language other than English, into English.
All documents provided with residence applications must be translated into English.
Entertainment industry worker
Someone who works as either:
- an entertainer
- a performing artist, e.g. musician, actor, extra, presenter, contestant
- a producer
- a director
- part of a film or video production crew
- part of a film or video post-production crew, or
- support personnel for any of the above.
Entry permission
Entry permission allows a visa holder to enter New Zealand.
Holding a visa does not guarantee entry permission unless the person holds a:
- New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa
- a Resident Visa granted in New Zealand
- a Resident Visa granted overseas, if the person has already travelled to New Zealand on that visa.
A person travelling to New Zealand with a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) must apply for both a visa and entry permission when they arrive in New Zealand.
ESOL
English for Speakers of Other Languages.
ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) tuition
This is English language tuition. If you’re applying for a Resident Visa, your partner and any children aged 16 and over may choose to buy ESOL tuition in New Zealand, instead of meeting the minimum standard of English. If applying through the Parent Category, all applicants (including the principal applicant) may choose to buy ESOL tuition. You’ll need to pay the tuition fee before the application can be approved.
Before we approve your application for a resident visa, your
They can do this by passing language tests or by proving they already speak English. If your partner and children aged 16 or older do not meet the minimum standard of English for the resident visa you are applying for, you must pay us for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tuition before we can approve your application. When your partner and children arrive in New Zealand, they can learn English in the classes you have paid for. The cost of ESOL classes depends on how well each member of your family can speak English. If your partner and children (aged 16 and over) speak some English, they can take an English language test to find out what their level of English is. We use the test scores to decide how much tuition they will need. The higher their test score, the less you pay for their tuition. Note If they are not able to speak English at all or do not take the test, you must pay the maximum charge for their English language tuition. If you are applying for a Parent Resident Visa and you do not have an English-speaking background, you pay the minimum charge no matter how well you speak and understand English. We only accept results from some organisations that offer English language tests. Your result must be no more than 2 years old at the time you apply and must be obtained by sitting the test in person at a test centre. Tests taken remotely outside of a test centre, such as ‘at home’ tests are not acceptable. The total amount you pay includes: This is what you pay if you took: Your grade must apply to all 4 skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. After we approve your application in principle and before we grant you a resident visa, we: The agreement explains the conditions of the ESOL tuition and gives information about the TEC. We send 2 copies: The TEC is the New Zealand government agency that arranges ESOL tuition. We pay your class fees to the TEC. There are many different courses and course providers in all parts of New Zealand teaching English for speakers of other languages. Find an English language class The TEC website also has information about English language course details, locations and costs. Information for migrant learners | TEC Your family has 5 years to complete their ESOL classes. Most people start classes as soon as possible after they arrive in New Zealand, and find that speaking and understanding English helps them settle here successfully. If you and your family never enter New Zealand on your resident visa, we can refund the money you paid for ESOL classes. To get a refund, contact us within 6 months of your resident visa expiring.
Learning English for families of resident visa applicants
Your partner and children aged 16 and older must show that they can speak and understand English. Find out how your family can get lessons.
An acceptable standard of English
If your family does not speak English well enough
How we work out the cost of English classes
Applying for a Parent Resident Visa
English language tests you can take
Organisation
Website
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
IELTS
Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
TOEFL iBT
Occupational English Test (OET) — designed for health care professionals
OET
Cambridge Assessment English — B2 First (FCE)
B2 First (First Certificate in English)
Cambridge Assessment English — B2 First for Schools (FCE for Schools)
B2 First for Schools (First Certificate in English)
Pearson Test of English: Academic (PTE: Academic)
Pearson PTE Academic
How much you pay
If you took the IELTS test
Your overall score
Total fees
Class fees
Administration fee
4.5 or more, but less than 5.0
NZD $1735
NZD $1531.82
NZD $203.18
4.0 or more, but less than 4.5
NZD $3420
NZD $3063.64
NZD $356.36
3.5 or more, but less than 4.0
NZD $5100
NZD $4600.00
NZD $510.00
Less than 3.5
NZD $6795
NZD $6131.82
NZD $663.18
If you took the TOEFL iBT test
Your overall score
Total fees
Class fees
Administration fee
32 to 34
NZD $1,735
NZD $1,531.82
NZD $203.18
31
NZD $3420
NZD $3063.64
NZD $356.36
If you took the PTE: Academic test
Your overall score
Total fees
Class fees
Administration fee
30 to 35
NZD $1,735
NZD $1,531.82
NZD $203.18
29
NZD $3420
NZD $3063.64
NZD $356.36
If you took a Cambridge Assessment English
Your overall score
Total fees
Class fees
Administration fee
157 to 153
NZD $1,735
NZD $1,531.82
NZD $203.18
142 to 146
NZD $3420
NZD $3063.64
NZD $356.36
If you took the OET test
Your overall score
Total fees
Class fees
Administration fee
Grade C
NZD $1,735
NZD $1,531.82
NZD $203.18
Grade D
NZD $3420
NZD $3063.64
NZD $356.36
Paying for ESOL classes
Who provides the classes
Where you can learn English
Starting classes
If you do not come to NZ
Essential Skills in Demand Lists
A group of lists detailing the occupations that New Zealand doesn't have enough people to work in. They include the:
- Long Term Skills Shortage List
- Immediate Skills Shortage List
- Construction and Infrastructure Skills Shortage List.
People who are qualified to work in an occupation on one of these lists, can apply for a work visa without their employer first having to check if any New Zealanders are ready and willing to do the work.
Exceptional talent in a field of art, culture or sport
We will consider you have exceptional talent in your field of art, culture or sport if all of the following apply:
- you have an international reputation and record of excellence in your field
- you are still prominent in your field
- you can help New Zealanders to take part in and improve the quality of their achievements in your field of art, culture or sport.
Executive or senior manager
An executive or senior manager is a person who:
- is a senior employee of an organisation
- has been employed by that organisation for at least 12 months before their proposed transfer to New Zealand
- is responsible for the entire organisation's operations in New Zealand, or a substantial part of it, while receiving general supervision or direction principally from higher level executives, the board of directors or stockholders of the business.
Express purpose
A reason for travelling to New Zealand on a Limited Visa, which may include any one of the following:
- to study a short course as a full fee-paying student
- for a special event, like a wedding, funeral, anniversary, reunion conference, seminar, graduation, sports tournament or match, or religious ceremony
- for medical treatment
- for a family emergency, like if someone in your family has an illness or accident
- to work for a Recognised Seasonal Employer.
You may be able to come to New Zealand on a Limited Visa for a reason not on this list, if we think your reason justifies us granting you a visa.
Expunged criminal records
Expungement of a criminal record is a legal process that can clear criminal convictions from a person's record.