RW5.1 Minimum standard of English

1. Principal applicants under Religious Worker residence instructions and partners and dependent children aged 16 and older under all Residence from Work categories meet the minimum standard of English if:
   1. they provide acceptable English language test results, as set out at RW5.1.1 (no more than 2 years old at the time the application is lodged); or
   2. they provide evidence that they have an English-speaking background (see RW5.5) which is accepted by an immigration officer as meeting the minimum standard of English; or
   3. they provide other evidence which satisfies an immigration officer that, taking account of that evidence and all the circumstances of the application, the person meets the minimum standard of English. These circumstances may include but are not limited to:
      • the country in which the applicant currently resides;
      • the country(ies) in which the applicant has previously resided;
      • the duration of residence in each country;
      • whether the applicant speaks any language other than English;
      • whether members of the applicant's family speak English;
      • whether members of the applicant's family speak any language other than English;
      • the nature of the applicant's current or previous employment (if any) and whether that is or was likely to require skill in English language;
      • the nature of the applicant's qualifications (if any) and whether the obtaining of those qualifications was likely to require skill in English language.
2. In any case under (a) (ii) or (iii), an immigration officer may require an applicant to provide an English language test result in terms of paragraph (a)(i). In such cases, the English language test result will be used to determine whether the applicant meets the minimum standard of English.

Note:
~ Full consideration must be given to all evidence of English language ability provided before a decision to request an English language test result under RW5.1(b) 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.
~ The tests recognised by Immigration New Zealand as set out at RW5.1.1 provide an assessment of ability in English, including performance in listening, reading, writing and speaking.

RW5.1.1 Acceptable English language test results

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.

Effective 21/05/2018