English language requirements for business investor visas

You must show that you can speak and understand English when you apply for a Business Investor Work Visa.

Your and any dependent children must also meet this requirement for a Business Investor Resident Visa.

Find out more about the visa you are applying for:

Business Investor Work Visa

Business Investor Resident Visa

Principal applicant

If you are the person making the application (the principal applicant), there are 2 ways you can show us that you speak and understand English:

• through your English ability from citizenship, working and studying
• by taking an English language test.

Partner and dependent children

Your partner and any dependent children do not have to meet English language requirements until you apply for a Business Investor Resident Visa.

Principal applicant

There are no English language requirements for the principal applicant, as you would have already provided evidence for your Business Investor Work Visa.

Partner and dependent children

There are 3 ways your partner, and any dependent children aged 16 or older, can show us they speak and understand English:

• through their English ability from citizenship, working and studying
• by taking an English language test
• by paying for lessons in New Zealand.

There are no English language requirements for children younger than 16.

Your citizenship, work or study experience may satisfy the English language requirements where at least 1 of the following situations apply, and evidence can be provided.

Citizenship

You are a citizen of one of the countries listed below. You must have spent at least 5 years working or studying in one of these countries, or in Australia or New Zealand.

• Canada
• Ireland
• United Kingdom
• United States

Bachelor's degree

You have a qualification that is comparable with a New Zealand level 7 bachelor's degree gained in one of the countries listed below. You would need to have lived in one of these countries while studying for the qualification for at least 2 years.

• Australia
• Canada
• Ireland
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom
• United States

Postgraduate qualification

You have a qualification that is comparable with a New Zealand postgraduate qualification at level 8 or above gained in one of the countries listed below. You would need to have lived in one of these countries while studying the qualification for at least 1 year.

• Australia
• Canada
• Ireland
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom
• United States

How to provide evidence

We can confirm your citizenship by viewing your passport details. You do not need to provide any more evidence of your citizenship or where you have lived, unless we ask for it.

For evidence of your qualifications and where you studied, we need a copy of your qualification certificate and academic transcript.

You may need to get an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) to show that your qualifications can be used in New Zealand:

Check if you need an International Qualification Assessment

You can meet the English language requirement by taking a test.

You will need to sit the test in person at a test centre, and your result must be no more than 2 years old at the time you apply. Tests taken remotely outside of a test centre, such as 'at home' tests are not acceptable. You can choose which test to take.

Approved English language tests

We accept the following English language tests:

• General or Academic module — International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• One Skill Retake (OSR) — International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
• B2 First — Cambridge English (B2 First)
• B2 First for Schools — Cambridge English (B2 First for Schools)
• Occupational English Test (OET) — designed for health care professionals

If you choose to take an English language test, there is a minimum score you need to achieve.

Business Investor Work Visa

For the principal applicant of a Business Investor Work Visa.

Business Investor Resident Visa

For the partner or dependent children of someone applying for a Business Investor Resident Visa.

About the Occupational English Test

The Occupational English Test (OET) is a paper or computer-based test. You need to reach the required score in all 4 skills because there is no overall grade for this test.

For principal applicants

Principal applicants for these visas cannot use the English lesson option as a way to meet our English language requirements.

For your partner and dependent children

If your partner and dependent children aged 16 or older do not get the minimum test score we require, you can buy English language lessons for them instead.

You choose the lesson option when you apply and pay for the lessons if we approve your visa. This lets your partner and dependent children improve their English after they come to New Zealand.

A discount is available for the lessons, dependent on the test scores.

Learning English for families of resident visa applicants