Skilled Migrant Category English requirements

The Skilled Migrant Category English language requirements must also be met by people applying for Global Impact work visas and Silver Fern Job Search work visas.

Requirement that should be met as per Immigration New Zealand

The applicant will need to provide evidence of English language ability as the principal applicant.

To do this, they need to provide one of the following:

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• an acceptable English language test result
  ACCEPTABLE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST RESULTS (SMC)

• evidence of citizenship in Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States of America (USA), and evidence of having spent at least five years working or studying in those countries, or in Australia or New Zealand

• evidence of a recognised qualification gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK or the USA. The qualification must be comparable to a New Zealand bachelor’s degree. You must have studied for at least two years in any of those countries to get that qualification

• evidence of a recognised qualification gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK or the USA. The qualification must be comparable to a postgraduate New Zealand qualification. You must have studied for at least one year in any of those countries to get that qualification.

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Principal Applicant test requirements : 

 

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

   

Minimum Overall score of 6.5 or more required

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

   

Minimim Overall score of 79 or more  required

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 - Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)

   

Minimum Overall score of 58 or more required

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 - Cambridge English: First (FCE)

   or

 - Cambridge English: First (FCE) for Schools

   

Minimum Overall score of 176 or more required

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 - Occupational English Test (OET)

   

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

 

Requirements your family must meet

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Partners and dependent children aged 16 and older requirements :

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

   Minimum Overall score of 5.0 or more required

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

   Minimum Overall score of 35 or more required

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 - Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)

   Minimum Overall score of 36 or more required

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 - Cambridge English: First (FCE)

   or

 - Cambridge English: First (FCE) for Schools

   Minimum Overall score of 154 or more required

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 - Occupational English Test (OET)

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

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If your partner and children do not meet the minimum standard of English for the Resident Visa you're applying for, you’ll need to pay us for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) tuition before we can approve your application. Then, when your partner and children arrive in New Zealand, they can learn English in the English language classes you've paid for.

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Other people included in the application (Partner & Dependents) who are over the age of 16 can either meet the requirements, or Pre-purchase English tuition (ESOL Tuition).

 

Children under 16 do not have to meet English language requirements.

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How much will ESOL Cost :                                                                                                                       Total Charge

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IELTS - General or Academic Module - 4.5 or more but less than 5.0                                                       NZ$1,735

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IELTS - General or Academic Module - 4.0 or more, but less than 4.5                                                      NZ$3,420

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IELTS - General or Academic Module - 3.5 or more, but less than 4.0                                                      NZ$5,110

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IELTS - General or Academic Module - Less than 3.5                                                                                 NZ$6,795

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