How’s your English?
In general a migrant’s successful settlement in New Zealand will be greatly affected by their ability to speak, read and write in English.
The current IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score required for New Zealand working visas is 6.5. However this may vary from time to time and it depends on the visa that is being applied for.
The exact requirement for each visa type is in the general requirements for that visa. A list with links to the detailed English language requirements for each visa type can be found here.
Learning English
There are government funded and private services available for new migrants who want to improve their English language skills.
Ministry of Education (MOE)
The Ministry of Education funds a range of ESOL related activities including resourcing, policy, assessment guidelines, professional development, news updates, and other materials and resources.
For more information on these activities visit the Ministry’s main ESOL page.
For other ESOL inquiries, contact info.esol@minedu.govt.nz
Tertiary Education Commission (TEC)
The TEC manages the Government’s annual funding for all tertiary education, including the English for Migrants Fund, which some migrants are required to register for as part of their visa requirements.
You can find out more about the English language initiatives funded by the commission at the TEC website, and there is information here on the English for Migrants Fund
