New English Language Requirements for New Zealand AEWV Applicants (Effective July 2025)

 New English Language Requirements for New Zealand AEWV Applicants (Effective July 2025)

If you’re planning to work in New Zealand under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) — especially in lower-skilled occupations — there’s an important update you must know.

As of July 2025, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) now requires proof of English language proficiency for AEWV applicants applying for jobs classified as ANZSCO level 4 or 5.

This change directly affects applicants for positions such as:

• Caregivers
• Hospitality staff
• Cleaners
• Factory workers
• Other support or entry-level roles

Who Is Affected?

You need to prove your English skills if you are:

• Applying for a job listed under ANZSCO level 4 or 5

You don’t need to prove English skills if you are:

• Applying for ANZSCO level 1–3 (higher-skilled roles)
• The partner or dependent of an AEWV applicant (even for level 4 or 5)

How to Meet the English Requirement

You have two ways to meet the new English language requirement:

Option 1: Prove English Proficiency via Citizenship, Work, or Study

You can skip the English test if:

• You’re a citizen of one of the following countries:
  • Canada
  • Ireland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Australia
  • New Zealand

AND you have either:

• Worked or studied in one of these countries for 5 years or more, OR
• Completed:
  • At least 2 years of study at Bachelor’s level (NZ Level 7), or
  • At least 1 year of study at Postgraduate level (NZ Level 8 or higher)

Required Documents:

• Passport copy
• Educational qualification certificate
• Academic transcript
• International Qualification Assessment (IQA), if your qualification needs NZ equivalency recognition

Option 2: Take an Approved English Language Test

If you don’t meet the criteria above, you can meet the requirement by taking one of these approved tests and reaching the minimum scores:

Final Thoughts

This change reflects New Zealand’s focus on workplace communication and safety, especially in roles that involve direct interaction with people and teams. If you’re applying for an AEWV in a level 4 or 5 job — be ready with the right documents or test results.

Staying ahead of immigration updates like this can make or break your visa application. So if you’re aiming to work in New Zealand, now is the time to prepare.

For more details please contact my team. Thanks Regards

+91 63015 50340

+91 63806 92148