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English Language Requirements
New
Zealand is a native English speaking country, so it is imporant that
anyone who would
Moving to a new country can be very stressful. Moving to a new country where you do not speak the language can make success in that environment almost impossible.
The NZIS policy for English language requirements can be quite complex and depends upon the type of visa you are applying for and/or the country in which you live. We have included the main areas below.
For further information please contact us as we are happy to assist.
A. Skilled Migrant Category B. Business Categories C. Residence
from
Work
Categories NZIS
DEFINITIONS
-
English
Speaking
Background
NZIS - English Language Requirements You (and everyone else aged 16 or over who is accompanying you) need to meet English language requirements for your application to be approved under the Skilled Migrant or Business categories. If you’re applying under one of the Residence from Work categories, you won’t need to meet English language requirements but your partner and children will.
MINIMUM STANDARDS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE
A. SKILLED MIGRANT CATEGORY Principal
applicants You meet the minimum standard of English under the Skilled Migrant Category if:
1. Your IELTS certificate has an overall band score of at least 6.5 in the General or Academic Module. The certificate needs to be no more than two years old; or
2. Your recognised qualification was taught entirely in English. If you gained the qualification in New Zealand, it needs to have a minimum completion time of at least two years unless it is a post graduate qualification. If it is a post graduate qualification, you need to have an under-graduate qualification that can score you at least 50 points; or
3. You’re currently working in skilled employment in New Zealand and have been for at least 12 months. You need to be able to score points for the employment; or
4. You otherwise meet the minimum standard. (See Definitions.)
Partners
& Children Your
partner and each of your children aged 16 and over need to either meet the minimum standard of English. They meet the minimum standard of English if:
1. Their IELTS certificate shows an overall band score of at least 5 in the General or Academic Module. The certificate needs to be no more than two years old; or
2. Their recognised qualification was taught entirely in English. If your partner or child gained the qualification in New Zealand, it needs to have a minimum completion time of at least two years unless it is a post graduate qualification. If it is a post graduate qualification, your partner or child needs to have an under-graduate qualification that can score them at least 50 points; or
3. They have an English speaking background. (See Definitions); or
4. They otherwise meet the minimum standard. (See Definitions).
Your partner also meets the minimum standard if they’re currently working in skilled employment in New Zealand and have been for at least 12 months. Your partner needs to be able to score points for the employment. Please note that you will only get bonus points for your partner’s skilled employment in New Zealand if they meet the minimum standard of English language set for principal applicants (as above).
B. BUSINESS CATEGORIES • Investor • Entrepreneur • Employees of Relocating Businesses (ERB) • Long Term Business Visa (LTBV) If you are applying under any of the business categories you will need to meet a minimum standard of English.
If you are applying under the Investor, Entrepreneur or ERB categories, your partner, and your children aged 16 or over, will also need to meet a minimum standard of English.
If
you have applied under the LTBV category, your partner and children are
not required to meet the minimum level of English at the time you lodge
your application. Should they later be included in a residence
application, however,
Minimum
standard of English You, your partner, and each child aged 16 years and over meet the minimum standard of English if you/they provide:
1. An IELTS certificate showing an overall band score of at least 5 in the General or Academic Module. The certificate needs to be no more than two years old; or
2. Evidence of an English speaking background. (See Definitions); or
3. Evidence of otherwise meeting the minimum standard. (See Definitions)
C. RESIDENCE FROM WORK CATEGORIES • Talent (Accredited Employers) Residence Policy • Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Residence Policy • Priority Occupations List Residence Policy
If
you are applying under one of these policies you are not required to
meet English language requirements. However, your partner and any of
your children aged 16 or over who are included in your application need
to meet the same English language requirements as partners and children
of principal applicants under the Business Categories (above). They may
either show they meet the
D. Partners and children of Residence from Work & Business Categories applicants You may be considered to meet the minimum standard if you can show you have been lawfully employed in New Zealand for at least one year (self-employment does not qualify) in a job where English is the language used. You will need to provide a letter from your employer(s) giving a contact phone number and address. The letter must state your occupation and dates of employment, and confirm that English is the main language used in your job.
Otherwise meeting the minimum standard You are considered to otherwise meet the minimum standard if you can satisfy us that your circumstances show you are a competent user of English. These circumstances may include (but are not limited to): • the country in which you live • the country(ies) in which you have previously lived • how long you have lived in each country • whether you speak any language other than English • whether your family speaks any languages other than English • the nature of your current and previous employment and whether it required skill in English • the nature of your qualifications and whether studying for them required skill in English.
You are considered to have an English speaking background if you can provide evidence that you have either completed one of the following:
• All primary and at least 3 years of secondary education at a school or schools that taught in English;
• At least 5 years of secondary education at a school or schools that taught in English; or
• A course taught in English that took at least 3 years and lead to a tertiary qualification.
OR you hold one of the following qualifications:
• A General Certificate of Education (GCE) ‘A’ Levels from Britain or Singapore with a minimum C pass. Your pass needs to include English Language or Literature or Use of English;
• An International Baccalaureate – full Diploma in English medium;
• A Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English with a minimum C pass;
• A Hong Kong Advanced Level Examinations (HKALE) including a minimum C pass in Use of English;
• STPM 920 (Malaysia) with an A or B pass in English literature;
• University of Cambridge in collaboration with University of Malaya, General Certificate of English (GCE) ‘A’ levels with a minimum C pass. Your pass needs to include the subjects English or General Paper;
•
South African Matriculation Certificate, including a minimum D pass in
English (Higher Grade);
• South African Senior Certificate, including a minimum D pass in English (Higher Grande), endorsed with the words ‘matriculation exempt’;
• A New Zealand tertiary entrance qualification gained on completing the seventh form.
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© Paragon International Ltd NZ Immigration Consultants 2009 |
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like to live or work here is able to communicate effectively. 