IELTS 6.5 or equivalents for skilled residence, an exemption if you studied in the right countries — and no remote at-home tests, ever.
Overview
Immigration New Zealand sets English requirements per visa, with the toughest bar on skilled residence visas: the Skilled Migrant Category, Straight to Residence, Work to Residence, and the Care Workforce and Transport variants. Principal applicants need IELTS 6.5 overall or an accepted equivalent — TOEFL iBT 79, PTE Academic 58, Cambridge B2 First 176, or OET Grade C+ in all four skills — from a test taken in person within the last 2 years; remote 'at home' tests are not accepted. Alternatively, an English-speaking background can replace testing: citizenship of Canada, Ireland, the UK or the US plus 5 years' work or study in those countries (or Australia/New Zealand), or a recognised Bachelor's (2+ years' study) or postgraduate qualification (1+ year) completed in those countries. Partners and children 16+ face lower thresholds and can substitute pre-paid English lessons. Citizenship by grant requires a sufficient understanding of English but prescribes no test. From 24 August 2026, test results become valid for 5 years for applicants holding occupational registration. Verified against immigration.govt.nz and govt.nz as of June 2026.
The INZ Score Table for Skilled Residence (June 2026)
One test, your choice, taken in person at a test centre within 2 years of applying. The One Skill Retake (IELTS OSR) is accepted. OET has no overall grade, so the required grade must be reached in all four skills.
| Test | Principal applicant | Partner / dependent child 16+ |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (General or Academic) | 6.5 overall | 5.0 overall |
| TOEFL iBT | 79 overall | 35 overall |
| PTE Academic | 58 overall | 36 overall |
| Cambridge B2 First / B2 First for Schools | 176 overall | 154 overall |
| OET (health professionals) | Grade C+ in all 4 skills | Grade C in all 4 skills |
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See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
What English score do I need for the Skilled Migrant Category?
As principal applicant: IELTS 6.5 overall (General or Academic), TOEFL iBT 79, PTE Academic 58, Cambridge B2 First 176, or OET Grade C+ in all four skills. The test must have been taken in person at a test centre no more than 2 years before you apply — at-home remote tests are rejected outright. The same table applies to Straight to Residence, Work to Residence and the Care Workforce and Transport work-to-residence visas. There are no per-band minimums for IELTS — the overall score is what counts — and the IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted if one band lets you down.
I'm a UK citizen / I studied in Australia — do I still need to sit a test?
Probably not. Citizens of the UK, Ireland, Canada or the US meet the requirement if they have spent at least 5 years working or studying in those countries or in Australia or New Zealand — INZ verifies citizenship from your passport. Separately, anyone (regardless of citizenship) with a qualification comparable to a NZ Level 7 Bachelor's completed in Australia, Canada, Ireland, NZ, the UK or the US qualifies if they lived there at least 2 years during the study; for Level 8+ postgraduate qualifications, 1 year is enough. Provide the certificate and transcript — and note an NZQA assessment may be requested to confirm comparability.
My partner's English is weak — will that sink our residence application?
No, but it has a price. Partners and dependent children aged 16+ included in skilled residence applications must show English at the lower thresholds (IELTS 5.0, TOEFL 35, PTE 36, B2 First 154, OET Grade C) or qualify through the same background routes as principal applicants. If they cannot, you can pre-purchase English language (ESOL) lessons for them in New Zealand instead — you commit at application and pay if the visa is approved, with the charge discounted according to their actual test score. This lesson option is only for family members; principal applicants must meet the requirement outright. Children under 16 are exempt entirely.
Is there an English test for New Zealand citizenship?
No formal test. The Citizenship Act requires applicants for citizenship by grant to have a sufficient understanding of the English language (alongside good character and the presence requirements), but the Department of Internal Affairs does not prescribe IELTS or any certificate — sufficiency is assessed through your application and dealings with the Department. This is a noticeably lighter touch than Australia's citizenship test or the UK's Life in the UK regime. In practice, anyone who cleared the IELTS 6.5-level bar for skilled residence years earlier will not find citizenship English an obstacle; applicants who entered through family categories with lower English exposure should be ready to demonstrate conversational ability.
Which test should I choose — IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, Cambridge or OET?
All five are equally valid to INZ, so choose on logistics and personal fit. PTE Academic is computer-marked with the fastest results (often 1–2 days) and dense test calendars in major cities. IELTS has the widest global test-centre network and the One Skill Retake safety net. TOEFL iBT suits test-takers used to American academic English. B2 First is often the cheapest. OET is purpose-built for health professionals — nurses and doctors who struggle with IELTS Academic's abstract essays frequently clear OET's clinical scenarios, and many NZ health regulators accept OET for registration too, letting one test do double duty. Whatever you pick: in person, at a centre.
How long are my test results valid?
Two years from the test date at the moment you apply — INZ measures validity at application lodgement, so a result that expires mid-processing is fine, but one that lapses before you submit is not. From 24 August 2026, a confirmed SMC change extends validity to 5 years for applicants who hold a recognised occupational registration (doctors, nurses, engineers with CPEng and similar) — a meaningful saving for registered professionals who took a test for their regulator years before applying for residence. Plan backwards: if your 24-month window will expire before you reach 6 points or finish your Green List work period, time the test later rather than earlier.