AEWV English Language Requirement Extended to Skill Level 3 Roles
From 1 June 2026, Accredited Employer Work Visa applicants whose job sits at skill level 3 must show English at IELTS 4.0 or equivalent. Skill level 3 is about half of all applications for this visa. A transitional exemption covers some existing holders until 1 December 2026. Skill level 1 and 2 roles are unaffected.
Quick Facts
| What changed | English evidence is now required for skill level 3 roles, not just levels 4 and 5 |
| Announced | 25 May 2026 |
| Effective | 1 June 2026 — in force |
| Standard | IELTS 4.0 or equivalent — described by the Government as "basic, everyday English for common situations" |
| Applies to | Jobs at ANZSCO or National Occupation List skill level 3, 4 or 5 |
| Not required for | Jobs at skill level 1 or 2 |
| Scale | Around half of applications for this visa are skill level 3 roles, against 16% for levels 4 and 5 combined |
| Transitional exemption | Holders whose visa expires on or before 1 December 2026 are exempt when applying for a skill level 3 renewal |
| Already provided evidence? | You remain compliant. No re-test |
| Not affected | Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and Peak Seasonal Visa applications |
| Visa fee | NZ$1,540 — NZ$480 application fee plus NZ$1,060 immigration levy (unchanged) |
What changed
Before 1 June 2026, English evidence was required for jobs at skill level 4 and 5 only. Skill level 3 sat just under the line and needed nothing.
From 1 June 2026 the line moved down one band. Immigration New Zealand's own wording on the visa page is now:
"If your job is ANZSCO or NOL skill level 3 to 5, you must show that you can speak and understand English."
The standard is IELTS 4.0 or equivalent. Immigration New Zealand publishes a table of accepted tests and their equivalent scores; IELTS is the reference point, not the only accepted test. Check the accepted-test list on immigration.govt.nz rather than assuming your test qualifies.
IELTS 4.0 is a low band by test standards. The Government described the target as "basic, everyday English for common situations" — enough to follow a safety briefing, understand an instruction and ask a question, rather than academic or professional fluency.
Why this one is bigger than it sounds
The previous requirement applied to a small slice of applications. This one does not.
| Skill levels | Share of applications for this visa |
|---|---|
| Skill level 3 | Around 50% |
| Skill levels 4 and 5 combined | 16% |
Skill level 3 is now the largest part of the cohort. Extending the requirement to it takes English evidence from covering roughly a sixth of applications to roughly two-thirds.
Who is affected
Skill level 3 covers a large share of New Zealand's trades and technical workforce. Roles named as affected include:
- Welders
- Scaffolders
- Electricians
- Bricklayers
- Concreters
- Some chefs
That list is illustrative, not complete. Skill level is a property of the occupation, not of the employer or the wage, and it is assigned by the classification system your role sits under — see work visa skill levels, explained.
One complication is worth flagging. New Zealand currently runs two occupation classifications in parallel: the older ANZSCO system and the newer National Occupation List. The requirement is written to cover skill level 3 on either. On 9 March 2026, 47 occupations were recognised at National Occupation List skill levels 1 to 3 and three moved down to level 4, so a role's band may have changed within the last year. See ANZSCO vs NOL skill levels.
The transitional exemption, and its deadline
Two groups do not need to produce a test result:
- Existing holders whose visa expires on or before 1 December 2026, when applying for a skill level 3 renewal.
- Anyone who has already provided English evidence for a previous application. That evidence stands; there is no re-test.
The first exemption has an end date built into it. 1 December 2026 is the cut-off — it is a property of the visa's expiry date, not of when the application is lodged. A visa expiring after that date does not attract the exemption.
What is not affected
This is where readers over-generalise, because the announcement was reported as "English tests for work visas".
- Skill level 1 and 2 roles need no English evidence. That has not changed.
- The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and the Peak Seasonal Visa are not affected. Both opened in December 2025 and neither carries this requirement — see New Zealand's two new seasonal work visas.
- The pay rules did not change. The pay test for this visa is the market rate for the occupation, and has been since 10 March 2025 — see the median wage removed from work visas.
- Residence English requirements are separate and much higher. Skilled residence sits at a different standard entirely — see English requirements for New Zealand residence.
- The work experience requirement is unchanged: 2 years of relevant experience, or a qualification at NZQCF Level 4 or higher.
- Fees are unchanged. NZ$1,540 in total.
How the requirement is met
Immigration New Zealand accepts more than a test result. The published routes to satisfying an English requirement generally include a qualifying test score, a qualification taught in English, or citizenship of a country where English is the main language used. The precise list for this visa is on Immigration New Zealand's work-visa English page, and it is the authority.
Two practical points that cost people time:
- Test results have a validity period. A certificate from several years ago may not be accepted. Check the current validity rule before you book.
- Test slots are the bottleneck, not the test. In high-demand countries the wait for a test date can exceed the wait for the visa decision, which averages 4 weeks and 8 weeks for 80% of applications as published on 20 August 2026.
General English requirements across visa types are collected at English language requirements and, for work visas specifically, at English language requirements for work visas.
What to do differently now
- Find your role's skill level first. Everything else follows from it, and the answer may have changed in the last year.
- If your role is skill level 3 and your visa expires after 1 December 2026, the exemption does not apply to a renewal.
- If you provided English evidence before, you do not need to do it again — check your earlier application before paying for a test.
- Employers: this affects recruitment pipelines for trades roles that previously had no language step. Job Check and accreditation are unchanged; the requirement sits on the migrant's application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the AEWV need IELTS?
It depends on your job's skill level. Skill level 1 and 2 roles need no English evidence. Skill levels 3, 4 and 5 must show English at IELTS 4.0 or equivalent — skill level 3 was added on 1 June 2026. Immigration New Zealand accepts several tests and some non-test routes. See do you need IELTS for the AEWV?
What English level do I need for a New Zealand work visa?
IELTS 4.0 or equivalent, where the requirement applies. The Government described this as basic everyday English rather than professional fluency. The accepted tests and equivalent scores are published by Immigration New Zealand.
Which skill level 3 occupations now need English?
Named examples include welders, scaffolders, electricians, bricklayers, concreters and some chefs. Skill level is assigned to the occupation under ANZSCO or the National Occupation List, so the reliable step is to look up your specific occupation rather than to reason from the job title.
Am I exempt if my visa expires before 1 December 2026?
Existing holders whose visa expires on or before 1 December 2026 are exempt when they apply for a skill level 3 renewal. The date attaches to the expiry of the current visa.
Do I need to re-sit a test if I already provided English evidence?
No. Applicants who previously provided English evidence remain compliant.
Does this affect seasonal work visas?
No. Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and Peak Seasonal Visa applications are not affected by the June 2026 extension.
Did the pay requirements change at the same time?
No. The pay test for this visa is the market rate for the occupation in New Zealand, unchanged since 10 March 2025. The June 2026 change is about language evidence only.
Does this change affect residence applications?
No. Skilled residence has its own, considerably higher, English standard, and it is assessed separately. Meeting the work-visa requirement says nothing about meeting the residence one.
This page is general information, not immigration advice. New Zealand regulates immigration advice under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, and we do not assess anyone's individual circumstances. For advice about your own case, use a licensed immigration adviser or a New Zealand lawyer, and check the licence on the Immigration Advisers Authority register.
