JAKARTA - New Zealand will extend minimum English language requirements under the Accredited Employer Work Visa to skill level 3 jobs from June 1, Immigration New Zealand said on May 25.
The rule affects migrant workers applying for AEWVs for ANZSCO or National Occupation List skill level 3 occupations, a category the government says now makes up around half of AEWV applications.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said, “Being able to communicate in basic, everyday English ensures that workers understand their rights and engage effectively at work and in the community while they are here.” She said the required level is IELTS 4.0 or equivalent, describing it as basic everyday English rather than advanced English.
The AEWV is New Zealand’s main temporary work visa for migrants hired by accredited employers. Immigration New Zealand said an employer may need to advertise first to show that no New Zealand citizen or resident is available for the role.
Skill level 3 refers to the official classification of the job, not a personal label for the worker. Immigration New Zealand says jobs are matched to an occupation code under ANZSCO or the National Occupation List. Skill levels run from 1 to 5, with 1 the most skilled and 5 less skilled. The level is based on the range and complexity of the tasks normally required for that occupation.
The new English rule already applies to skill level 4 and 5 roles. From June 1, it will also apply to skill level 3 applicants, including cases where the employer received a job check token before June 1 but the worker files the visa application from June 1 onward. Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and Peak Seasonal Visa AEWV applications are exempt, and the rule does not apply to Job Change applications.
Current AEWV holders are not affected retrospectively while their visas remain valid. People whose AEWV expires on or before December 1 can apply for another skill level 3 AEWV without meeting the new English rule. Workers who already provided evidence of English ability in a previous AEWV application will also be treated as meeting the requirement.
Immigration New Zealand said more than 188,000 AEWV applications had been approved since the scheme opened, with more than 29,000 accredited employers and more than 79,000 AEWV holders as of March 31.
