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English test for a New Zealand work visa: what Filipino applicants should check first

Tips · 2026-11-02 · 8 min read

You may need an English test for a New Zealand work visa, but not every job asks for one. For the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), Immigration New Zealand (INZ) requires proof of English when the job is at ANZSCO or NOL skill level 3 to 5, and not when it is at skill level 1 or 2. So the first thing to check is the skill level of the job you were offered, not your own passport or school record.

This guide is written for Filipino workers who have an offer, or are looking for one, from an accredited employer in New Zealand. It covers who needs to show English, how old a result can be, and what to do before you spend money on a test.

What the AEWV English rule says

INZ says AEWV applicants whose job is at skill level 3 to 5 must show they can speak and understand English. Test results must be no more than 2 years old. Jobs at skill level 1 or 2 do not need this.

The rule sits next to the other AEWV basics, which are worth reading together. The job must be for at least 30 hours of work a week, from an accredited employer with an approved job check, and paid at least the market rate. You must also show 2 years or more of relevant job experience, or a qualification at level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF), in the same field as the job.

Our Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) guide walks through the whole visa. This post stays on the English part.

Which jobs are affected

The English rule follows the skill level on the job check, so two Filipino workers in the same city can face different rules. A role at skill level 1 or 2 has no English test. A role at skill level 3, 4 or 5 does.

Skill level 4 and 5 jobs also have a shorter limit on total time on AEWVs: 3 years instead of 5, after which the person normally must spend 12 months in a row outside New Zealand. It is worth knowing before you pay for a test.

How to find out if you need a test

1. Ask the employer for the job title and the skill level on the approved job check.
2. Check that the employer is accredited, using INZ's accredited employer list. You can search by the 13-digit NZBN or the company name. Some employers choose not to appear, so ask them directly if you cannot find one.
3. Open the INZ AEWV page and its English language requirements page and read the current rule for your skill level.
4. If a test is needed, check the date of any result you already have. It must be no more than 2 years old.
5. Book the test yourself with the test provider and keep the score report for your application.

Our guide to checking the accredited employer before you sign or pay covers the employer side in more detail.

The Australian rule is different

Many Filipino applicants look at both countries at once, and the two systems are easy to mix up. For the Australian Skills in Demand 482 visa, Home Affairs sets a minimum in each test component. For tests taken on or after 13 September 2025, the IELTS minimum is 5.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking. The test must be taken within 3 years before applying.

Home Affairs also lists passports that are exempt from the English test: Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. A Philippine passport is not on that list. Applicants who completed at least 5 years of full-time study in a secondary or higher institution where most classes were in English may also be exempt for the 482. Check the official Home Affairs English page before relying on either point.

These are Australian rules. They do not tell you what New Zealand will accept for an AEWV. If you are comparing both countries, read our guide to the Skills in Demand (482) visa separately, and see how English scores count in an Australian skills assessment.

Costs to plan for

The AEWV costs from NZD $1540, and INZ shows processing as 80% within 5.5 weeks. An English test is a separate cost paid to the test provider. If you are sizing up the whole move, our post on the AEWV cost in pesos shows where the money goes. A test result that is too old, or booked for the wrong purpose, means paying twice, so confirm the rule first.

For practice before the test day, PractiseNow offers English test practice you can use at home. It is a practice tool and not an official test centre, and it does not replace the real test or promise a score.

Before you leave the Philippines

English proof is one step in a longer list. If you are going to work in New Zealand, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) also has its own steps. Read how MWO contract verification in New Zealand works and how the OEC became the OFW Pass.

If you are still looking for an offer, you can browse sponsored roles such as Fitter / Turner and Welder in Christchurch or Commis Chef in Queenstown, then read each ad's requirements, including English, before you apply. To understand the employer side, Employer Sponsored Jobs explains what a New Zealand business must prove to hire migrants, which helps you ask the right questions.

Common mistakes

• Assuming everyone needs a test. Skill level 1 and 2 jobs do not, so ask before you book.
• Using an old result. INZ says results must be no more than 2 years old.
• Mixing up Australia and New Zealand. The 482 scores and the 3-year rule are Australian. The AEWV follows INZ's own page.
• Paying for a promised pass or a job. INZ will decline an AEWV application if the applicant or their agent offered or promised money to the employer or its agent in exchange for a job offer, and New Zealand employers cannot charge fees for a job.
• Trusting unofficial messages. DMW advises OFWs in New Zealand to deal only with official INZ channels and the Migrant Workers Office.

Frequently asked questions

Do all Filipino applicants need an English test for a New Zealand work visa?

No. The English rule depends on the skill level of the job, not on your passport. Jobs at ANZSCO or NOL skill level 1 or 2 do not need it, while jobs at skill level 3 to 5 do. Ask your employer which level the job check was approved at.

How old can my English test result be for an AEWV?

Immigration New Zealand says English test results must be no more than 2 years old. If your result is close to that limit, check the dates before you accept an offer, because a result that expires mid-application can cause delays.

Is the Australian 482 English rule the same as the AEWV rule?

No, they are separate systems. For the Australian Skills in Demand 482 visa, Home Affairs sets a minimum score in each test component and an age limit of 3 years on the test. The AEWV is judged by skill level and Immigration New Zealand's own English page.

Can a test I took for Australia be used for New Zealand?

Do not assume it can. Each government publishes which tests and scores it accepts. Check the Immigration New Zealand English page for the AEWV before you rely on an Australian result, and keep the original score report handy.

Where do I find the exact minimum scores for the AEWV?

The exact scores are on Immigration New Zealand's English language requirements page for the AEWV. We have not listed scores here because they should come straight from that page on the day you book your test.

Should I pay an agent to arrange my English result?

No. Immigration New Zealand will decline an application if money was offered or promised to an employer or its agent in exchange for a job offer. Book your test yourself with the test provider and never pay anyone who promises a pass.

Key takeaways

• The AEWV English rule depends on the job's skill level: 3 to 5 need proof, 1 or 2 do not.
• English test results must be no more than 2 years old.
• Australian 482 scores do not apply to New Zealand; read INZ's own English page.
• Confirm the employer is accredited and never pay for a job offer.

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