New Zealand Expands English Language Rules for Foreign Workers

New Zealand will extend English language requirements for Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applicants in skill level 3 occupations from 1 June 2026, requiring more foreign workers to demonstrate English proficiency as part of the application process.

The change expands a requirement that currently applies only to roles classified at skill levels 4 and 5 under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) and the National Occupation List (NOL). Applicants for skill level 3 positions will now also need to provide evidence of English language ability.

The AEWV allows migrants to work for accredited employers who offer at least 30 hours of work per week. Depending on the occupation, pay rate and application date, visa holders can remain in New Zealand for up to five years. 

The government said the revised rules are intended to create greater consistency across the immigration system and support workers' participation in both the workplace and the wider community. Applicants will be able to meet the requirement in several ways. 

These include holding citizenship from an English-speaking country, providing evidence of previous work or study in an English-speaking environment, or achieving the required result in an approved English language test. Several exemptions will apply. Migrants whose visas expire on or before 1 December 2026 will not need to meet the new requirement when applying again. 

Those who have already supplied proof of English proficiency in a previous AEWV application will not be required to provide the evidence a second time. The requirement will also not apply to seasonal visa categories, including the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and Peak Seasonal Visa, or to job change applications.

Immigration authorities said the changes will not affect current visa holders or reduce the length of their existing visas. Transitional measures have been introduced to allow workers time to prepare, while providing employers with clearer requirements when recruiting for skill level 3 positions.

The policy forms part of a broader programme of immigration reforms. In April 2026, the government clarified employment conditions for holders of open work visas. Further changes to the Skilled Migrant Category are scheduled to take effect in late August.

Officials said the measures are designed to better align immigration settings with labour market needs and ensure migrants are equipped to contribute effectively in the workplace.