New Zealand AEWV Update:
English Requirement Extends to Skill Level 3 Roles from 1 June 2026
紐西蘭 AEWV 新規：2026 年 6 月 1 日起 Skill Level 3 職位也要英文證明
Immigration New Zealand has confirmed that from 1 June 2026, AEWV applicants in ANZSCO or National Occupation List skill level 3 roles must meet the minimum English language requirement, with targeted transitional exemptions for some current AEWV holders.
Immigration New Zealand has confirmed that from 1 June 2026, AEWV applicants in ANZSCO or National Occupation List skill level 3 roles must meet the minimum English language requirement, with targeted transitional exemptions for some current AEWV holders.
What has changed
Immigration New Zealand has announced that from 1 June 2026, minimum English language requirements for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) will extend to ANZSCO and National Occupation List (NOL) skill level 3 occupations.
The English requirement already applied to AEWV roles at skill levels 4 and 5. The policy change brings skill level 3 roles into the same minimum-English framework.
Who is affected
The change affects people applying for an AEWV in a skill level 3 role from 1 June 2026. INZ says this applies even where the employer received a job check token before 1 June 2026.
The requirement does not retrospectively change a current valid AEWV. INZ also notes that Global Workforce Seasonal Visa and Peak Seasonal Visa AEWV applications are not required to meet the minimum English standard, and the requirement does not apply to Job Change applications.
Evidence and transitional arrangements
The official minimum standard is described as basic, everyday English. INZ's English requirement page lists acceptable evidence routes, including approved English-language test results such as IELTS overall 4.0 or equivalent accepted scores.
People already holding an AEWV that expires on or before 1 December 2026 will be exempt from the new English requirement when applying for a further AEWV at skill level 3. People who have already provided English evidence in a previous AEWV application may also be exempt.
What applicants and employers should check now
Applicants should first confirm the job's ANZSCO or NOL skill level, then check whether they already qualify through an exemption or need to arrange an accepted test result.
Employers recruiting into skill level 3 roles should build the English evidence timeline into hiring plans. Immigration advice should be provided only by appropriately qualified professionals or through official channels.