Master prompt
AEWV (Accredited Employer Work Visa) English language requirement — WI10.15
IELTS overall 4 (or equivalent) for non-Green-List AEWV workers paid below 2x median. Exempt categories: Green List occupations, 2x median wage, ANZSCO 1/2/3 skill level. Indian client logistics.
New ZealandAEWVWork visaEmployer EnglishWI10.15INZ
Advise [CLIENT_NAME] on the AEWV (Accredited Employer Work Visa) English language requirement under Immigration Instructions WI10.15 for offered employment with [EMPLOYER_NAME] as [ANZSCO_OCCUPATION] at NZ$[EMPLOYMENT_HOURLY_RATE]/hr.
CLIENT SUMMARY
- Name: [CLIENT_NAME]
- ANZSCO occupation: [ANZSCO_OCCUPATION]
- Employer: [EMPLOYER_NAME]
- Hourly rate: NZ$[EMPLOYMENT_HOURLY_RATE]
- Green List status: [GREEN_LIST_STATUS]
- Education + language: [EDUCATION_BACKGROUND]
- Prior English test: None
§1 — AEWV ENGLISH FRAMEWORK (WI10.15)
The AEWV English language requirement applies to most workers UNLESS one of the exemption pathways below applies. Source: INZ Operations Manual chapter WI10.15.
Default rule: applicant must demonstrate English at IELTS overall band 4.0 (any sub-band, General Training accepted) OR equivalent in another INZ-accepted test.
Equivalents (per E5):
- PTE Academic: 29 overall
- TOEFL iBT: 31 overall
- Cambridge B1 Preliminary: 140
- OET: grade D (health workers only)
Score validity: 2 years from test date (E5.10).
§2 — EXEMPTION PATHWAYS (WI10.15.1)
Check each — if any apply, English test NOT required:
(a) GREEN LIST EXEMPTION:
- Occupation on Green List Tier 1 (Straight to Residence): English test not required for the work visa
- Occupation on Green List Tier 2 (Work to Residence): English test not required for the work visa
- For [GREEN_LIST_STATUS]: state APPLIES or DOES NOT APPLY
(b) HIGH-WAGE EXEMPTION:
- Paid 2x median wage OR more — currently NZ$59.94/hr (verify; median NZ$29.97/hr Apr 2026)
- Cross-check [EMPLOYMENT_HOURLY_RATE]:
- If NZ$59.94/hr or higher: EXEMPT
- Below: NOT exempt on wage grounds
(c) ANZSCO SKILL LEVEL 1, 2, 3 EXEMPTION (limited):
- ANZSCO 1 (Managers), 2 (Professionals), 3 (Technicians and Trades) generally have higher English implicit requirement
- For some occupations, professional registration in NZ replaces test (e.g. Nursing Council, Medical Council, NZ Engineering Council registration)
- Confirm against specific WI10.15 sub-rules
(d) CITIZEN OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRY EXEMPTION:
- Citizen by birth of UK / Ireland / USA / Canada / Australia / South Africa: deemed to meet requirement
- Indian client: NOT exempt by birth
(e) ENGLISH-MEDIUM EDUCATION EXEMPTION:
- 5+ years primary/secondary education AT recognised institution in English-medium country
- OR Bachelor's or higher delivered in English at recognised institution
- For [EDUCATION_BACKGROUND]:
- "BTech IIT Madras English-medium": LIKELY EXEMPT (Indian English-medium Bachelor's typically accepted; INZ assesses case-by-case)
- "Class 12 CBSE English-medium": MAY NOT EXEMPT (Bachelor's level threshold more reliable)
- "Class 10 Punjabi-medium, ITI hospitality cert Hindi-medium": NOT EXEMPT — needs test
- Note: INZ's "5 years at recognised institution" test is conservative; not all Indian English-medium schools accepted
(f) PRIOR ENGLISH-MEDIUM WORK EXPERIENCE:
- 5+ years recent (last 8 years) skilled work in English-speaking country
- For None: "Working in UAE 6 years (English workplace)" — UAE counts under WI10.15 as English-speaking workplace if documented; case-by-case
(g) PRIOR INZ VISA HOLDER WITH ENGLISH ACCEPTED:
- Previous Student Visa for English-medium NZ programme: typically exempt
- Previous AEWV / work visa where English test passed: previous score may be re-used if within 2-year validity
§3 — APPLY TO [CLIENT_NAME]
Step-by-step:
Step 1: Green List check — [GREEN_LIST_STATUS]
State: EXEMPT via Green List / NOT exempt via Green List
Step 2: Wage check — [EMPLOYMENT_HOURLY_RATE] vs NZ$59.94/hr
State: EXEMPT via high wage / NOT exempt via wage
Step 3: Education check — [EDUCATION_BACKGROUND]
State: LIKELY EXEMPT via English-medium Bachelor's / NOT exempt
Step 4: Prior test check — None
State: PRIOR TEST VALID (within 2 years, overall ≥ 4.0) / EXPIRED / NEVER TESTED
If any step 1-4 returns EXEMPT: no test needed. Proceed to documentation.
If all return NOT EXEMPT: test required. Recommend IELTS GT or PTE Academic per slot 1 advisory.
§4 — IF TEST REQUIRED: RECOMMENDATION
Target: IELTS GT overall 4.0 minimum, ideally overall 5.0 for buffer.
Why 5.0 buffer:
- Allows re-use for future SMC partner application (overall 5.0 threshold)
- Buffer for IELTS half-band downward fluctuation between attempts
- Demonstrates "above-minimum" for workplace English credibility
Test selection per slot 1 advisory:
- IELTS GT: most familiar, Indian centres dense
- PTE Academic: faster results, no face-to-face Speaking
- OET: only for health workers (ANZSCO 25xxxx)
Coaching:
- 4-6 weeks IELTS GT prep for trade workers / [EDUCATION_BACKGROUND] Punjabi-medium clients
- 2-3 weeks if [EDUCATION_BACKGROUND] is English-medium Bachelor's or higher (target 5.0+)
- Cost: INR 8,000-15,000 group coaching; INR 25,000-40,000 1:1
§5 — DOCUMENTATION FOR INZ FILE
If claiming an exemption:
- Green List: confirm employer's job ad references Green List occupation; INZ checks ANZSCO match
- High wage: employment agreement showing NZ$[EMPLOYMENT_HOURLY_RATE]/hr; payroll history
- English-medium education: original degree certificate + transcript + university medium-of-instruction certificate
- Prior workplace English: employer reference letters confirming English working language
If submitting test result:
- Original Test Report Form (TRF) — IELTS / PTE / Cambridge / OET
- Result must be uploaded to INZ ImmigrationONLINE portal at lodgement
- INZ may verify directly with test provider (TRF Verification — IELTS Verification Service, PTE Score Validation)
§6 — SPOUSE / PARTNER ENGLISH (if applicant brings family)
AEWV partner (work visa, dependent on AEWV holder):
- NO English requirement for the partner work visa
- But if partner later moves to SMC PR, partner needs IELTS 5.0 or tuition bond
AEWV dependent child Student Visa:
- Depends on school's own English admission policy
- INZ does not impose separate English test for dependent children
§7 — RISK FLAGS
Risk 1: Employer offers job at NZ$30/hr (median wage, marginally below 2x threshold)
Mitigation: Negotiate to 2x median (NZ$59.94+) OR sit IELTS GT 4.0
Flag: marginal-wage AEWVs face stricter INZ scrutiny
Risk 2: Indian English-medium degree not accepted by INZ as Bachelor's English equivalent
Mitigation: Sit IELTS GT as backup; do not rely solely on education exemption for borderline cases
Risk 3: ANZSCO code in employer's accreditation does not match employer's job description
Mitigation: Confirm ANZSCO code with INZ ANZSCO search before signing offer letter
Risk 4: Green List status changes between job offer and visa lodgement
Mitigation: Track INZ Green List quarterly; re-verify within 30 days of lodgement
Risk 5: Score validity expires during visa processing
Mitigation: Lodge AEWV within 18 months of test date — leaves 6 months buffer
§8 — DECISION SUMMARY (one-line)
Format for exempt: "[CLIENT_NAME] exempt from AEWV English requirement under WI10.15.1([letter]) — [reason]. Submit [evidence type] with AEWV application. No test required."
Format for test-required: "[CLIENT_NAME] must demonstrate English to IELTS GT overall 4.0 (or PTE 29 / TOEFL 31). Recommend IELTS GT, target overall 5.0 for buffer. Sit at [centre], 4-6 weeks prep, total cost NZ$330 test + INR 15,000 coaching. Submit TRF with AEWV file."
End with: "DRAFT — for IAA-licensed immigration adviser review. Verify Green List occupations against current INZ Green List (Tier 1 + Tier 2), confirm 2x median wage threshold (verify current — Apr 2026 was NZ$59.94/hr), and confirm English-medium education exemption case-by-case with INZ branch. WI10.15 exemption sub-rules are amended periodically — re-check Operations Manual within 7 days of lodgement."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt