A partner or child aged 16 or over who does not meet the requirements above, they can still meet our standard by paying for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). This allows them to improve their English after they arrive in New Zealand.
You pay for the level of course required depending on your current level of English. If you have no IELTS certificate, or a score below 3.5, you have to pay the full amount. But if you have had an IELTS test and your score was 3.5 or above, you will pay less.
If overall IELTS band score is... ... then you'll pay
4.5 or more but below 5 NZ$1,700
4 or more but below 4.5 NZ$3,350
3.5 or more but below 4 NZ$5,000
Below 3.5 NZ$6,650
You purchase tuition from New Zealand's Tertiary Education Commission. You must pay us for the ESOL training before we will grant your residence class visa. The fee includes the tuition cost and an administration fee.
SM5.20.15 The amount of ESOL tuition to be pre-purchased by non-principal applicants
a. The amount of ESOL tuition to be pre-purchased is determined by the applicant's average IELTS score across all four bands (as shown in their "Overall Band" score in the IELTS Test Report Form) according to the following table.
Overall Band score Charge to be paid
4.5 or more but less than 5 NZ$1,735
4 or more, but less than 4.5 NZ$3,420
3.5 or more, but less than 4 NZ$5,110
Less than 3.5 NZ$6,795
b. The charge includes the applicant's ESOL tuition entitlement, as well as the INZ and TEC administration costs.
c. If an applicant has not submitted IELTS results when requested, the maximum charge of NZ$6,795 applies.