PTE for a New Zealand Visa
The PTE Academic score you need depends on your visa, and English is a pass or fail requirement, not points. Here are the current thresholds and how to reach yours.
PTE scores at a glance
English is a pass or fail requirement, not points. Always confirm the current rule with Immigration New Zealand.
What PTE score do I need for a New Zealand visa?
For skilled residence, the principal applicant needs an overall PTE Academic score of 58 (equivalent to IELTS 6.5). Partners and dependents aged 16 and over need PTE 36. For the Accredited Employer Work Visa the minimum is PTE 29. Study requirements are not set by Immigration New Zealand; your education provider sets them under NZQA rules.
PTE score thresholds at a glance
| Pathway / applicant | Minimum PTE (overall) | Equivalent IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled residence, principal applicant (Skilled Migrant, Straight to Residence, Work to Residence) | 58 | 6.5 |
| Skilled residence, partner or dependent child 16+ | 36 | 5.0 |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa (ANZSCO skill levels 3 to 5) | 29 | 4.0 |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa (skill levels 1 and 2) | No English test required | Not applicable |
| Study, bachelor level (set by your provider under NZQA) | 50 (no band below 42) | 6.0 |
| Study, postgraduate level (set by your provider under NZQA) | 58 (no band below 50) | 6.5 |
Scores are overall PTE Academic unless stated. Study minimums are set by your education provider under NZQA, not a single Immigration NZ score, and many programmes ask for more. Results must be from an approved test centre and less than 2 years old. Always confirm the current requirement for your visa with Immigration New Zealand or a licensed immigration adviser.
Does Immigration New Zealand accept PTE Academic?
Yes. Immigration New Zealand accepts PTE Academic as evidence of English for visas that carry an English requirement, alongside tests such as IELTS and OET. Two practical conditions apply: your test must be sat in person at an approved test centre, and your result must be less than 2 years old when you lodge your application.
English is a threshold requirement, not extra points
Once you reach the minimum PTE score for your visa, you have met the English requirement, and a higher score earns you no extra visa points. The Skilled Migrant Category is points-based overall, but English itself is a prerequisite, not a points contributor. So aim for the score your pathway actually needs; pushing well past it does not move your application forward.
There are good reasons some people aim higher anyway: certain occupational registration bodies and university programmes set their own higher bars. But for the visa English requirement itself, the threshold is the finish line.
PTE for the Skilled Migrant Category
The principal applicant and any partner or dependent aged 16 or over are assessed against different English thresholds. Here is how each one works.
Principal applicant
You generally need an overall PTE Academic score of 58 (equivalent to IELTS 6.5). The test must be sat in person at an approved centre, and your result must be under 2 years old when you lodge.
From 24 August 2026, results are valid for 5 years instead of 2 if you hold a recognised occupational registration, which gives registered professionals more breathing room between sitting the test and applying.
Partners and dependent children
Partners and dependent children aged 16 and over need a lower score, generally PTE 36 (equivalent to IELTS 5.0). A partner who cannot reach that level may instead pre-pay for approved English lessons; that option is not open to the principal applicant.
Children aged 15 or younger need no evidence of English at all. We can coach partners and dependents to their required level alongside the principal applicant. See our Green List English score strategy for how families plan this together.
Validity and where to sit the test
How long is my PTE result valid?
A PTE Academic result is generally valid for 2 years from the test date. The date that matters is the day you lodge your visa application: your result needs to still be inside that window when you apply, not when you booked the test.
From 24 August 2026, results are valid for 5 years for applicants who hold a recognised occupational registration. If you sat your test a while ago, check the dates before you build your application around it. Our guide on scores expiring before you lodge walks through the timing.
Where do I sit the PTE test in New Zealand?
The official PTE Academic test is booked and sat at an approved Pearson test centre, including centres in Auckland. You book the sitting directly with Pearson and choose a date that suits you.
Target Language Academy provides the coaching and the exam-style mock practice that gets you ready. We do not run the official sitting; we prepare you for it, then you book the real test with Pearson once you are scoring at target in our mocks.
Preparing for your PTE target score
We coach you to the exact score your pathway needs, not higher, so you are done sooner and back to your life. There is no prize for overshooting a threshold, so we keep the target honest.
We start with a free assessment of where you are today, then tell you plainly what is realistic and how long it should take. Some learners sitting close to their target close the gap in a week; others build over a couple of months. Either way you get small group classes and full-length mock tests under real exam conditions, with personalised feedback after each one.
For more on how to pick your target, see PTE 58 vs 79 in New Zealand, or read about our full PTE coaching in Auckland.
Our PTE coaching packages start from $700 NZD, with intensive, weekday, and weekend options. Enrol online and save 10% on selected courses with code TLAWeb26. T&Cs apply.
See all PTE packages and pricingPTE for NZ visa FAQs
Clear answers on thresholds, validity, and how the English requirement works.
What PTE score do I need for the Skilled Migrant Category resident visa?
Does a higher PTE score give me more points for a New Zealand visa?
Does Immigration New Zealand accept PTE Academic?
What PTE score does a partner or dependent need?
How long is a PTE result valid for a New Zealand visa?
Where do I sit the PTE test in New Zealand?
Ready to start? Explore PTE coaching in Auckland, compare your options in PTE vs IELTS for an NZ visa, or check whether you might be exempt in NZ visa English exemptions.