IELTS Requirements
IELTS Requirements for New Zealand Visas & Skilled Migrant Category
New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category operates as a points-based ballot. IELTS scores above 6.5 qualify as "Skilled English", which adds points to your Expression of Interest and strengthens your visa application.
160+ points
Skilled Migrant ballot threshold (indicative)
+10 to +20 points
English bonus for Skilled/Good level
Up to 3 years
Post-Study Work Visa duration
~30,000
Indian students in NZ
Quick Reference - All Visa Types
Minimum IELTS band scores required. Click any row for the full breakdown.
| Visa / Programme | Overall | |
|---|---|---|
Skilled Migrant Skilled English = 6.5 per component | 6.5 | Full guide |
Student Visa Foundation level minimum; degree programmes require 6.0+ | 5.0 | Full guide |
Note for Indian applicants
New Zealand is valued for its quality of life and relatively accessible skilled migrant pathway. Indian IT, engineering, and healthcare professionals are among the top occupation groups invited through the Skilled Migrant Category.
Visa Type Breakdowns
How much does it cost to live in New Zealand?
Monthly budget estimates for students - rent, food, transport and more, in INR equivalent.
Decision Intelligence
Everything you need to decide confidently - not just numbers
What your life will actually feel like in Canada on a standard budget:
Future Wealth Projection
What your income can build over time in Canada
| Country | Savings | Career | Safety | Social Life | Healthcare | Tax Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦 Canada | High | Very High | High | High | High | Medium |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Medium | High | High | High | Very High | High |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Medium | High | High | Very High | Very High | Medium |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Medium | High | High | Medium | Very High | High |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Medium | High | High | High | Very High | High |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | Medium | Very High | High | High | High | High |
Which skill do you need to improve first?
Set your target band for New Zealand and find the single-skill easiest path to reach it.
Current
6.5
+0.5 band to go
Target
7.0
Easiest path to Band 7
Improve Listening by +2.0 (6.5 → 8.5) while keeping others the same.
Dictation drills for Section 4, shadowing at 0.9× speed, and timed note-completion practice.
Single-skill path to Band 7
Listening
Currently 6.5 → need 8.5
Reading
Currently 6.0 → need 8.0
Writing
Currently 6.0 → need 8.0
Speaking
Currently 6.5 → need 8.5
Do this next
Stop spreading effort across all four modules. Your fastest route to Band 7.0 is Listening.
Students lose time when they "study harder" instead of fixing the exact skill blocking the next score jump.
Start Listening improvement nowPractice for your exact target score
Set your target band, take mock tests, and get AI feedback on exactly what is holding you below your score.
Start practising free