Occupational English Test: from 12 July, every part must be sat in person

From 12 July 2026 all parts of the Occupational English Test (OET) must be completed in person at a supervised test centre. It will no longer be possible to complete any part of the test online from home. Immigration New Zealand says the change is intended to keep the testing process fair for everyone, protect the integrity of the immigration system, and make sure results genuinely reflect each person's own skills and ability.

What is changing

OET is an English language test commonly used by applicants working in the health sector. Immigration New Zealand will now only accept in-person test results where OET is used as the English language test, meaning every part of the test must be completed at a supervised facility.

What about tests already taken

If you completed the computer-based OET test with a remotely administered speaking component before 13 July 2026, those results can still be used for your application. The OET@Home test has never been an acceptable English language test for Immigration New Zealand purposes and remains unacceptable.

What to do next

If you are due to sit OET on or after 13 July 2026, you will need to book a supervised test centre appointment rather than a remote sitting. It is worth checking test centre locations and availability with OET ahead of your intended application timeline.

If you are unsure how this change affects your application or your test booking, our team can assist.