New 189 visa for New Zealanders

Australian government announce additional pathway to permanent residence for New Zealanders

Temporary closure of New Zealand stream 189 visa applications

10 December 2022

The New Zealand stream 189 visa has temporarily closed to new applications from 10 December 2022 until 1 July 2023. This is a temporary pause on new applications while the Government considers future migration and citizenship pathways for New Zealand citizens in Australia, reflecting the close ties between the two countries.

Find out more about the NZ 189 visa closure clearing the backlog of applications.

Permanent visa for New Zealanders

23 February 2016

The Australian government has announced an additional pathway to permanent residence, and therefore citizenship, for some New Zealand non-protected Special Category Visa-holders (SCVs). The Skilled Independent 189 (New Zealand) Stream visa is available from 1 July 2017.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for the new 189 (NZ) stream visa, the primary applicant must:

be a non-protected Special Category Visa-holder
have arrived in Australia after 26 February 2001, but on or before 19 February 2016
have been resident in Australia for the five years immediately prior to applying
have earned at least $53,900 taxable income in three of the of the last five financial years if applying after 1 July 2021.
meet the standard health, character and security checks.

There is no maximum age restriction when applying for the Skilled Independent 189 (New Zealand) Stream.

The primary applicant can include their partner and dependent children on the application. Their partner and children only need to meet the health, character and security checks.

Exemptions to the income threshold

There are limited exemptions to the income requirement, particularly for vulnerable New Zealand citizens. You might be eligible an income exemption if you are either:

the primary care giver of children, who cannot return to New Zealand with their children due to a court order; or
are receiving compensation for an injury which prevents you earning at or above the income threshold, and returning to New Zealand would discontinue your rehabilitation and/or compensation; or
on an approved period of parental or carer’s leave; and immediately prior to the period of leave, had an annual income that was no less than the income threshold; and you must have resumed, or intend to resume, earning an income that is no less than the income threshold.

Please note: being made redundant, becoming unemployed, salary sacrificing and negative gearing are not grounds for an income exemption.

More details of how income exemptions will be assessed can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Cost

The Visa Application Charges (VAC) for the new visa are:

primary applicant $4,240
partner $2,120
each dependent child aged 18 to 22 $2,120
each child under 18 $1,060

Applicants will only have to pay 20 percent of the VAC when they lodge their application, with the remainder to be paid before the visa is granted.

Please note

This new visa does not impact on New Zealanders eligibility for a Resident Return Visa. However, if you need to sponsor family, especially a child about to start university, you must consider whether RRV or NZ 189 visa is best for your circumstances.

Fees for RRV and sponsorship:

RRV application fee $425
partner sponsorship fee $8,085
dependent child, included on the partner application, $4,045 if aged 18 to 24, and $2,035 if aged under 18
if you are only sponsoring a dependent child/children the fee is $2,790 per child

Dependent child definition

A child is deemed to be dependent if they are single, dependent on the sponsoring parent, and either:

aged under 18; or
a student aged between 18 and 25 who commenced full time study no more than six months after leaving school; or
18 or older and unable to work due to a disability.

If you are a Protected Special Category Visa-holder (PSCV) you can apply for citizenship, provided you have resided in Australia for four years immediately prior to applying. Refer to Your Australian Citizenship Options for more information.

Additional information

Refer to the New Zealand Stream 189 Visa on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Applying for the new permanent visa

Have a question?

Phone the Department of Home Affairs on 13 18 81 or contact them via social media. Please do not provide your personal details on a public forum.

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Disclaimer:

The above “New 189 visa for New Zealanders” information should not be relied on as an alternative to advice from the Department of Home Affairs, or a professional immigration services provider.

If you have any specific questions about an immigration matter, you should consult the Department of Home Affairs or a professional immigration services provider.

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