Information for New Zealanders living in Australia

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.
Australian government announce additional pathway to permanent residence for New Zealanders Temporary closure of New Zealand stream 189 visa applications.

Closure of New Zealand stream 189 visa

The New Zealand stream 189 visa temporarily closed to new applications on 10 December 2022 while the Government considered future migration and citizenship pathways for New Zealand citizens in Australia.

On 22 April 2023 the Government announced a direct citizenship pathway for non-protected Special Category Visa-holders.

The New Zealand Stream 189 visa was closed permanently from 1 July 2023. Applications already submitted will be finalised in the coming months.

Find out more about clearing the backlog of NZ Stream 189 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:

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 requi rement, particularly for vulnerable New Zealand citizens. You might be eligible an income exemption if you are either:

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

Cost

The Visa Application Charges (VAC) for the new visa are (2022 fee in brackets):

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.

Dependent child definition

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


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.