Information for New Zealanders living in Australia

New Zealand 189 visa

Closure of New Zealand stream 189 visa

22 April 2023

The New Zealand stream 189 visa closed to new applications on 10 December 2022 and closed permanently from 1 July 2023. Applications already submitted will be finalised in the coming months.

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

Backdated PR

In recognition of the extraordinary wait-times to process the New Zealand Stream 189 visa, New Zealand citizens who were granted the NZ 189 visa after 31 December 2021 and before 1 July 2023 can apply for Australian citizenship from 1 January 2023. They do not have wait 12 months but must meet the usual health and character criteria.

New direct citizenship pathway

Following a review of New Zealanders rights in Australia the Albanese Labor Government announced that non-protected Special Category Visa-holders who have resided in Australia for at least the past four years can apply directly for citizenship from the 1 July 2023 without needing to apply for a permanent visa.


Overview

A new permanent visa, the Skilled Independent 189 (New Zealand) Stream became available on 1 July 2017 for some non-protected Special Category Visa-holders (SCV). It was closed to new applications on 10 December 2022 and closed permanently from 1 July 2023.

The primary applicant needed to either meet the income threshold in each of the four most recent financial years, or be eligible for an income exemption. Note: from 1 July 2021 only 3 of the last 5 years income needed to meet the income threshold.

Not all New Zealanders were eligible to apply, including students, retirees, carers of children and some people unable to work due to an injury. Being made redundant, becoming unemployed, salary sacrificing, and negative gearing were not grounds for an income exemption.

Who was eligible?

To be eligible for the NZ 189 visa, the primary applicant needed to:

If you began residing in Australia on 19 February 2016, you could apply after five years, provided you met the other eligibility criteria. If you were not in Australia on 19 February 2016, but could demonstrate you were usually resident you were eligible to apply.

Income exemptions

You were eligible for an income exemption if you are prevented by an Australian authority from leaving Australia to return to New Zealand. This includes:

Fees

The Visa Application Charges (VAC) at 1 July 2022 were:

Processing time

In July 2023 processing times were:


Disclaimer:

The above “Applying for the New Zealand 189 Visa” 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.