Skilled Independent Visa
Subclass 189
(New Zealand Stream)
(Permanent)
Overview
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As a permanent visa, Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) – New Zealand stream provides a streamlined process for New Zealand citizens who have lived and worked in Australia long-term to acquire permanent residency.
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Drastically different from the usual Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) – Points-test stream, the New Zealand stream involves no points test, Expressions of Interest (EOI), invitation or state/territory nomination and can be applied for directly if eligible.
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You may include your family in your visa application so your entire family can migrate together.
Eligibility
hold Special Category Visa (Subclass 444) and your family members in Australia (if any) must hold:
- a substantive visa; or
- subclass 010 Bridging A visa; or
- subclass 020 Bridging B visa; or
- subclass 030 Bridging C visa
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have been usually resident in Australia for a continuous period of at least 5 years starting on or before 19 February 2016.
have had an annual taxable income of at least $53,900 for at least 3 completed financial years in the past 5 years and one of these years must be your most recently completed financial year (unless exempt)
meet health and character requirements
Special Notes
‘Usually Resident’ Requirement Explained
The place that a person is ‘usually resident’ is decided by taking into account their physical residence (where the person eats, sleeps, has a home) and the person’s intention to make that place their home.
The primary applicant must have been ‘usually resident’ in Australia on 19 February 2016, and continuously up to the time of applying for the visa, they need to be living in Australia for 5 years. This is a two-stage assessment/criteria check which will rely on movement’s records and evidence of residence.
Assessing whether an applicant is ‘usually resident’ may be seen in a variety of factors, including:
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maintaining a home in Australia
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working in Australia
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owning property, business or other interests in Australia
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having family and other ties in Australia
Note:
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Evidence of residence should be considered in conjunction with evidence of income as payment of tax also supports that an applicant has been usually resident.
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Applicants may, in some circumstances, be considered as usually resident in Australia even when they are not physically present in Australia (for example fly-in/fly-out workers).
Location
Applicants may be in or outside Australia at the time of application and visa grant.
Duration of Stay
This is a permanent visa that allows you to stay permanently in Australia. However, its travel facility expires after 5 years so you will need to apply for Resident Return Visa (Subclass 155 & 157) or Australian citizenship (if eligible) if you wish to travel overseas and back to Australia after the expiry date.
Benefits
With this visa, you may:
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migrate to Australia together with your family
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stay and live in Australia permanently
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potentially bring your extended family members to Australia permanently on parent visa or visa intended for other relatives
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access various government benefits, including but not limited to:
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pension
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unemployment and job-seeking benefits
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concession cards for commuting
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benefits associated with new-born baby
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interest-free school loan
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travel overseas and back to Australia without limitations for any purposes (e.g. overseas holiday, visiting family and/or attending family matters in home country)
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access Australia’s public health care scheme (Medicare) which essentially provides free medical consultations, operations and hospitalization for a wide range of medical conditions
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work in Australia without any limitations
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study in Australia without any limitations
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apply for Australian citizenship when eligible
Application Fees
You may include your family in your Subclass 189 visa application so your entire family can migrate together.
First Instalment
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Primary applicant: $825
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Each additional applicant aged 18 or above: $410
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Each additional applicant under 18: $205
Second Instalment
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Main applicant: $3290
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Each additional applicant aged 18 or above: $1645
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Each additional applicant under 18: $825
Please note: you may incur third-party charges, for example, for police certificate and health exam.
Processing Time
Kindly note the processing time constantly varies. Please contact us for update.
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75% of applications: 19 months
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90% of applications: 20 months
