Skilled Independent Visa New Zealand stream
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Overview
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About this visa
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Eligibility
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Step by step
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When you have this visa
Stay
Permanently
Cost
N/A
Processing times
For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.
With this visa you can
- stay in Australia indefinitely
- work and study in Australia
- enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare
- sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
- travel to and from Australia for 5 years
- if eligible, become an Australian citizen
Newly arrived residents may have to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits.
How long you can stay
This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely. The visa has a travel component that expires 5 years after the date we grant you the visa.
For information about citizenship see Become an Australian citizen (by conferral) Permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens.
Include family
You can include members of the family unit in your application. You can:
- include them when you lodge your visa application
- add them after you lodge your application but before we decide on your visa.
Family members who apply for the visa must meet our health and character requirements.
If your partner or dependent children are not included in this application, tell us the reason why (for example, they already hold Australian citizenship or are a permanent resident).
Cost
The visa costs AUD4,240 for the main applicant.
There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.
The visa application charges are paid in two instalments. The first instalment is 20% of the total visa application charge payable at time of lodgement. The second instalment is the remaining 80% of the visa application charge. The second charge must be paid before we grant you your visa.
To work out what your visa will cost use the Visa Pricing Estimator.
You might also have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics.
Apply from
You must be in Australia and holding a Subclass 444 visa when you apply for the visa.
Any family members included in your application can be in or outside of Australia when you apply. However, if they are in Australia, they must hold a substantive visa or bridging A, B or C visa.
Processing times
For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.
We assess applications on a case-by-case basis, and actual processing times can vary due to individual circumstances including:
- whether you have lodged a complete application, including all necessary supporting documents
- how quickly you respond to any requests for additional information
- how long it takes to perform required checks on the supporting information provided
- how long it takes to receive additional information from external agencies, particularly in relation to health, character, and national security requirements
- for permanent migration visa applications, how many places are available in the migration program
Your obligations
You and your family members must obey all Australian laws.
Travel
You can travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date we grant the visa. After 5 years you will need a Resident Return (RRV) visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.
Visa label
We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
The Skilled Independent (subclass 189) (New Zealand stream) visa permanently closed to new applications on 1 July 2023. For more information see Recent changes.
Step 1
After you apply
See what you can and must do after you apply.
What will happen after you apply
We will let you know when we have received your application.
There are other things you need to know and might need to do.
Status updates
We don't give updates on applications within the standard processing time.
You can check if we need more information from you in ImmiAccount
Travel after you apply
If you are in Australia, you don't have to tell us if you want to travel outside Australia while we process your application. This is because you can be outside Australia when we make a decision.
But if you leave Australia, make sure you have a valid visa to return. To see if you can return on your current visa, check VEVO
Learn about visa expiry.
Health exams
If you didn't have health examinations before you applied, we will let you know if you need them.
Biometrics
We might ask for biometrics. We will let you know if you need to provide them.
Attach more documents
If you did not attach all documents when you applied, attach them as soon as you can in ImmiAccount.
We might also ask you to provide more information; however we are not obliged to do so and may make a decision on your application without asking for more documents.
Stay lawful
If you are in Australia, make sure you stay lawful by holding a valid visa while we process your application.
If you currently hold Special Category visa subclass 444 visa, this visa will remain in effect while you are in Australia.
If you made a valid application for this visa in Australia, you are usually eligible to be granted a bridging visa. If your current visa expires before we decide on your application, the bridging visa will come into effect if you do not hold another substantive visa. A substantive visa includes the subclass 444.
You can stay in Australia lawfully as the holder of a substantive or bridging visa while we process your visa application. However, as your subclass 189 visa application will not be processed unless you hold a subclass 444 visa, check how your subclass 444 could cease.
Learn more about visa expiry
Pay the second instalment
Pay the second instalment when we send you the invoice.
Add family
You can add members of the family unit to your application after you apply but before we decide on your visa.
Complete Form 1436 Adding an additional applicant after lodgement (481KB PDF), pay using ImmiAccount, attach the form and supporting documents to your ImmiAccount.
Family members who apply for the visa must meet our health and character requirements.
Newborn child
If your child is born after you submit your application but before we decide on your visa, you must tell us as soon as possible.
Find out what to do your child is born after you apply.
Mistakes on your application
You must tell us as soon as possible if you made a mistake on your application.
Complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers (168KB PDF) and attach it in ImmiAccount.
Help with your application
Let us know if you no longer want someone to:
- receive your correspondence - complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
- provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).
Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.
For more information see Who can help you with your application.
Tell us if things change
Things you need to let us know about after you have applied include:
- changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
- changes to your marital or de facto status
- the birth of a child
- you want to withdraw your application
See how to tell us if your situation changes.
Step 2
Visa outcome
You can be in or outside Australia when we decide your visa application. We will let you know our decision in writing.
If we grant your visa, we will tell you:
- your visa grant number
- the date your visa starts
- your visa conditions, if applicable
Keep a copy of the decision.
If we refuse your visa, we will tell you:
- why we refused the visa
- whether you have a right to a review of the decision
We will not refund the application charge if we refuse your application.
Coming to Australia
If you are outside Australia when the visa is granted, you must enter Australia before a date that we specify on your visa grant letter.
Before you leave
Check your travel documents.
You must have:
- a valid visa to enter Australia
- a valid passport or other travel document
At the border
Complete an Incoming Passenger Card
Everyone arriving in Australia must complete the Incoming Passenger Card. You will be given this card onboard.
Leaving the airport faster
We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.
In Australia
What you can do when you have this visa
- stay in Australia indefinitely
- work and study
- enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare
- sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
- travel to and from Australia for 5 years
- apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
Your visa may have conditions. To see your conditions use VEVO.
What you must do on this visa
You and your family members must obey all Australian laws.
Tell us if things change
Things you need to let us know about include:
- passport
- change of address
See what to do if your situation changes
See how long you can stay
This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.
Travelling on your visa
You can travel to and from Australia for 5 years from the date we grant the visa. After 5 years you will need a Resident Return (RRV) visa subclass (155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident. To see when the 5 years ends, use VEVO.
New Zealand passport holders
If an immigration officer processes your clearance at our border, we recommend you tell them:
- you have a Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- you do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444)
If you don't tell them, you might be granted a subclass 444 visa. Grant of a subclass 444 visa will cease your permanent visa, which will then affect your eligibility for Australian citizenship.
Proving you have a visa
To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, use VEVO
Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.
Working
You are protected by Australian workplace law. See your workplace rights and entitlements.
Bringing family
As an Australian permanent resident, you might be able to sponsor eligible family to come to Australia.
To find a visa for your family member, explore visa options.
Becoming an Australian citizen
After a certain time, you might be eligible for Australian citizenship. Find out more about becoming a citizen.
Leaving Australia
Before you leave
Check your travel documents
You must have a valid passport or other travel document to leave Australia.
Ensure your visa is still valid and allows you to re-enter Australia.
Check the travel component of your visa in VEVO.
See what to do if your visa has visa has expired or is about to expire.
At the border
Leaving the airport faster
We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You could leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.
After you leave
Prove you have been to Australia
Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.
