189 Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – New Zealand stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), New Zealand stream
Application status	Closed to new applications
Closure date	1 July 2023
Stay	Permanent; indefinite stay
Cost	N/A
Eligibility timing	Had to hold subclass 444
Work rights	Work in Australia
Study	Study in Australia
Medicare	Can enrol in Medicare
Travel facility	Five years from grant
Citizenship	May apply if eligible
Family sponsorship	May sponsor eligible relatives
Family inclusion	Family unit members allowed
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Processing	Case-by-case; guide only

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Purpose and status

The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), New Zealand stream, allowed eligible New Zealand citizens who had demonstrated commitment and contribution to Australia to live and work in Australia permanently.

This stream permanently closed to new applications on 1 July 2023.

Stay and rights

This is a permanent visa that allows you to:

• Stay in Australia indefinitely.
• Work and study in Australia.
• Enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare.
• Sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia.
• Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
• Receive protection under Australian workplace law.

Newly arrived residents may need to wait before accessing certain Australian Government payments and benefits.

Travel

The visa travel component expires 5 years after visa grant. During those 5 years, you can travel to and from Australia as often as you want.

After the travel component expires, you need a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157) to return to Australia as a permanent resident.

Check your travel facility and visa conditions through VEVO.

Warning for New Zealand passport holders

If an immigration officer processes your border clearance, tell them that:

• You hold a Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189); and
• You do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444).

If granted a subclass 444 visa, your permanent visa may cease. This may affect your eligibility for Australian citizenship.

Family provisions

You could include members of your family unit:

• When lodging the application; or
• After lodgement but before a decision.

Family applicants must meet health and character requirements.

If your partner or dependent children were not included, you had to explain why, for example because they were Australian citizens or permanent residents.

To add a family member after lodgement, complete Form 1436—Adding an additional applicant after lodgement, pay through ImmiAccount, and attach the form and supporting documents.

As a permanent resident, you might be able to sponsor eligible family members for other Australian visas.

Historical application requirements

When applications were open, the primary applicant had to:

• Be in Australia.
• Hold a Special Category visa (subclass 444).

Included family members could be inside or outside Australia. If in Australia, they had to hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C.

Cost

This stream is closed to new applications.

When it was open:

• Visa application charges were paid in two instalments.
• The first instalment was 20% at lodgement.
• The second instalment was the remaining 80% before grant.
• Each applying family member incurred an additional charge.
• Other possible costs included health examinations, police certificates and biometrics.

A refused application did not result in a visa application charge refund.

Processing

Processing was assessed case by case. Timeframes could vary depending on:

• Whether the application was complete.
• How quickly requested information was provided.
• Health, character and national-security checks.
• Information from external agencies.
• Available places in the migration program.

The Department did not provide updates for applications within standard processing times. Applicants could check requests for information through ImmiAccount.

Obligations and conditions

You and your family members must obey all Australian laws.

Your visa may have conditions. Check them through VEVO.

Tell the Department about changes to your:

• Passport.
• Address.
• Phone number or email address.
• Marital or de facto relationship status.
• Family circumstances, including a child born after application.
• Intention to withdraw an application.

If you made an error in an application, complete Form 1023—Notification of incorrect answers and upload it through ImmiAccount.

After application

When applications were being processed:

• Attach missing documents promptly through ImmiAccount.
• Provide further information if requested; the Department may decide without requesting more documents.
• Complete health examinations or biometrics if requested.
• Pay the second instalment when invoiced.
• Stay lawful in Australia by holding a valid visa.
• Ensure you have a valid visa to return if travelling outside Australia.

A valid onshore application would usually make an applicant eligible for a bridging visa if their current visa expired, provided they did not hold another substantive visa.

Decision and visa record

The Department could decide an application while the applicant was inside or outside Australia.

If granted, the written decision included:

• Visa grant number.
• Visa start date.
• Applicable visa conditions.

Keep a copy of the decision.

The visa is digitally linked to your passport; no passport label is issued. Use VEVO to prove your visa status and conditions.