New Zealanders who applied for a Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa before 10 December 2022 will be pleased to know that the Australian Government has prioritised their visa processing. To speed things up, applicants no longer need to meet the following criteria: Be resident in Australia for a continuous period of at least five years immediately prior to the date of application, Meet the taxable income threshold in relation to three income years within five years immediately before the date of application (including the income year that ended most recently before the date of application), or be exempt, for example due to care of a child who is to remain in Australia; and Satisfy Public Interest Criterion (PIC) 4007 relating to health. Additionally, those granted a New Zealand stream visa (and their New Zealand citizen family members also granted a Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa), will have their citizenship pathway expedited. Find out more about Eligibility Requirements here. Unfortunately, however, if you have not submitted a visa application, you’ll now have to wait until 1 July 2023 to do so. This is because the Australian Government has put a pause on applications while it processes those in hand and considers future migration and citizenship pathways for New Zealand citizens in Australia. Need Help with Your Visa Application? Visa applications can be time consuming and costly. Experts at The Ayers Group can help you prepare and submit your application. With over 20 years in the business, we are one of few companies approved by the Australian Department of Home Affairs (Immigration Department) to hire and on hire international workers. For advice or to find out more, talk to an expert at The Ayers Group today.