Visas for New Zealand citizens

In the 2003-04 financial year, 29,004 New Zealand citizens came to Australia as permanent and long-term arrivals.

As a New Zealand citizen you only need to apply for a permanent Australian visa if you wish to:

• access certain social security payments; and/or
• obtain Australian citizenship; and/or
• sponsor family members for permanent residence;

AND

you arrived in Australia on or after 27 February 2001 and you:

• do not hold a certificate issued under the Social Security Act 1991, stating that you were residing in Australia on a particular date; or
• were not in Australia on 26 February 2001 as a Special Category visa (subclass 444) holder; or
• were outside Australia on 26 February 2001 and you have not spent at least 12 months in Australia as the holder of a Special Category visa (subclass 444) visa in the 2 years immediately before that date.

If you are a New Zealand citizen and you wish to apply for a permanent Australian visa based on your skills, your visa options are outlined in below. Select a visa which best suits your circumstances, then contact us for further details on how to proceed.

Skilled - Independent (subclass 175)

This visa allows New Zealand citizens living in Australia to apply without a sponsor, if their qualifications, job skills, and record of employment is good. This means they will be able to settle into the Australian way of life and find work within a short period. If you are applying for this visa, you will also need excellent English and to be of a young working age. This visa is points tested.

This is the visa for young people who don't have family in Australia, and who have good prospects. You don't necessarily need an employer.

Skilled - Regional Sponsored (subclass 475)

This visa is for New Zealanders already in Australia who wish to apply for Australian permanent residency. An Australian relative may sponsor you, provided they live in a district of low population or economic growth - inside one of the Designated Areas listed in the website. This visa has the basic requirements of all skilled visas, but it is not points tested.

To sponsor a migrant to Australia, you must be either a permanent resident or a citizen. If you are an Australian permanent resident, then you must be financially independent before you can sponsor someone else.

Skilled - Sponsored (subclass 176)

This visa for permanent residency in Australia is very similar to the other skilled visas for New Zealand citizens. The difference is that a relative living in Australia may sponsor you, and the relative may live in a city area of Australia. This visa is points tested.

If you would like to apply for one of these visas or need to set up a consultation with an expert, please contact workpermit.com using our Australian immigration enquiry form.