From 1 July 2017, an additional permanent residence visa pathway will be available for New Zealand citizens who arrived in Australia post 26 February 2001, but on or before 19 February 2016.
Pathway requirements
The proposed requirements for this visa pathway will include mandatory residence, contribution and community protection criteria as folllows:
• Applicant must have been resident in Australia for the five years immediately prior to visa application;
• Applicant must have contributed to Australia, demonstrated through income tax returns (Notice of Assessment), for the period of residence evidencing taxable income at or above the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) ; and
• Applicant must undergo mandatory health, character, and security checks.
Potential applicants should ensure they are earning over TSMIT in Australia (currently $53,900, subject to review each year) so that they meet the requirement to earn over TSMIT in Australia for the last five years prior to application.
However there are also proposed exemptions to the income level requirement, which have not yet been announced. Finalised details in regards to the requirements of this visa pathway will be available once the legislation enabling the visa pathway is enacted.
Further information in regards to this proposed visa pathway can be accessed at:
http://www.border.gov.au/Visasupport/Pages/an-additional-pathway.aspx
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