Australian Immigration Daily News

DEPT HOME AFFAIRS:

From 1 July 2023, New Zealand citizens who have been living in Australia for four years or more will be eligible to apply directly for Australian citizenship. They will no longer need to first apply for and be granted a permanent visa. This means all New Zealand citizens who hold a permanent visa or a Special Category (subclass 444) visa (SCV) are eligible to apply directly for citizenship (by conferral).

These changes only apply to citizenship applications submitted on or after 1 July 2023. If you are a New Zealand citizen, you can check on the day you want to apply to confirm your eligibility.

Source: Direct-pathway-to-Australian-citizenship-for-New-Zealand-citizens.pdf

Purpose

The purpose of the instrument is to specify the qualifications that entitle certain graduates from Australian educational institutions to apply for an additional Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Study Work stream at no cost – i.e. without paying a visa application charge (VAC).

The Migration Regulations, as amended from 1 July 2023 by the Migration Amendment (Extension of Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) Visa and Increase in Subclass 500 (Student) Visa Work Hours) Regulations 2023, provide the Minister with flexibility to extend post-study stay in Australia with unrestricted work rights for certain international students who have graduated from an Australian higher education provider. The policy is to provide the extended stay to graduates with specified qualifications that are in high demand.

The extended stay will be implemented, under policy, from 1 July 2023. Current settings, detailed in published policy, will be increased by two years. This will extend post-study stay in Australia from:

The amendments made by this instrument implement a commitment made before the 2022 federal election. The lifting of the TSMIT from $53,900 to $70,000 is the amount the TSMIT would have been, had it been indexed annually since 2013.

The increase in the TSMIT is in line with the Government’s policy intention, to ensure skilled migrant workers are able to sufficiently support themselves while in Australia and to provide a safeguard against exploitation.

This instrument will also insert an application provision to ensure nomination applications lodged prior to 1 July 2023 but not finally determined will continue to be assessed against the TSMIT of $53,900.

Subregulation 2.07(5) of the Migration Regulations provides that if an item of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations prescribes criteria or requirements by reference to a legislative instrument made under subregulation 2.07(5), the Minister may specify:

An approved form for making an application for a visa of a specified class;

The way in which an application for a visa of a specified class must be made;

The place at which an application for a visa of a specified class must be made;

Any other matter.

Source: LIN23034.pdf and LIN23034-Explanatory-Statement.pdf

Department of Home Affairs: If you apply online on or after 12:00 am (AEST) 1 July 2023, you will pay the new VAC. This is regardless of when you started the application. Your application is considered submitted when we receive it, along with the VAC.

If you apply online and pay by credit or debit card, PayPal, or UnionPay, your application and visa application charge is generally received on the same day.

Before submitting your application, make sure it includes all the required documents. If you submit an incomplete application, you may need to submit a new application and pay the relevant VAC.

Source: New-visa-application-charges-from-1-July-2023.pdf