New Zealand Citizens Applying for Visa 186: Conditions and PR Pathway
New Zealand (NZ) citizens have a special status in Australia — but it is not true permanent residence. Many NZ citizens choose to apply for the subclass 186 to gain full Permanent Residence.
The status of an NZ citizen in Australia
NZ citizens enter Australia on a Special Category Visa (SCV) — which allows them to live and work in Australia indefinitely. The SCV is granted automatically when an NZ citizen arrives.
However, the SCV is not Permanent Residence in the legal sense. This means:
- They do not have the full range of Centrelink benefits (most are restricted)
- They are not eligible for some social benefits
- Time on the SCV may not fully count towards citizenship (depending on the specific conditions)
Why NZ citizens apply for the subclass 186
Applying for the subclass 186 and gaining true permanent residence allows you to:
- Access the full range of Centrelink and Medicare after the relevant waiting period
- Be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship through the standard pathway (after holding PR)
- Sponsor family members who are not NZ citizens to come to Australia
- Enjoy the same full rights as permanent residents from other sources
NZ citizens applying for the subclass 186 — conditions
NZ citizens apply for the subclass 186 under the same conditions as everyone else:
TRT Stream (Temporary Residence Transition):
- Must have worked full-time in Australia for the sponsoring employer for at least 2 years (MLTSSL) or under the STSOL conditions
- Be under 45 years old
- Meet the English requirement (Competent English)
- Meet the health and character requirements
Direct Entry Stream:
- Meet the skills requirements
- Have an employer nomination
Is a subclass 482 necessary?
NZ citizens do not need a subclass 482 to work in Australia — the SCV already permits it. However, to qualify for the subclass 186 TRT stream, you need to demonstrate two years of work for the sponsoring employer. Time worked on the SCV counts.
Cost and timing
The subclass 186 for NZ citizens has costs and processing times similar to those for non-NZ citizens — around $4,640 AUD in DHA charges and 2–3 years to process.