Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

The Government of New Zealand announced on 24 May that it will be making wide-ranging changes to its 18-year-old Immigration Act. Immigration Minister Paul Swain said the current law needs to be made more relevant to New Zealand's needs and the international environment.

The New Zealand government has issued plans to increase the period of residency needed before citizenship can be granted. The country hopes that the changes will help to prove a migrant's commitment to New Zealand.Previously, applicants were expected to have at least three years of permanent resident status within New Zealand before applying for citizenship. This has now been extended to five years.

Australia and Estonia have entered into a mutual Working Holiday Maker (WHM) arrangement for young people, Australia's Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) announced 20 May.

Australia's WHM program ensures that young people from around the world can get to know Australia and its people and that young Australians have the opportunity to improve their understanding of other cultures through working holidays overseas.

On 8 May Australian Government announced changes to its immigration strategy by adding to its Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). The changes affect skilled visas for immigration to Australia. The MODL and Skills Occupation List (SOL) form part of the backbone of Australia's point-based skilled migration strategy.

Same-sex couples wishing to immigrate to New Zealand will now have to prove they have been together for one year rather than two, the same as heterosexual couples.

Citizens of Bahrain, Oman and Qatar wanting to visit Australia can now apply for a tourist visa using the online eVisa system, the Australian government reported on 21 April.