From 1 July 2021, the income requirement to assist New Zealand Special Category (subclass 444) visa holders to meet their requirements for the Skilled Independent (New Zealand Stream) (subclass 189) visa will be updated.

While applicants will still be required to demonstrate a taxable income at or above the amount specified in the relevant legislative instrument, from 1 July 2021 they will only have to provide evidence for 3 completed income years out of the 5 years immediately before applying. One of the 3 income years must be the most recently completed income year. Evidence should be provided in the form of a Notice of Assessment from the Australian Taxation Office.

Applications submitted before 1 July 2021 will still need to provide the 4 most recently completed income years.