Update on Citizenship special residence requirements
Dear Clients,
We write in regard to recent updates to the Citizenship special residence requirements.
To apply for Australian Citizenship, all applicants must meet the standard residency requirement. This means, applicants must have lived lawfully in Australia for 4 years and in the 12 month prior to lodging their Citizenship application, they must have been a permanent resident, with only limited time allowed outside the country.
However, the special residence requirement is an alternative pathway for people whose work requires significant travel or time overseas. Instead of meeting the standard residency rules, eligible applicants can qualify under special categories of work. Effective 21 March 2026, the following changes will be made to the special residence requirement:
- Previously, only scientists doing research and development were included. The recent amendment expands this to include academics, now qualifying them under the special residence requirement.
- An additional kind of work, relating to the work of a minister of religion in a senior leadership position in a religious organisation minor technical and drafting amendments is to be included, now qualifying them under the special residence requirement.
These updates will make it easier for academics and senior religious leaders, whose work takes them overseas to meet the eligibility criteria for Australian citizenship, even if they do not satisfy the standard residency requirements.
If you believe your work falls within the special residence requirements categories and you are considering applying for Australian citizenship, our team at Nevett Ford Lawyers Melbourne is ready to assist you.
Update on Tasmania’s State Nomination and National Innovation Visa Policy
Dear Clients,
We write in regard to the recent updates to Tasmania’s migration policies.
Tasmania State Nomination Program – Update
The Tasmanian Government has announced that most of its 2025–26 nomination allocation has now been used. While Registrations of Interest (ROIs) will continue to be accepted, the number of new invitations issued in the coming weeks will be significantly reduced as the state prioritises processing existing applications.
If you have submitted or are looking to submit an ROI for one of the following visas, please note that:
Subclass 190
- Invitations for ROIs that do not meet the Gold pass criteria are temporarily paused.
- ROIs can still be submitted, and the situation will be reviewed shortly.
- Green pass ROIs will continue to receive invitations within six months, but approved applicants may not receive a nomination this program year if remaining places run out.
Subclass 491
- Invitations will continue across all pass levels, though in lower numbers.
Tasmania – National Innovation Visa (NIV) Policy
Tasmania has released its National Innovation Visa policy and will begin nominating candidates who meet the criteria. To be considered for nomination, applicants must:
- Demonstrate exceptional talent with internationally recognised achievements.
- Have an established relationship with a Tasmanian government department, authority, the University of Tasmania (or associated research institutes), or be recommended by a Tasmanian business with such a relationship.
- Be formally referred by a Tasmanian government department, authority, or relevant area of the University of Tasmania. A representative must complete a short business case for Migration Tasmania, which will then assist with Form 1000 for the applicant’s EOI.
- Meet the Department of Home Affairs’ requirements for the National Innovation Visa.
- Show a genuine commitment to living in and contributing to Tasmania.
If you’d like to know more about how these changes may impact your migration journey, our team at Nevett Ford Lawyers Melbourne is ready to assist you.
Kind regards,
Nevett Ford Lawyers Melbourne
