Australia and NZ are both touting a residency 'fast track' – but how fast are we talking?

Australia and NZ are both touting a residency 'fast track' – but how fast are we talking?
"Fast track" applicants often wait for over a year to get a visa - is it really a fast track? (Source: Getty)
Jem Traylen
Fast-tracked pathways to residency are a myth, but the process isn’t much better across the Tasman, says veteran immigration adviser Iain MacLeod.In May, the government announced a “green list” of highly skilled occupations that from September would be offered a “straight to residence” fast track, but MacLeod told BusinessDesk what they are really getting is a place in a very long queue.MacLeod pointed to the one-off 2021 residence visa which the government promised would be a fast track to residency but so far onl...

More Policy

Fast-track legal fight over Tauranga wharf extension
Policy

Fast-track legal fight over Tauranga wharf extension

Bay of Plenty hapū seek High Court intervention to stop expert panel being set up.

Oliver Lewis 23 Jul 2025
Contractor costs climb as Scott Base spend tops $143m
Policy

Contractor costs climb as Scott Base spend tops $143m

Antarctica NZ spent $9.3m on contractors in five months this year.

Oliver Lewis 21 Jul 2025
Simmonds bins official advice on waste policy
Policy

Simmonds bins official advice on waste policy

Officials pushed for planned targets, bans and mandates. Simmonds overruled them.

Cécile Meier 18 Jul 2025
Banks class action: the lawyers blinked first
Policy Opinion

Pattrick Smellie: Banks class action: the lawyers blinked first

Class action funders show their hand with pre-emptive settlement offer.

Pattrick Smellie 17 Jul 2025