An easier pathway toward Australian citizenship is now available for New Zealanders
Highlights
The Australian government has announced its intention to simplify the process for hundreds of thousands of New Zealand residents residing in Australia to obtain Australian citizenship.
Changes in the citizenship application process
For a considerable time, New Zealand has advocated for modifications to visa regulations, which were modified in 2001, resulting in increased difficulty for New Zealanders residing in Australia to acquire citizenship. Also in this same year, a special category visa was introduced, limiting New Zealanders' ability to access particular health and welfare benefits. Additionally, this visa mandated that individuals apply for permanent residency before becoming eligible for citizenship, a frequently protracted and expensive procedure.
These are the recent amendments to the Australian citizenship application that will simplify and speed up the process which will be effective on 1 July 2023:
New Zealand citizens residing in Australia for a minimum of four years are now able to apply for citizenship without the prerequisite of obtaining permanent residency first.
New Zealanders don't need to undergo income and medical tests anymore in order to be eligible for Australian citizenship.
Children born in Australia on or after July 2023 to a New Zealander parent residing in Australia are automatically eligible for Australian citizenship.
List of eligibility for Australian citizenship application
Before, having a special category visa (SCV) does not lead directly to citizenship, and New Zealanders are obligated to first apply for permanent residency before applying for citizenship. However due to the changes in the application process, if the following conditions are met, an immediate application for citizenship is possible:
The applicant should be a New Zealand citizen residing in Australia for at least four years and have arrived in the country after the year 2001
The applicant should be an SCV holder for at least a year
Conditions for SCV holders' children born in Australia:
A child born on or after 1 July 2023 to an SCV-holder parent/s can automatically acquire Australian citizenship
A child born before 1 July 2023 to an SCV-holder parent/s may acquire Australian citizenship as long as they apply for evidence of citizenship.
Benefits of acquiring Australian citizenship
Have you ever pondered over the reason behind a considerable number of individuals opting for Australian citizenship? Well, there are many benefits of being an Australian citizen and some of them are the following:
Visa-free travel
With an Australian passport, you can visit around 160 countries without requiring a visa. Certain countries offer visa-on-arrival services, eliminating the need to go through the tedious process of obtaining a visa and waiting for its approval.
No need for RRV
Being an Australian citizen entitles you to the advantage of unrestricted travel and extended periods overseas, without being bound by a maximum duration. There is no longer a need to apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) every five years.
Apply for federal government jobs
Numerous federal government entities, such as the Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police, exclusively employ Australian citizens. So if you're a citizen, you'll have a wide range of job options.
Your children will be eligible for Australian citizenship
If at least one of the biological parents was an Australian citizen at the time of the child's birth, a child born outside Australia may be registered as an Australian citizen by descent.
If you are having a hard time planning your pathway to Australian citizenship, the best thing to do is ask for assistance from certified migration experts. At Think Visa, we specialize in successfully processing citizenship applicants. By ensuring that all the essential documents are accurately and promptly submitted, our team of skilled migration consultants can help you progress through the visa application process. Start your migration process trying our FREE eligibility assessment today.
