direct pathway to australian citizenship for new Zealand citizens from 1 july 2023

The Australian Government has announced that starting from July 1, 2023, New Zealand citizens residing in Australia for four years or more will have a direct pathway to apply for Australian citizenship. Previously, they were required to apply for a permanent visa first before applying for citizenship. However, this change applies only to New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa (SCV) who arrived in Australia after February 26, 2001. Protected SCV holders can still apply directly for Australian citizenship.

Long-term resident New Zealand citizens can fulfill the 12-month permanent residency requirement for citizenship purposes by backdating their period of permanent residency. To meet the general residence requirement for Australian citizenship, an applicant must be lawfully present in Australia for four years, including 12 months as a permanent resident, immediately before the date of application.

All New Zealand citizens holding an SCV will be considered permanent residents for citizenship purposes, and New Zealand citizens granted an SCV before July 1, 2022, will have their period of permanent residency backdated to July 1, 2022. However, these provisions do not apply to citizenship applications submitted before July 1, 2023.

From July 1, 2023, children born in Australia to SCV holders may automatically acquire Australian citizenship at birth if their parent meets the conditions outlined above. These changes aim to strengthen the relationship between Australia and New Zealand and promote the free movement of people across the Tasman Sea. The Australian Government has stated that this will benefit around 650,000 New Zealand citizens living in Australia who previously lacked a clear pathway to Australian citizenship.

The new pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealand citizens living in Australia will also have a significant impact on their children born in Australia. Under the new provisions, children born in Australia on or after July 1, 2022, to an SCV holder may be entitled to automatic Australian citizenship at birth. This will allow them to access all the benefits and opportunities available to Australian citizens, including education, healthcare, and social services.

These changes represent a significant shift in the treatment of New Zealand citizens living in Australia, who have long been considered second-class citizens due to their lack of access to permanent residency and citizenship. The new pathway to citizenship will provide them with greater security, certainty, and the ability to fully participate in Australian society.

The announcement has been widely welcomed by the New Zealand community in Australia, as well as by political leaders in both countries. The Prime Minister of New Zealand has hailed the move as a "positive step" and a recognition of the close ties between the two countries.

The Australian Government has also announced that it will be providing additional support and resources to help New Zealand citizens navigate the citizenship application process. This includes a new online portal that will provide information and guidance on the citizenship process, as well as a dedicated team of support staff to assist with applications.

In summary, the new direct pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealand citizens living in Australia represents a significant change in policy and a positive step towards greater inclusion and recognition of the important contribution made by New Zealanders to Australian society.

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