Following the Minister for Home Affairs’ announcement over the weekend, New Zealand Citizens will be able to apply directly for Australian Citizenship providing they have lived in Australia for at least 4 years.

Changes to Australia’s immigration legislation in February 2001 meant that obtaining Australian citizenship became increasingly difficult for many New Zealand citizens despite their ability to move freely, live and work without restrictions in Australia, and the requirement that they were taxed at the same rate as Australians.

Unless New Zealand citizens met the strict requirements that saw them eligible for Australian citizenship or Australian permanent residence if they had arrived in Australia prior to 1994, February 2001 and February 2016 respectively, many kiwis were often living here vulnerable and without the same opportunities and protection afforded to Australian citizens living in New Zealand.

As a result of these announcements, 1 July 2023 will qualify many kiwis who have been living in Australia for at least 4 years to apply for Australian citizenship. This removes the requirement for kiwis to first apply for and be granted Australian permanent residence because the changes will consider them to have become an Australian permanent resident (for the purpose of Australian citizenship) as of 1 July 2022, or when they first arrived in Australia if it was prior to that date.

This is a welcome change amongst the kiwi communities who have spent their lives living, working, raising families and contributing to Australia’s economy.

Until the changes take effect on 1 July 2023, the current requirements for New Zealand citizens wishing to obtain Australian citizenship, remain in place.