Australian Citizenship for New Zealand Citizens (2023)

Attention to New Zealand citizens,

From 1 July 2023 changes to citizenship eligibility for some New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa will apply. See Direct pathway to Australian Citizenship for New Zealand Citizens.

These changes only apply to citizenship applications submitted on or after 1 July 2023. Check on the day you apply to confirm your eligibility.

The Special Category visa (subclass 444) (SCV) does not limit how long you can stay in Australia.

The process to become an Australian citizen depends on when you first arrived in Australia on a New Zealand passport:

• On or before 26 February 2001: Check if you are an eligible New Zealand citizen. Note: if you are a New Zealand citizen who was born in Australia, you may already be an Australian citizen by operation of law (see Citizenship).
• After 26 February 2001: You must first become a permanent resident. Then you can apply for citizenship.

Eligible New Zealand Citizen (or Protected SCV holder)

See Eligible New Zealand citizen or (or Protected SCV holder) under Entitlements.

Apply for Australian Citizenship

You can apply for citizenship if you are an:

• Australian permanent resident, or
• Eligible New Zealand citizen.

Before you apply, you should check that you are eligible.

Our registered migration agent has the expertise and experience to guide you through the visa application process and ensure that you meet all the eligibility requirements. 

At PACE Migration & Education Consultancy, we take great responsibility and dedication to providing complete assistance to eligible migration clients. We provide ethical and professional services at competitive rates. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take advantage of our expertise in navigating the complex and constantly changing migration policies in Australia.

We are committed to providing you with the best possible service and ensuring that you achieve your goals of studying, working, or migrating to Australia.

The information provided in this article is based on the official guidelines outlined by the Australian Department of Home Affairs, available here.

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