New Zealand citizens residing in Australia granted faster pathway to citizenship News
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New Zealand citizens residing in Australia granted faster pathway to citizenship

The Australian Federal Government Saturday announced the liberalisation of Australia’s immigration laws, which will grant New Zealanders residing in Australia a direct pathway to attaining citizenship. As of 2023, there are approximately over 559,980 New Zealand citizens living in Australia. Under the new reforms, “all Special Category Visa holders will be able to apply directly for citizenship without becoming permanent residents first, as long as they meet a four-year residence and other eligibility requirements.” This will enable them to vote and receive government benefits.

Previously, on February 26, 2001, Australia entered into a bilateral social security arrangement with the New Zealand Government. Entry into this agreement subsequently increased the difficulty for New Zealand citizens residing in Australia to become citizens. Under the amendments, all New Zealanders that had arrived in Australia after February 26, 2001 were not considered “permanent residents” for the purposes of The Social Security Act 1991 and the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. These changes received heavy boycotts from New Zealand advocacy groups, such as OzKiwi.

Following the announcement of the legislative changes, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated, “Australia and New Zealand are more than friends. We are whānau – family.” Albanese further acknowledged “many New Zealand citizens choose to live and contribute to Australia, so it is reasonable they have the opportunity to become Australian citizens and enjoy the rights and obligations that come from citizenship.”

The new rules will come into effect in July 2023. Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins are scheduled to attend a citizenship ceremony tomorrow in Brisbane.