Australian Citizenship for New Zealand Citizens
Under the direct pathway, New Zealand citizens who hold a Special Category (subclass 444) visa and have been living in Australia for four years or more can apply for Australian citizenship by conferral.
New Zealand citizens no longer need to first apply for a permanent visa; however, they must meet all other eligibility criteria for Australian citizenship.
New Zealand citizens who have lived in Australia, lawfully, for four years (with no more than 12 months absence); held a Subclass 444 (Special Category Visa) prior to 1 July 2022 and have not been out of Australia for more than 90 days in the preceding 12 months can now apply directly for Australian citizenship.
New Zealand citizens who have lived in Australia for four years (with no more than 12 months absence); had their first Subclass 444 granted between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023 and have not been outside of Australia for more than 90 days in the preceding 12 months can apply for Australian citizenship on the 12 month anniversary of their Subclass 444 visa grant date.
New Zealand citizens who enter Australia from 1 July 2023 on their first Subclass 444 visa and live in Australia for four years, meeting the residency requirement, can apply for Australian citizenship from four years after entry on their Subclass 444 Special Category Visa.
You must meet the character requirements to be eligible for Australian citizenship.
As a New Zealand citizen, you can hold dual Australian-New Zealand citizenship.
If you were born in Australia and have been ordinarily resident in Australia throughout the first 10 years from your birth, you may already be an Australian citizen.
All children born, in Australia, to New Zealand citizens from 1 July 2023 are automatically an Australian citizen upon birth.
If you’d like Migration Downunder to assist you in the process of your Australian citizenship, please contact us on 02 9419 5411.
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