What is an eligible New Zealand citizen in Australia?
The definition of an eligible New Zealand citizen in Australia is:
- a New Zealand citizen who is a protected Special Category Visa (SCV) holder as described in Section 7 of the Social Security Act 1991
- Protected SCV holders are those who arrived in Australia on a New Zealand passport and were:
- in Australia on 26 February 2001, or
- in Australia for 12 months in the 2 years immediately before this date, or
- otherwise assessed as protected SCV holders under the Social Security Act 1991
How long can an eligible New Zealand citizen stay in Australia?
An eligible New Zealand citizen is similar to an Australian Permanent Resident. If you are an eligible New Zealand citizen, you do not need to apply for Permanent Residency.
Can an eligible New Zealand citizen get Permanent Residency in Australia?
Yes, if you are an eligible New Zealand citizen you can apply for Australian citizenship after a permanent residency visa.
Can New Zealand citizens become Australian Citizens?
Yes, they can. First New Zealand citizens that are not eligible NZ citizens must get a Permanent Residency Visa then they might be eligible to become an Australian Citizen. For further details please check the Permanent Residency and Australian Citizenship pages.
How long does it take to get Australian Citizenship as a NZ citizen?
The Department of Home Affairs assesses applications on a case-by-case basis and processing time changes according to application type.
· Australian citizenship by conferral varies between 17 to 27 months from the date of application to the date of the decision.
· Australian citizenship by descent varies between 4 to 6 months from the date of application to the date of the decision.
· Australian citizenship by evidence varies between 8 to 20 days from the date of application to the date of the decision.
Completing application with necessary documents, responding to any requests quickly and providing required information can help expedite the process.
Frequently Asked Questions for eligible New Zealand citizenship
Can I sponsor my partner for a Partner Visa in Australia as a New Zealand Citizen? If you are a New Zealand citizen living in Australia, you may be eligible to sponsor your partner for a Partner Visa which leads him/her to become a Permanent Resident. After getting the permanent residency status, your partner may be eligible to apply for Australian Citizenship.
Can I get dual citizenship in Australia as a New Zealand citizen? Yes, as an eligible New Zealand citizen, if you get Australian citizenship you may have the right to hold a passport from both countries. This will provide you with full benefits of citizenship such as social security payments, health care, and voting rights.
Why choose us as a New Zealand citizen?
At Best Immigration Lawyers we have assisted many New Zealand citizens for a partner visa, sponsorship, permanent residency and Australian citizenship. Please book a meeting online or call us on 02 9283 0888 to reach our senior immigration lawyers and agents in Sydney for professional assistance.
