For New Zealand passport holders in Australia
Australian Citizenship for New Zealand Citizens
Since 1 July 2023, most New Zealanders living in Australia can apply for citizenship directly on their subclass 444 visa, without holding a permanent visa first. With MigrationBuro you get an honest answer on whether the pathway is open to you now.
For decades, New Zealanders living in Australia sat in an awkward gap. You could live, work and pay tax here indefinitely on a Special Category visa (subclass 444), yet you were not a permanent resident, so citizenship stayed effectively out of reach unless you first obtained a separate skilled or family visa.
That changed on 1 July 2023. Eligible New Zealand citizens who hold an SCV are now treated as permanent residents for citizenship purposes. If you meet the residence and character requirements, you can apply for Australian citizenship by conferral directly on your SCV, with no subclass 189 or other permanent visa needed as a stepping stone first.
Who can use the direct pathway?
To apply for Australian citizenship by conferral as a New Zealand citizen, you will generally need to be a New Zealand citizen holding a Special Category visa (subclass 444), meet the four-year residence requirement, be of good character, pass the citizenship test if aged 18 to 59, and intend to keep a close and continuing link with Australia.
- You meet the four-year general residence requirement, including 12 months treated as permanent residence.
- You have not been absent from Australia for more than 12 months in total across those four years.
- You were not absent for more than 90 days in total in the 12 months immediately before you apply.
SCV granted before 1 July 2022: your permanent-resident period for citizenship purposes is backdated to 1 July 2022, so from 1 July 2023 onwards you can satisfy the permanent-resident part of the test, provided you also meet the residence and absence rules.
SCV granted on or after 1 July 2022: you are treated as a permanent resident from the date your SCV was granted, and your 12-month permanent-resident clock runs from that grant date. Getting these dates right is the most common reason an application succeeds or stalls, so we map your exact timeline before you lodge.
How the application works, step by step
Step 1 Eligibility check and date mapping
We confirm your SCV grant date, build a timeline of your time in and out of Australia, and pinpoint whether you qualify now or the exact date you will. No guesswork, no false hope.
Step 2 Document gathering
Passport and travel history, evidence of residence, identity documents and police or character information where needed. We give you a tailored checklist so nothing is missed.
Step 3 Prepare and lodge the application
We prepare your Application for Australian citizenship by conferral through ImmiAccount, present your residence calculations clearly, and lodge it the way Home Affairs needs to see it.
Step 4 Sit the citizenship test
If you are aged 18 to 59, you book and sit the computer-based test on Australian values and knowledge. We provide preparation guidance so you walk in confident.
Step 5 Decision and citizenship ceremony
Once approved, you make the Australian Citizenship Pledge at a ceremony, usually run by your local council, and you are an Australian citizen from that moment. New Zealanders generally keep their NZ citizenship and become dual citizens.
Speak to a Migration agent
Call 1300 VISA OZ (1300 8472 69) to discuss employer sponsorship for your Brisbane business. Available Monday to Friday. Zoom consultations take 45-60 minutes and give you a clear answer on what is achievable.
Prefer to start in writing? Email info@migrationburo.com.au with the role title, the occupation, and the candidate's nationality and qualifications.
TEST TEXT
The four-year residence rule
You must be lawfully present in Australia for the four years before applying, hold an eligible visa for the final 12 months as permanent residence, and stay within the absence limits: no more than 12 months out over four years and no more than 90 days out in the final year.
The citizenship test
If you are aged 18 to 59 you sit a multiple-choice test on Australian values, rights and responsibilities. You need 75 per cent overall and must answer every Australian values question correctly. Applicants aged 60 and over are usually exempt.
Your children
Children under 16 can usually be included in a parent application. A child born in Australia to an SCV-holding parent may already be a citizen or become one at age 10. Children 16 and over generally apply in their own right.
Fees and timing
The Home Affairs adult conferral fee is around AUD 575 to 585 dollars for 2025-26 and is indexed each 1 July, with lower concession fees for some applicants. We quote our own fixed professional fee upfront before any work begins.
Australian citizenship for New Zealanders
Some frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions we hear most often from New Zealanders in your situation.
Do I need permanent residency before applying for citizenship?
No. Since 1 July 2023, eligible New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category visa (subclass 444) are treated as permanent residents for citizenship purposes and can apply for citizenship by conferral directly. You no longer need a separate permanent visa such as the subclass 189 New Zealand stream first.
How long do I need to have lived in Australia?
You generally need to meet the four-year general residence requirement: lawful presence for four years before applying, including the final 12 months treated as permanent residence. You also cannot have been outside Australia for more than 12 months in total over the four years, or more than 90 days in the final 12 months.
My SCV was granted before July 2022. When does my permanent-resident time start?
If your Special Category visa was granted before 1 July 2022, your permanent-resident period for citizenship purposes is backdated to 1 July 2022. If it was granted on or after 1 July 2022, it starts from the grant date.
Will I lose my New Zealand citizenship if I become Australian?
Australia and New Zealand both allow dual citizenship, so New Zealanders generally keep their New Zealand citizenship when they become Australian and become dual citizens.
How much does Australian citizenship cost?
The Home Affairs adult conferral fee is set by the government and indexed each year, in the order of AUD 575 to 585 dollars for 2025-26, with lower concession fees for some applicants. We confirm the current fee and quote our own professional fee upfront before any work begins.
Migration experience you can trust
MigrationBuro are your trusted migration agents in Brisbane. Founded and led by Andrew Heathcote, we specialise in Australian immigration services. With over 18 years of experience, Andrew is a registered migration agent (MARN) and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, ensuring expert guidance through every step of the immigration process.
