20th December 2022
New legislation for NZ citizens applying for Australian Citizenship:
A New Zealand citizen who holds a Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) visa in the New Zealand stream granted after 31 December 2021 and before 1 July 2023 is considered to have become a permanent resident on 1 January 2022, as is a member of the person’s family unit who satisfied the secondary criteria for grant of a Subclass 189 visa.
This change will enable affected New Zealand citizens to satisfy the general residence requirement set out in the Citizenship Act at an earlier point than they otherwise would. In some cases, a New Zealand citizen may be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship by conferral immediately after being granted a Subclass 189 visa in the New Zealand stream.