Become an Australian Permanent Resident then Australia Citizen

Are you a New Zealander moving or living in Australia? Find out how to get the same benefits as an Australian.

New Zealanders who have moved to Australia or are planning on moving, should look into how to become a Permanent Resident and then Citizen because in the long run it’s better for your new life. Especially your kids.

Editor’s Note: I am not an immigration specialist and you still may need to contact one for advice. You can find out how to below.

However, in saying that, I know a lot of Kiwi’s who have used the below to become an Australian Permanent Resident and then go onto becoming an Australia Citizen.

Below you will find information on:

• Special Category Visa (SCV)
• Special Category Visa Exclusions
• Australia Permanent Residency Options for New Zealanders
• Subclasses 155 and 157 Resident Return visa
• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) New Zealand stream
• Other Australian Permanent Residency Visa Options
• Australian Citizenship
• Becoming an Australian Citizen
• Permanent residents or New Zealand Citizens
• Person 60 years or over who are Permanent Residents or New Zealand Citizens
• Your parent was an Australian citizen when you were born overseas
• Professional help from an immigration specialist

Special Category Visa (SCV)

As you a New Zealand Citizen you will automatically get granted a Special Category Visa (SCV) on arrival. If you are only planning on staying for a few years then you will not need to worry about the below. It’s only if you plan on staying in Australia indefinitely.

FYI if you become an Australian Citizen you will stay a New Zealand Citizen and can move back whenever you want (Dual Citizenship).

Special Category Visa Exclusions

There are a number of exclusions to Government help that you should be aware of when moving to Australia on a SCV.

As a kiwi you are able to live and work in Australia, but if you can’t find work or get sick you are on your own. The Government won’t help you, like the NZ Government would. Also if you have kids, they won’t be able to get an Australia student loan, which will make it hard to get a qualification if you can’t pay for it up front.

You can read the full list of SCV exclusions here.

Australia Permanent Residency Options for New Zealanders

So if you don’t want to live in Australia with all the SCV exclusions and want the same rights as an Australian, then you will need to become a Permanent Resident and then an Australian Citizen.

People can become a permanent resident of Australia in different ways. Three common ways of becoming a permanent resident are through gaining:

• a family-stream permanent visa
• a work-stream permanent visa
• business or investor-stream permanent visa

You will need to check that you meet our criteria before you apply for any visa. To find a visa that suits your needs you can explore the visa options on the Australian Government website.

Below are a couple of common ways New Zealanders use to become an Australian Permanent Resident.

Subclasses 155 and 157 Resident Return visa

If you visited Australia before 1 September 1994 and cleared customs, this is an easy and cheap visa to obtain as a New Zealand Citizen.

Australia Government description of the returning resident visa: if leave Australia after your travel validity expires, or it expires when you are outside Australia, you will not be able to return to Australia as a permanent resident. This visa allows you to return as a permanent resident.

This visa costs AUD$375 if you apply online, AUD$455 for each applicant if you apply on paper. While it is unlikely for this visa, you might have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. We will advise you if these are required in your case.

It takes between 2 days and 67 days to process. Generally, applications that meet the residence requirements will be processed within 5 working days from lodgement.

You can use the below links to find more information about this Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) NZ stream. Any further questions you have will be answered below:

• About this visa – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/resident-return-visa-155-157#About
• Check your eligibility – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/resident-return-visa-155-157#Eligibility
• Step by step process – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/resident-return-visa-155-157#HowTo
• When you have this visa – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/resident-return-visa-155-157#When
• Apply online now – https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) New Zealand stream

This visa lets eligible New Zealand citizens who have demonstrated commitment and contribution to Australia, live and work in Australia permanently.

With this visa you can work and study anywhere in Australia and sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence and if eligible, become an Australian Citizen.

This visa costs from AUD$3,750 for the main applicant. It is charged in two installments (20% at time of lodgement and 80% as a second installment before you get granted the visa).

It takes between 10 and 16 months to process.

You will be able to apply for this visa if you are a New Zealander and:

• Arrived in Australia between the 26 February 2001 and 19 February 2016.
• Been living in Australia for the past five years when you apply.
• Meet and pass the health, character and security checks.
• In most cases, have a taxable income at or above a specific income threshold for each of the four completed income years prior to lodging an application.

You can use the below links to find more information about this Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) NZ stream. Any further questions you have should be answered below:

• See all conditions – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/already-have-a-visa/check-visa-details-and-conditions/see-your-visa-conditions?product=189-62
• Check your eligibility – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189/new-zealand#Eligibility
• Step by step process – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189/new-zealand#HowTo
• Apply online now – https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login

Other Australian Permanent Residency Visa Options

There are other Australia Permanent Resident visa options apart from the above.

Here you can find all the Australian Permanent Resident visa options: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/permanent-resident/visa-options.

If you are unsure which visa is right for you use The Australian Government Visa Finder: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder.

Australian Citizenship

After you have become an Australian Permanent Resident and have lived in Australia for 12 months or more you can apply for Australian Citizenship.

Becoming a citizen of Australia is the final legal step in your migration story. It is a process in which a non-Australian citizen voluntarily becomes an Australian citizen. Australian citizens pledge their loyalty to Australia and its people and are then entitled to its protection and to exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

As an Australian citizen, you can:

• apply for an Australian passport
• leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want
• ask for help from an Australian consulate if in trouble overseas
• vote in federal, state or territory elections
• vote in a Constitutional referendum or plebiscite
• seek election to parliament, if you are aged 18 years or over and are not dual citizen
• register the birth of your children in another country as an Australian citizen

Becoming an Australian Citizen

You can become a citizen of Australia in different ways. You must meet the Australian Governments criteria before you apply. Conferral and descent are the most common ways to apply:

• Permanent residents or New Zealand Citizens (by conferral) for people under 60 years old
• Permanent residents or New Zealand Citizens  for persons 60 years or over (conferral)
• Your parent was an Australian citizen when you were born overseas (descent)

Permanent Residents or New Zealand Citizens

You can become an Australian Citizen if you are a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

You are an eligible New Zealand citizen if you arrive in Australia with a New Zealand passport and were:

• here on 26 February 2001
• here for 12 months in the 2 years before 26 February 2001
• assessed as a protected Special Category visa (SCV) holder before 26 February 2004, or holding a Centrelink certificate issued before 26 February 2004 that states you were living here at a particular time

It costs AUD$285. There is no cost for a child under 16 years applying with a parent.

You can find further information and apply here.

Person 60 years or over who are Permanent Residents or New Zealand Citizens

You can become an Australian Citizen if you are a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

You are an eligible New Zealand citizen if you arrive in Australia with a New Zealand passport and were:

• in Australia on 26 February 2001 as a Special Category visa (444) holder, or
• outside Australia on 26 February 2001, but in the 2 years before that date you were in Australia as a Special Category visa (subclass 444) holder for at least a year; or
• holding a Centrelink certificate issued before 26 February 2004 that states you were living here at a particular time.

It costs AUD$180, AUD$20 for some concession holders. There is no cost for a child under 16 years applying with a parent.

You can find further information and apply here.

Your parent was an Australian citizen when you were born overseas

You could be eligible for Australian citizenship by descent if you:

• have been born outside Australia
• one (or both) of your parents at the time of your birth was also an Australian citizen at that time
• be of good character if you are 18 years old or over when you apply

It costs AUD$230, AUD$95 for each sibling who applies at the same time as you.

You can find further information and apply here.

Professional help from an immigration specialist

Specialist immigration companies save you time, money and stress when applying for a visa or citizenship. They are able to offer you professional advice and assistance when applying for Permanent Residency and Australian Citizenship.

You can find an immigration specialist on the Australian Government website, Migration Agents Registration Authority (https://www.mara.gov.au/). Search for a immigration professional specialising in Australia.

Further Questions?

You can ask me any questions you have below using the comment section. However, please note I am not an immigration specialist and can’t provide any more advice than what’s above.