The Albanese government of Australia has announced significant changes to citizenship laws for New Zealanders.
The move will make it easier for around 350,000 Kiwis living in Australia to vote and receive government benefits. The new “direct pathway to citizenship” is a major win for New Zealand, which has been fighting against the Howard government’s decision in 2001 to establish a new “Special Category” visa for New Zealanders in Australia. This subclass 444 visa allowed New Zealanders to visit, work and study in Australia but limited their access to some government benefits and citizenship pathways. However, under the new changes, all New Zealanders on the Special Category visa can apply for citizenship without becoming permanent residents first if they have lived in Australia for at least four years.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the move as “a fair change for New Zealanders living in Australia,” which “brings their rights more in line with Australians living in New Zealand.” The announcement removes a major sore point in the bilateral relationship between the two countries over the past two decades. Previously, Australians living in New Zealand were allowed to apply directly for citizenship if they had lived in the country for five years and passed basic eligibility tests, while Australians who intended to settle in New Zealand could also vote in elections after just one year in the country.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins welcomed the announcement, describing it as a “blooming good day” for Kiwis in Australia. He argued that New Zealanders living in Australia contribute a lot to the Australian economy and society and have been treated unfairly in the past.
The changes will also open the door to important services for Kiwis. Australians living in New Zealand have already been enjoying these benefits, which had caused frustration for New Zealand officials and politicians.
The Albanese government’s decision to liberalize citizenship laws for New Zealanders is a step towards strengthening the friendship between the two countries. It is also a hugely positive move towards ending the limitations on free movement between the two countries that had been in place for the last 40 years. By removing barriers to citizenship, the move will have a significant positive impact on the lives of many New Zealanders living in Australia.
