Yes — if you hold a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) and meet residency and character requirements, you may be eligible. Recent changes have made it easier for many Kiwis who’ve lived in Australia long-term.

Check eligibility

As of July 1, 2023, most New Zealand citizens living in Australia on a 444 visa no longer need to apply for permanent residency before applying for citizenship — the 444 counts!

The 444 is a temporary visa granted to most Kiwis on arrival. While it lets you live and work in Australia indefinitely, it’s technically not permanent residency — but it now counts toward citizenship.

Yes, if you’ve been on a 444 visa and meet the residency rules, you may qualify. Your time on the 444 now counts as permanent residence for citizenship purposes.

Check eligibility

You need to have lived in Australia for 4 years in total, including at least 12 months as a permanent resident (or on an eligible 444 visa, post-July 2023 changes).

Yes, if you were living in Australia on a 444 visa before July 1, 2022, your time may be counted as permanent residence under the new rules.

Possibly. If you’ve spent more than 12 months outside Australia in the last 4 years — or more than 90 days in the past year — it might delay your eligibility.

You’ll need ID (passport, birth certificate), proof of your visa and time in Australia, plus documents to confirm your identity and any name changes. You’ll also need to show you meet character requirements.

As of now, the standard application fee is $540 AUD for adults. It’s less for children or concession card holders.

Yes, it’s all done online through the ImmiAccount portal. Processing times vary, but it often takes around 6 to 12 months from application to ceremony.

Most applicants aged 18–59 need to take a multiple-choice test. It covers Australian values, government, and history — it’s not too tricky, and there are practice tests available.

If your child was born on or after July 1, 2022, and you (as a New Zealand citizen) were living in Australia on a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) at the time of their birth, then yes — your child is automatically an Australian citizen by birth.

If they were born before July 1, 2022, they may still become a citizen automatically once they’ve lived in Australia for their first 10 years. If neither of those apply, you may need to apply for citizenship on their behalf.

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Children under 16 can usually be included in your application. Partners need to apply separately, unless they meet other eligibility pathways.

Maybe! If you were born between 1986 and 2001, or after July 1, 2022, and at least one parent was a Kiwi living here, you may already be a citizen or eligible to apply.

Yes — just make sure your visa is valid and you don’t break the residency rules that might delay your eligibility.

No, both Australia and New Zealand allow dual citizenship.