Significant adjustments to Australia's immigration laws will speed up the New Zealanders' process of obtaining Australian citizenship
Approximately 380,000 New Zealanders can petition for Australian citizenship without first becoming permanent residents due to sweeping changes restoring reciprocity to the rights of expats of the two countries.
Before the visit of the New Zealand prime minister, Chris Hipkins, The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, the home affairs minister, Clare O'Neil, and the immigration minister, Andrew Giles, will announce the revisions in immigration laws.
Before 2001, New Zealanders who immigrated to Australia were automatically granted permanent residency. However, due to modifications made by the Howard administration, new arrivals are now required to obtain a special category visa.
This allowed New Zealanders to live and work in Australia permanently but limited their access to Medicare and welfare and required them to apply for permanent residency before seeking citizenship.
Permanent visas, such as the subclass 189 skilled independent visa, were subject to medical and income requirements, leaving some visa holders needing a path to Australian citizenship.
From 1 July, all holders of special category visas can apply for citizenship without first becoming permanent residents, provided they satisfy a four-year residence requirement and other eligibility criteria.
There are currently 670,000 New Zealanders in Australia on special category visas, including approximately 380,000 eligible for citizenship who arrived after 2001.
Albanese and former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern first signalled changes in July, promising a quicker path to citizenship and enhanced protections from deportation.
Hipkins will travel to Australia over the weekend, and he and Albanese will attend an Australian citizenship ceremony in Brisbane on Sunday.
Albanese stated that Australia and New Zealand have a profound affinity forged by our shared history, values, and outlook.
I look forward to strengthening our relationship as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the trans-Tasman travel agreement, he said in a statement.
Many New Zealanders reside in Australia on a particular category visa while raising families, working, and establishing livelihoods. Therefore, I am proud to provide the benefits of citizenship.
O'Neil stated that the announcement would allow the numerous individuals living and working in our communities to obtain citizenship.
Anthony Albanese ensures that our treatment of New Zealanders in Australia reflects the strong ties between our two nations.
Giles stated that it is only reasonable that our closest friends and allies have an easier time becoming Australian citizens.
Before the announcement, Oz Kiwi's chair, Joanne Cox, stated that New Zealanders anticipated the most significant change in trans-Tasman relations and New Zealanders' liberties in Australia since 2001.
Oliver Alderson is one New Zealander in Australia who stands to benefit from the modification. Alderson, a controller of aviation traffic who has lived in Australia since 2006, intends to remain there indefinitely with his wife and children.
However, he told Guardian Australia he confronted visa application fees costing thousands of dollars under current regulations.
Alderson stated that he had never done such a thing before. But if the costs are reduced, and it aligns with what you would receive by going the other route, I would apply immediately.
He said that citizenship would soon be required for Alderson's job as an air traffic controller, so becoming a citizen has become a critical issue.
Approximately 70,000 Australians are eligible to vote, receive unemployment benefits, and work in the public service and defence in New Zealand.
Albanese stated in July that Australia would consider granting voting rights to New Zealanders, a matter presently being investigated by the joint standing committee on electoral matters as part of its investigation into the 2022 election.
