New Zealand Citizens Entering Australia
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Since 1973, the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement has allowed Australian and New Zealand citizens to live and work in each other's country without restrictions. On arrival in Australia, most New Zealanders are automatically granted a Special Category Visa (SCV), subject to meeting health and character requirements. This visa allows the holder to remain and work in Australia indefinitely.
New Zealand citizens with criminal convictions may not be entitled to a Special Category Visa. For more information about New Zealand citizens with criminal convictions, refer to the Australian Commision New Zealand website.
See: Immigration Frequently Asked Questions
Social security arrangements
On 26 February 2001 a revised social security arrangement was announced jointly by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. The arrangement helps people living in Australia and New Zealand, who have spent part of their working life in the other country, to claim a (part) pension from both countries.
From this date, New Zealand citizens are required to apply for and be granted permanent residence in Australia if they wish to access certain social security payments, obtain Australian citizenship or sponsor their family members for permanent residence.
The arrangement has not affected the movement of people between the two countries. New Zealand citizens continue to be automatically granted an SCV and have the right to remain indefinitely in Australia and to work without restrictions.
More information on the social security arrangements for New Zealand citizens is available from Centrelink's International Services Helpline.
Telephone: 13 16 73
Information is also available on the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) website.
See: Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs – Australia and New Zealand &nash; Frequently Asked Questions
Arriving in Australia after 26 February 2001
Most New Zealand citizens, particularly those arriving after 26 February 2001, are required to apply for and be granted permanent residence in Australia if they wish to access certain social security payments, obtain Australian citizenship or sponsor their family members for permanent residence.
Under transitional arrangements, some New Zealand citizens are not affected by these changes. They include those who:
- were in Australia on 26 February 2001 as SCV holders
- were outside Australia on 26 February 2001, but present in Australia as an SCV holder for at least one year in the two years prior to that date
- have a Centrelink certificate, issued under the Social Security Act 1991, stating that they were, for the purposes of the Act residing in Australia on a particular date.
Note: These certificates are no longer issued.
Australian citizenship and permanent residence
New Zealand citizens who meet one of the transitional arrangements above continue to be treated as permanent residents for the purposes of the Australian Citizenship Act 1948 and are eligible to apply for grant of Australian citizenship, after the usual residential qualifying period.
Otherwise, a New Zealand citizen is required to first apply for and be granted a permanent residence visa before being eligible to apply for grant of Australian citizenship or sponsor non-New Zealand citizen family members for permanent residence.
Character requirement
You must meet the character requirement to be eligible for Australian Citizenship.
- New Zealand citizens, aged 16 years or over, applying for Australian citizenship must obtain a copy of their personal records from the New Zealand Ministry of Justice and provide it with their application
- An application should not be lodged until the personal records history has been obtained from the New Zealand Ministry of Justice
- Those people who arrived in Australia before the age of 16 and have not resided in New Zealand since taking up residence in Australia need not provide it.
For information on how to obtain a copy of your personal records, contact the New Zealand Ministry of Justice.
See:
New Zealand Ministry of Justice
Character Requirement
Australian citizenship
For information about applying for Australian citizenship.
See: Australian Citizenship
Australian Permanent Residence
A range of permanent residence visas are available for New Zealand citizens in and outside Australia.
See: Visas & Immigration