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When do I become eligible to apply for citizenship?
To become an Australian citizen you need to show that you:
- are a permanent resident
- have lived in Australia on a valid Australian visa for four years immediately before applying
- have been a permanent resident for the 12 months immediately before making an application
- not have been absent from Australia for more than one year in total, during the four year period, including no more than 90 days in the 12 months before applying
- are of good character
- have a basic knowledge of the English language
- intend to reside or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia
- have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship.
If you are 60 years of age or over you are not required to sit the citizenship test
Under some circumstances, you might be eligible to apply even if you do not meet all of the residence requirements. We can help you with this.
A special call out to our New Zealand friends
New Zealand citizens are often shocked to learn that they may not be eligible for Australian citizenship. This is because most New Zealanders who have arrived in Australia since 2001 are not Australian permanent residents!
New Zealand citizens who enter Australia do not have to apply for a visa before travelling. They are granted a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) (SCV) on arrival in Australia, subject to meeting certain health and character requirements. This visa allows you to remain indefinitely in Australia as long as you continue to be a New Zealand citizen. While in Australia you can work and study without restriction. However, the SCV is a temporary visa and ceases once you leave Australia. It does not provide a direct pathway to a permanent visa or citizenship.
This means that to have the rights of an Australian permanent resident you will need to apply for that first. We can help you to do this.
How do I apply for Australian citizenship if I am a NZ citizen?
If you are an NZ citizen living in Australia, the same rules for citizenship apply to you, same as the above except that from 1 July 2023, any time spent in Australia on a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) (SCV) is considered permanent residence for citizenship purposes.
For example, if you arrived in Australia on 1 January 2021 on a SCV visa and continue to live in Australia on this visa:
- You will meet the 4 year residency requirement by 1 January 2025
- You also meet the 12 month permanent residency requirement by 1 July 2024 (using time on a SCV visa from 1 July 2023 to 1 July 2024)
Resident Return Visas and Australian Citizenship
See below key differences between temporary visas, Australian permanent residency and citizenship when it comes to travel rights and visa obligations.
Australian citizenship provides the highest level of certainty for both employees and employers. It removes the need for travel-related visas entirely and unlocks full civic and legal rights.
Anyone considering applying for citizenship should seek advice about the impact on any other nationalities that they hold.
If you do not apply for citizenship, and want to keep your permanent residency status – please see here for more information.
| Feature | Temporary Visa holder | Permanent Resident | Citizen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right to stay in Australia | Limited to visa | Indefinite | Indefinite |
| Australian passport eligibility | No | No | Yes |
| Voting rights | No | No | Yes (compulsory) |
| Consular support overseas | No | No | Yes |
| Work rights | Limited to visa | Full work rights | Full work rights |
| Access to government jobs | Some restricted | Some restricted | Full access |
| Purchase of property | Restricted
Stamp duty may be higher |
Unrestricted | Unrestricted |
| International travel | Limited to visa | Needs Resident Return Visa (RRV) | Unlimited |
| Access to Medicare | Sometimes generally need insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Centrelink/social security | No | Limited (subject to criteria) | Full access |
| HECS-HELP for university | No | Sometimes eligible | Always eligible |
| Public school fees | Depends on state | No | No |
| Military/jury duty | No | Not required | May be required |
| Deportation risk | For breach of visa conditions or crimes | Possible for serious crimes | Protected |
| Dual nationality | NA | NA | Allowed |
| Children born in Australia | Same visa as parents | Citizens if born in Australia (not if born overseas) | Automatically citizens |