Will the proposed 'four years PR before citizenship' apply to you?
Update
18 October 2017
The proposed citizenship changes will not be implemented after the Citizenship Amendment Bill was struck down** by the Senate today. Oz Kiwi can now confirm that **current citizenship law applies.
Anyone granted the New Zealand Stream 189 Visa will be exempt from having to reside in Australia as permanent resident for four years.
Will the proposed 'four years PR before citizenship' rule apply to you?
30 April 2017
A number of supporters have messaged us to ask whether they must reside as a permanent resident for four years when applying for citizenship after 20 April 2017. The answer depends on two factors, if:
- the Bill amending the Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth), already passed by the Lower House, is passed by the Senate; and
- if there are any concessions contained in the Bill for New Zealanders.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill*must be passed by 18 Oct 2017 or it will be struck off the Senate Notice Paper and cannot pass.
Protected Special Category Visa-holders are considered permanent residents whilst in Australia and therefore will not be impacted by the proposed changes.
You can help us by reading the regular updates on Facebook and our website before messaging us. Each time we have to answer your questions it takes our volunteers away from Oz Kiwi's objective of lobbying to stop this policy or get concessions.
Please note that we cannot provide you with information on a Bill we haven't seen, and that probably hasn't even been drafted yet.