Under a series of treaties signed by the Australian and New Zealand governments, New Zealand citizens have the right to move to Australia and live there indefinitely under the Special Category Visa (SCV).
The SCV is granted to Kiwis automatically upon entry, provided they meet health and character requirements.
But despite having a pathway to reside in Australia permanently, this didn’t always provide New Zealanders a route to Australian citizenship.
After an investigation by the Howard government found that New Zealand was being used as a backdoor by migrants to come to Australia, in 2001 the access of newly arriving Kiwis to welfare payments and a clear pathway to Australian citizenship was removed, unless they obtained permanent residency based on age and skills.
An analysis by New Zealand statistics agency Stats NZ found:
“New Zealanders were targeted because of the perceived welfare costs and high proportion of New Zealand citizen migrants born in countries other than New Zealand.”
Source: Stats NZ
In short, for over two decades the tightened requirements around Australian citizenship held and the “backdoor” route to Australian citizenship identified by the Howard government was closed.
Then in April 2023, everything changed. The Albanese government altered the requirements for New Zealand citizens to gain Australian citizenship dramatically.
“From 1 July 2023, New Zealand citizens living in Australia will have a direct pathway to Australian citizenship.
All Special Category Visa holders will be able to apply directly for citizenship without becoming permanent residents first, as long as they meet a four-year residence and other eligibility requirements.”
Cue the so-called ‘Albo Effect’, the dramatic surge in the number of New Zealanders gaining Australian citizenship.
Source: Charted Daily
Now amidst record outflows of Kiwi citizens, many of whom are making new lives across the Tasman, the Luxon government has announced that they are adding two more pathways to residency.
Announcing two new residency pathways, the minister for economic growth, Nicola Willis, on Tuesday said skilled and experienced migrants could help plug gaps in the workforce.
Foreign Minister and New Zealand First party leader Winston Peters had a different view of the policy shift.
“New Zealand is being used as a stepping stone into Australia,”
“We take them in, train them, up-skill them, look after their families, and then they emigrate.”
“We need a smart immigration system that focuses on the needs of employers in New Zealand, industry, and Kiwi workers—not policies that will lead to more immigration with no plan for our next generation.” Peters said
According to an analysis by Stats NZ, of the New Zealand citizens who migrated to Australia in the 2024 calendar year, 35% were born outside New Zealand.
The Takeaway
Since the election of the Albanese government, figures within the government have often claimed that they do not control the immigration system.
For the most part this is incorrect. But when it comes to the ability of New Zealanders to make the jump across the Tasman, Australia is treaty bound to accept them.
But what Australia is not required to do is provide additional incentives such as an easy pathway to Australian citizenship, which is exactly what the Albanese government has done in the last two and a half years.
Ultimately, even senior members of the New Zealand government share concerns that New Zealand is being used as a stepping stone to Australia, an increasingly attractive backdoor that, in the final analysis, leaves New Zealand worse off.
