Australia has announced plans to simplify the process for hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders living in the country to become Australian citizens.
Starting on 1 July, they can apply for citizenship if they have lived in Australia for at least four years and arrived after 2001.
They will no longer need to apply for permanent residency first to be eligible for citizenship.
New Zealand has been pushing for reform since visa rules toughened in 2001.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement on Saturday, ahead of a visit by New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.
New Zealanders residing in Australia
Authorities expect that the changes will affect up to 350,000 New Zealanders who are currently residing in Australia.
“These changes mean he and his family would have access to government assistance – such as unemployment benefits – after becoming citizens,” says New Zealander Scott Bowley, who lives in Melbourne with his Swedish wife and two children.
Fellow New Zealander Nicole Westrupp, who works at a children’s hospital in Melbourne, says she had given up trying to get permanent residency. This was due to her medical role being considered too niche. Also it will cost thousands of dollars to apply.
“There was no path for me until now,” she tells the BBC.
The changes mean she can now access extra support if needed, such as housing grants, and she is now eligible to vote.
About 670,000 New Zealanders currently live in Australia, with about 70,000 Australians in New Zealand.
Authorities in Australia say the changes now put the rights of New Zealanders living in Australia on a level playing field with Australians living in New Zealand.
New Zealand’s Chris Hipkins has hailed the changes as “the biggest improvement in the rights of New Zealanders living in Australia in a generation”.
