Kiwis moving to Australia
The Special Category Visa (SCV) that Kiwis obtain on entry to Australia is a temporary visa. You do not have the same rights and benefits as Australian citizens or permanent residents. To obtain these rights, Kiwis must obtain permanent visas.
If you lived in Australia before 26 February 2001, you might find you are already a permanent resident. You can find this out at the Department of Home Affairs – Immigration and Citizenship. If you arrived after 26 February 2001, you need to apply for a visa, for example, a Permanent resident visa or a Skilled independent visa.
To apply for Australian citizenship, there are several requirements you must meet. For example, you must have lived in Australia permanently for 12 months before your application and lived in Australia on a valid visa for 4 years. You can find further details at the Department of Home Affairs – Immigration and Citizenship.