The general residence requirement for Australian citizenship by conferral is set out in the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. To meet the general residence requirement an applicant must be lawfully present in Australia for 4 years, including 12 months as a permanent resident, immediately before the date of application.

The backdating of permanent residence means that, from 1 January 2023, New Zealand stream Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa holders are eligible to apply for Australian citizenship by conferral immediately following visa grant, without needing to hold this visa for 12 months. Special Category visa holders may be eligible immediately.

If you would like to check your eligibility, book a consultation with one of our expert migration agents