New Zealand Citizens The 1973 Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement allows New Zealand citizens to enter Australia to visit, live and work. You need a valid New Zealand passport to enter Australia. You are considered to have applied for a visa and, subject to health or character concerns, will automatically receive a Special Category Visa (SCV) which is recorded electronically. You do not need to seek a visa before travelling, unless there are medical or character concerns. As a result of changes announced by the Australian and New Zealand governments on 26 February 2001, some New Zealand citizens will be required to obtain Australian permanent residence if they wish to: - access certain social security payments (subject to the two year eligibility waiting period for most payments);
- be eligible for Australian citizenship; or
- sponsor people for permanent residence
Dual citizenship Australia does not require you to renounce your citizenship when you become an Australian citizen. Whether you lose your former citizenship when you become an Australian citizen does not depend upon Australian citizenship law, but upon the citizenship laws of the other country. A number of countries allow their citizens to keep their original citizenship, so make sure you check with the consulate or embassy to get the latest information. The reverse is also true. Australian citizens can acquire the citizenship of another country without losing their Australian citizenship (wef 4th April 2002).
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