5 ms·

> Australia is able, and does, select who migrates to the country Australia selects its own immigrants through only one of its two immigration systems (its DIB

by vorg 10y ago

> Australia is able, and does, select who migrates to the country Australia selects its own immigrants through only one of its two immigration systems (its DIBP). Because they allow all New Zealand citizens (through a reciprocal arrangement) to live and work in Australia, they don't select immigrants who go in that other way. As the Chinese say "新西兰是澳大利亚的后门", i.e. "New Zealand is the back door into Australia".

amatix 10y ago
Typically takes at leat 7 years to get NZ citizenship (except for Peter Thiel) -- 2 for Permanent Residency then another 5 years for citizenship. 6 years of which you have to actually live in NZ . That's a fairly long-winded "back door".
- vorg 10y ago
  When I lived in New Zealand in the 1990's, I met many Chinese immigrants who lived in NZ for 3 years then after becoming NZ citizens went straight to Australia to become Australian citizens after a further 2 years there. That's where I heard that expression.
  - ptaipale 10y ago
    That's still quite selective immigration. The cost and visa requirements of travelling to NZ (legally) before immigrating to Australia from there is already a factor that changes the migration pattern completely.
    - vorg 10y ago
      Around 2002, Australia stopped New Zealanders getting automatic Australian citizenship after residency. Also then, New Zealand changed the residency time to become a citizen from 3 years to 5 years. I haven't heard about the extra 2 years mentioned by amatix. Until then, it was easier to get NZ permanent residency than Australian, and many people, especially from China, took that "back door" to Australian citizenship. During the 1990's, I met many who spent the 3 years in NZ unemployed, learning conversational English. After becoming NZ citizens they'd go to Australia and get a job within months.
- jpatokal 10y ago
  Especially given that you can go from zero to Australian citizen in four years. (I did.)

by vorg 10y ago

amatix 10y ago

Typically takes at leat 7 years to get NZ citizenship (except for Peter Thiel) -- 2 for Permanent Residency then another 5 years for citizenship. 6 years of which you have to actually live in NZ . That's a fairly long-winded "back door".

vorg 10y ago
When I lived in New Zealand in the 1990's, I met many Chinese immigrants who lived in NZ for 3 years then after becoming NZ citizens went straight to Australia to become Australian citizens after a further 2 years there. That's where I heard that expression.
- ptaipale 10y ago
  That's still quite selective immigration. The cost and visa requirements of travelling to NZ (legally) before immigrating to Australia from there is already a factor that changes the migration pattern completely.
  - vorg 10y ago
    Around 2002, Australia stopped New Zealanders getting automatic Australian citizenship after residency. Also then, New Zealand changed the residency time to become a citizen from 3 years to 5 years. I haven't heard about the extra 2 years mentioned by amatix. Until then, it was easier to get NZ permanent residency than Australian, and many people, especially from China, took that "back door" to Australian citizenship. During the 1990's, I met many who spent the 3 years in NZ unemployed, learning conversational English. After becoming NZ citizens they'd go to Australia and get a job within months.
jpatokal 10y ago
Especially given that you can go from zero to Australian citizen in four years. (I did.)