Around 2002, Australia stopped New Zealanders getting automatic Australian citizenship after residency. Also then, New Zealand changed the residency time to bec

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.