I reported on Thursday how 48,000 New Zealand citizens left the country in the year to November 2024.
Statistics New Zealand noted a provisional annual net migration loss of 30,100 people to Australia.
The loss of Kiwis to Australia reflects, at least in part, the diverging labour market outcomes.
Australia’s unemployment rate was only 3.9% in December, 1.2% below New Zealand’s 5.1% unemployment rate.
The last time that Australia’s unemployment rate was this far below New Zealand’s was in 2012.
The Q4 2024 temporary visa data from the Department of Home Affairs show an equal record 701,300 Kiwis in Australia on “Special Category” visas at the end of 2024, unchanged from 2023.
Special Category visas (subclass 444) are given to New Zealand citizens with a valid New Zealand passport. This visa grants Kiwis the right to live and work in Australia.
From 1 July 2023, New Zealand citizens who have been living in Australia for 4 years or more became eligible to apply directly for Australian citizenship if:
- you’re an NZ citizen with an SCV and
- you arrived in Australia after 26 February 2001, and
- you have lived in Australia for at least 4 years.
According to AAP, 36,721 Kiwis acquired Australian citizenship in the 15 months following the introduction of these rules.
This explains why the number of Kiwis on Special Category visas remained stable between 2023 and 2024 despite the large net inflow of Kiwis to Australia.
Tens of thousands of Kiwis shifted from temporary Special Category visas to permanent residency or citizenship.
