If you are a Kiwi in Australia, you hold a temporary visa. This means you do not get to access many things that would be available to you if you were an Australian permanent resident or citizen.
If you are going to live in Australia for the foreseeable future or know that this is where you are going to live until you are old and grey, you should get Australian citizenship so that you can have all the benefits of a citizen, including access to important welfare payments. You also will know that your status in Australia is secure.
Doing the admin now will save you a lot of headaches in the future!
| Benefit | Kiwi on a Special Category Visa | Australian citizens |
| Right to vote | No | Yes |
| Unemployment payments | No | Yes |
| Sickness payments | No | Yes |
| Single parent payments | No | Yes |
| Disability services | No | Yes |
| Public Housing assistance | Depends on state | Yes |
| Citizenship granted to children at birth to Kiwi citizens or non-Australian PR/citizens | No | N/A |
| Citizenship granted to children born to an Australian PR/citizen | N/A | Yes |
| Federal government jobs | No | Yes |
| Defence Force jobs | No | Yes |
| Student allowance | No | Yes |
| Student loans | Depends on length of time in Australia and age at arrival | Yes |
