Australian Citizenship (Permanent Resident) Determination (LIN 22/103) 2022

Administered by Department of Home Affairs

Legislation au F2022L01628 In force Legislative Instrument

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LIN 22/103

Australian Citizenship (Permanent Resident) Determination (LIN 22/103) 2022

made under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007

Compilation no. 1

 

Compilation date 1 July 2023

 

This compilation was prepared by the Department of Home Affairs on 1 July 2023 taking into account amendments up to Australian Citizenship (Permanent Resident) Amendment Determination (LIN 23/024) 2023.

1          Name

                 This instrument is the Australian Citizenship (Permanent Resident) Determination (LIN 22/103) 2022.

3          Definitions

                 In this instrument:

airline crew member has the meaning given by regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994.

airline positioning crew member has the meaning given by regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994.

dependent child has the meaning given by regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994.

diplomatic or consular representative has the meaning given by subsection 5(1) of the Migration Act 1958.

return endorsement means a return endorsement issued under section 11A of the Migration Act 1958 before the day when the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1987 received the Royal Assent, other than a return endorsement that has expired or been cancelled, including a document or notation mentioned in subsection 9(3) of the Migration Amendment Act 1979.

spouse has the meaning given by regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994.

Subclass 189 visa means the Subclass 189 (Skilled—Independent) visa prescribed by the Migration Regulations 1994.

Note          Some terms have the same meaning as in the Act, including ordinarily resident, special category visa and special purpose visa.

4 Persons who hold a special category visa

 (1) For subsection 5(2) of the Act, this section applies to a person who:

(a) is a New Zealand citizen; and

(b) holds a special category visa; or

(c) both:

 (i) held a special category visa on or after 1 July 2023; and

 (ii) holds a permanent visa which was granted to the person on or after 1 July 2023.

 (2) The person is taken to have become a permanent resident on 1 July 2022 if the person was granted a special category visa before 1 July 2022.

 (3) The person is taken to have become a permanent resident on the day between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023 when the person was granted a special category visa for the first time.

 (4) The person is a permanent resident if the person is granted a special category visa on or after 1 July 2023.

 (5) However, this section does not apply to a person who:

(a) is in Australia as a diplomatic or consular representative of New Zealand; or

(b) is the spouse or dependent child of a diplomatic or consular representative of New Zealand.

5 Persons who have held a special category visa

 (1) For subsection 5(2) of the Act, this section applies to a person who:

(a) is a New Zealand citizen; and

(b) is outside of Australia but not because the person was removed or deported from Australia under the Migration Act 1958; and

(c) immediately before last leaving Australia, was the holder of:

 (i) a special category visa; or

 (ii) a special purpose visa taken to have been granted on the basis of the person’s status as an airline crew member or an airline positioning crew member.

 (2) The person is taken to have become a permanent resident on 1 July 2022 if the person was granted a special category visa before 1 July 2022.

  (3) The person is taken to have become a permanent resident on the day the person was granted a special category visa for the first time if the person was granted a special category visa between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023.

  (4) The person is a permanent resident if subsection (1) applies to the person on or after 1 July 2023.

 (5) However, this section does not apply to a person who, when the person was last in Australia, was in Australia as:

(a) a diplomatic or consular representative of New Zealand; or

(b) the spouse or dependent child of a diplomatic or consular representative of New Zealand.

 (6) A reference in this section to a person who has been removed or deported from Australia under the Migration Act 1958 does not include a person covered by subregulation 5.15A(3) of the Migration Regulations 1994.

6          Persons who have held special category visa—Subclass 189 visa holders

        (1)     For subsection 5(2) of the Act, a person is taken to have become a permanent resident on 1 January 2022 if the person:

(a)   is a New Zealand citizen; and

(b)   has held a special category visa; and

(c)   either:

             (i)  is the holder of a Subclass 189 visa in the New Zealand stream which was granted to the person after 31 December 2021 and before 1 July 2023 (the primary visa holder); or

            (ii)  is the holder of a Subclass 189 visa who satisfied the secondary criteria and is a member of the family unit of the primary visa holder.

        (2)     However, subsection (1) does not apply to a person who:

(a)   is in Australia as a diplomatic or consular representative of New Zealand; or

(b)   is the spouse or dependent child of a diplomatic or consular representative of New Zealand.

7          Persons in Norfolk Island or Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

        (1)     For subsection 5(2) of the Act, a person is a permanent resident if the person:

(a)   is present in Norfolk Island or the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands; and

(b)   is not an Australian citizen; and

(c)   subsection (2) or (3) applies.

        (2)     For a period when the person was present in Norfolk Island or the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands before 1 October 2017, the person’s presence:

(a)   was not in contravention of a law of Norfolk Island or the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands; and

(b)   either:

             (i)  was not, during the period when the person was present, subject to any limitation of time imposed by law; or

            (ii)  was subject to a limitation of time imposed by law, if the person would have been a permanent resident if the person:

(A)  had been present in Australia (other than in Norfolk Island or the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands) in that period; or

(B)  had been present on another of the islands of Norfolk Island or the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands in that period.

        (3)     For a period when the person was not present in Australia before 1 October 2017, the person was the holder of, or was taken to have been the holder of:

(a)   a visa of a class mentioned in Schedule 1; or

(b)   a return endorsement; or

(c)   a document or endorsement in force under a law of Norfolk Island or the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands entitling the holder to rights equivalent to those associated with a visa of a class mentioned in Schedule 1 or a return endorsement. 

 

Schedule 1        Classes of visas

(paragraph 7(3)(a))

Item

Class of visa

1

Document or notation permitting residents to return to Australia, issued before 1 November 1979

2

Resident return visa, within the meaning of regulation 29AC of the Migration (1959) Regulations

3

Return visa, within the meaning of regulation 2 of the Migration (1989) Regulations

4

Group 1.4 (resident return (permanent entry)) visa, within the meaning of the Migration (1993) Regulations

5

Document or notation mentioned in item 1, or visas mentioned in item 2, 3 or 4 that continued in force after 31 August 1994 as transitional (permanent) visa by the Migration Reform (Transitional Provisions) Regulations

6

Return (Residence) (Class BB) visa, within the meaning of the Migration Regulations 1994

Notes

This compilation comprises Australian Citizenship (Permanent Resident) Amendment Determination (LIN 23/024) 2023 amended as indicated in the following tables.

Table of instruments

Name

Registration

Number

Commencement

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Australian Citizenship (Permanent Resident) Determination (LIN 22/103) 2022

12 Dec 2022

F2022L01628

1 Jan 2023

Australian Citizenship (Permanent Resident) Amendment Determination (LIN 23/024) 2023

2 June 2023

F2023L00680

1 July 2023

Table of amendments

ad. = added or inserted      am. = amended      rep. = repealed      rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

s 2..................

rep. Legislation Act 2003, s. 48D [auto repeal of commencement provision]

s 3..................

am. LIN 23/024

s 4..................

rs. LIN 23/024

s 5 ..................

rs. LIN 23/024

s 8..................

rep. Legislation Act 2003, s. 48C [auto repeal of repeal provision]

 

Overview

The Australian Citizenship (Permanent Resident) Determination (LIN 22/103) 2022, enacted under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, addresses the need to clarify the permanent residency status of certain New Zealand citizens. This legislative instrument, prepared by the Department of Home Affairs, provides a framework for determining the permanent residency of New Zealand citizens who have held, are holding, or will hold a special category visa. It aims to streamline the process for New Zealand citizens transitioning to permanent residency in Australia by setting out specific conditions under which these individuals are considered permanent residents. This includes those who were granted a special category visa before certain dates or who hold a Subclass 189 visa in the New Zealand stream. The objective of this determination is to ensure that New Zealand citizens who meet certain criteria are recognised as permanent residents, thereby facilitating their integration and long-term residency in Australia. The Determination was made by the Minister for Home Affairs under the legislative authority granted by the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, and it has been amended to reflect changes in policy and legislative requirements. It aims to provide clarity and consistency in the application of the law to ensure that the rights and obligations of New Zealand citizens in Australia are properly recognised and enforced.

Scope and Application

The Australian Citizenship (Permanent Resident) Determination (LIN 22/103) 2022, made under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, applies to New Zealand citizens who hold, or have held, a special category visa in Australia, as well as those who hold a Subclass 189 visa in the New Zealand stream. This legislation establishes the conditions under which such individuals are considered permanent residents. Notably, the Act does not apply to individuals who are in Australia as diplomatic or consular representatives of New Zealand or to the spouses or dependent children of such representatives. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, applying across Australia, including specific provisions for Norfolk Island and the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The legislation also includes provisions for the automatic acquisition of permanent residency for certain New Zealand citizens based on their visa status and presence in Australia, with specific dates and conditions outlined for different scenarios. This legislative instrument may be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Australian Citizenship (Permanent Resident) Determination (LIN 22/103) 2022 under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 sets out the criteria and conditions for New Zealand citizens to become Australian permanent residents. Sections 4 and 5 of the Determination provide that New Zealand citizens who hold or have held a special category visa are considered to have become permanent residents on specific dates. For example, section 4(2) states that a person granted a special category visa before 1 July 2022 is taken to have become a permanent resident on that date. Similarly, section 5(2) outlines that a person who held a special category visa immediately before leaving Australia is also considered a permanent resident on certain dates depending on when they were granted the visa. However, these provisions do not apply to New Zealand citizens who are in Australia as diplomatic or consular representatives or their spouses or dependent children (sections 4(5) and 5(5)). The obligations imposed by the Determination include that New Zealand citizens who meet the criteria outlined in sections 4 and 5 must ensure they hold or have held the specified visas at the relevant times to be recognised as permanent residents. For instance, a New Zealand citizen who was granted a special category visa before 1 July 2022 must provide evidence of this visa to be considered a permanent resident as of that date (section 4(2)). Additionally, those who have held special category visas and are outside Australia must demonstrate they were not removed or deported from Australia under the Migration Act 1958 to qualify (section 5(2)). These requirements ensure that the Determination's provisions are accurately applied to the intended individuals. Breaches of the obligations set out in the Determination may result in civil or criminal consequences. While the Determination itself does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, breaches of related provisions in the Migration Act 1958 can lead to significant penalties. For instance, knowingly making a false or misleading statement in an application for a visa or other benefit under the Act can result in substantial fines or imprisonment, as outlined in the relevant sections of the Migration Act. Additionally, any failure to provide accurate information or documentation as required by the Determination could lead to the denial of permanent residency status or other immigration-related penalties.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.