Hi all,
we're considering whether to change our plans and bring forward a move to Aus (or maybe NZ).
I've had Aus citizenship now for nearly ten years and been back in U.K. for a while. My partner is British so we'd need to apply for a spouse visa, and we can apply for aus citizenship for our two girls. My question is, seeing as we're not sure when we'd move to aus (our original plan was in about ten years or so but current situation is going to accelerate things, we think), should we apply for citizenship for our girls now and for my partners spouse visa at the same time?
what happens if we get the spouse visa and then don't go within the allotted timeframe? Would this affect any future application?
Also, we were considering if it would be possible to get a visa for NZ for my partner, based on me being an Aussie?

many thanks,
Johnny

There is no reason to apply for the visa and the citizenships at the same time. They are not bundled, and they will go into different bureaucratic streams. You should apply for the citizenships as soon as possible.

It is not a quick process where you just pop into the consulate in an afternoon and be done with it. Citizenship by descent is currently taking 2-4 months of processing.

The visas can take longer. No it will not affect any future applications if the spouse doesn't move. The visa will not move any faster just because two child citizenship applications were submitted at the same time.

You do not want to be in a situation where you decide to go but then have to wait because of paperwork processing.

Australian Citizens are able to sponsor partner visas for New Zealand if they can prove that New Zealand is the primary residence. This may mean you will have to move there first and set up a residence before applying.

https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/mo.../partner-visas

Thanks Carcajou, that answers my questions perfectly. Guess we'll get the citizenship applications started then.