Non-citizen. See alien.

Before I muse about being a non-citizen, I will briefly explain why.

Today I completed a series of Dutch knowledge tests, the Inburgeringsexamen, which translates to the civic integration exam. Legally, I am recognised as a ‘foreign national’ who has been living in the Netherlands for almost five years. I am also considered to be a contributor to the knowledge-based economy in the Netherlands. So, what does this mean if (nay, when) I successfully pass? 

It means I become a permanent resident of the Netherlands with the possibility to move to other European Union Member states. However, I am still legally considered to be an Australian citizen until I renounce my citizenship due to being a citizen of another country or entitled to become a citizen of another country. The same goes for the Netherlands. I can only become a Dutch citizen if I give up my other nationality. So, I think I’ll stick to being a non-EU national who is a long-term resident, just for the time being. 

While I won’t be able to vote in national Dutch elections, I am eligible to vote in local elections. 

Presently, I am not allowed to vote in Australian elections. Whether I am enrolled or not, I can only vote if I intend to return to Australia within six years. And at this point, I don’t see that as a viable option.

So, my question is, if I am considered to be an Australian citizen living as a permanent resident in the Netherlands, with limited rights both here and abroad, does that actually make me a type of non-citizen or a new type of EU citizen?