Australian citizenship symbolises Australia's unity as a nation. It represents commitment to Australia and its people, the values they share and their common future. It also symbolises the sense of belonging to the country where you have been born or where you have decided to make your home.

More importantly from an expat perspective, it gives you the rights and privileges of an Australian citizen. The most significant of these are:

• an Australian passport

• and thus the freedom to come and go without visa restrictions

• no discrimination when applying for jobs - visa restriction do exist, and sometimes foreigners are the last to be employed

• the right to vote

• the right to apply for public office

• the right to seek assistance from Australian diplomats while overseas

• and the right to register your child as an Australian citizen by descent

Australia makes the following commitment to its citizens:

• The right to equity and freedom from barriers based on race, ethnicity, culture, gender and other differences, 

• The right to participate fully in the community, and to achieve your full potential, regardless of your background. 

The pledge of allegiance you will make at the citizenship ceremony: 

 *New citizens can choose to take the pledge in the form of an oath, which includes the words 'under God', or in the form of an affirmation, which does not.

The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs is responsible for the Australian citizenship website, which is the source of all our information.
 
 

What is the Process of Applying for citizenship?

Becoming an Australian citizen involves a serious commitment but the process is relatively simple. All you have to do is get the form, fill it in and lodge it with the processing fee. There's also a short interview. The Department will write to you to let you know whether your application has been successful. You will then need to attend a citizenship ceremony.

Processing time can vary, if all documentation is provided at the time of lodgement or at interview, it may take up to 30 days for a decision to be made on your application. Once your application has been approved, arrangements will be made for you to attend a citizenship ceremony. Most ceremonies are held by local government councils.

It can take a few months from the date of approval until you are invited to attend a citizenship ceremony. If you need to attend a citizenship ceremony by a particular date, please discuss your circumstances at your citizenship interview.

You are most welcome to share this memorable occasion with relatives and friends. You will receive details about your citizenship ceremony well in advance so that you can invite them.

 

What is the Application Fee for citizenship?

A fee must be paid before a citizenship application can be considered, and there is no scope to waive this fee. The current fee is $120 and it has been in place since January 1998. However, a concession fee of $20 is available to applicants who have a permanent financial disadvantage and are recipients of certain pensions from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Exemptions

There are two categories of applicants who are exempt from paying the fee.
These are: 

• Persons who have served in the Australian Defence Force for a period of at least 3 months; and 

• Former British child migrants who arrived in Australia under the British Child Migrant Scheme between 22 September 1947 and 31 December 1967. 

 

How long after Permanent Residence (PR) can I apply for Citizenship?

To apply for Australian citizenship you would need to have been in Australia for at least 2 years as a permanent resident in the last five years. This time must include a total of twelve months in the two years immediately before making your citizenship application. The twelve months does not need to be continuous.

There are some exceptions to the residence requirements: 

• Service in the permanent Australian Defence Forces for at least 3 months; 

• Service in the Australian Reserve Forces for at least 6 months; 

• Former Australian citizens or persons born in Australia; and 

• Spouse, widow or widower of an Australian citizen. 

 

Will I lose my current citizenship if I become an Australian citizen?

Australia does not require you to renounce your citizenship when you become an Australian citizen. Whether you lose your former citizenship when you become an Australian citizen does not depend upon Australian citizenship law, but upon the citizenship laws of the other country. A number of countries allow their citizens to keep their original citizenship, so make sure you check with the consulate or embassy to get the latest information

Will I lose my Australian citizenship if I acquire citizenship of another country?

If you acquired another citizenship on or after 4 April 2002, you will not lose your Australian citizenship. The Australian Citizenship Act 1948 was amended, so that after 4 April 2002 Australian citizens can acquire the citizenship of another country without losing their Australian citizenship.

If you acquired the citizenship of another country before 4 April 2002, you may have lost your Australian citizenship. However, you can apply to resume your Australian citizenship if you meet certain requirements.

Can Australian citizens have dual citizenship?

Australian citizens may hold the citizenship of another country (dual citizenship) or more than two countries (plural citizenship).

This happens when: 

• people born in Australia automatically acquired, through a parent, another citizenship by descent; 

• people become Australian citizens and who are able, under the law of their country of origin, to keep their other citizenship; 

• Australian citizens are born overseas to an Australian citizen parent and who by the law of that country acquire that citizenship at birth; and 

• Australians acquire the citizenship of another country automatically by legislation of that country, for example, through marriage.

Following recent amendments to citizenship legislation, Australian citizens can acquire another citizenship from 4 April 2002 and retain their Australian citizenship 



More Information? 

Please contact the Citizenship Information Line on 131 880, or visit the Australian government's citizenship website: click here.

 

Ways to apply for Australian citizenship

You can apply for Australian citizenship in three ways:

• You may apply online 

• Request an application kit by email or by ringing the Citizenship Information Line on 131 880.

• Download an application kit and send it - you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader version 3.

If you choose to download your application or request it by e-mail, then follow the steps below. If anything is unclear, then please consult the answers to the FAQs about becoming an Australian citizen.

Six Steps to Australian citizenship

To become an Australian citizen you'll need to complete the following steps: 

Step 1: Confirm that you are eligible 
Step 2: Get an application kit 
Step 3: Fill in and lodge the form and pay the fee 
Step 4: Attend a short interview 
Step 5: Find out when your citizenship ceremony will be and invite family and friends 
Step 6: Go to the ceremony, make the pledge and receive your citizenship certificate

Step 1 Checking your eligibility

If you're a permanent resident, and you've lived in Australia for two or more years you may be eligible to apply for citizenship by grant.

You are eligible if you can answer yes to all of the following questions:

• Are you a permanent resident?

• Have you been present in Australia as a permanent resident for two years in the previous five years, including for twelve months in the past two years?

• Are you of good character?

• Do you have a basic knowledge of English? (This requirement won't apply if you are aged 50 or over)

• Do you have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of being an Australian citizen? (This requirement won't apply if you are aged 60 or over)

• Do you intend to live in, or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia? 

Step 2 Get an Application Kit

The Application Kit contains the forms and detailed information you will need to make your application. You can get an Application Kit in a number of ways as soon as you are ready to proceed.

• Download a Citizenship Application Kit contents

• Fill in your details and email them to us and we'll send you a kit

• Order a kit by calling the Citizenship Information Line on 131 880

• DIMIA offices as well as Australia Post outlets in some rural and regional areas also have kits available

• Or you can simply apply online.

Step 3 Fill in and lodge the form and pay the fee

Once you have received your application kit, read and fill in the form in full, and sign and date it. Some of the documents you may need to attach to your application are:

• Your birth certificate

• The passport or travel documents you had when you came to Australia 

• Any other passports or travel documents you have 

• Evidence of your permanent residence 

• Proof of any changes of name 

If you are a New Zealand citizen, please click here for further information on the documents you need.

For proof of identity, you'll also need a current passport sized photo, signed by an authorised person who isn't a family member, and who has known you for at least one year. Authorised people include employees in a number of professional and other occupations. See the application form for details.

If you don't have all the documents you need to complete your application form, or need any other help to finalise it, call the Citizenship Information Line on 131 880.

You can lodge the form by mail, or in person at any office of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

Click here for the details of your nearest Department office.

Make sure you have all your personal papers with you when you put in your application.

You'll also need to pay the application fee of $120. There is a $20 concessional fee for people who receive certain social security or Veteran's Affairs pensions. 

There is no charge for citizenship for:

• former British child migrants who came to Australia between 22 September 1947 and 31 December 1967 under the British child migrant scheme; and 

• persons who have served in the Australian Defence Force for a period of no less than three months. 

Step 4 Attend a short interview

If you're applying for citizenship you'll need to attend a short interview, unless you're under the age of 16.

If you put in your application in person, you may be interviewed then, or you might be asked to come back later for an interview. If you live outside a capital city, you may be able to have your interview at an Australia Post office.

At the interview, Department staff will:

• Look over your application form and personal documents to make sure they are complete

• Ask you about the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship and assess whether you can speak and understand basic English

• After your interview, the Department will write to you about whether your application has been approved. Most applications are processed in 30 days. 

Step 5 Find out when your citizenship ceremony will be and invite family and friends

Once your application has been approved, you will be scheduled to attend a citizenship ceremony held by your local government council. Generally, it can take up to a few months, depending on where you live. If you need to attend a citizenship ceremony by a particular date, please advise your local office of the Department in writing.

Everyone needs to attend a citizenship ceremony, except for children under 16 (who are welcome to attend).

Most ceremonies are held at the local town hall or another civic building and are usually presided over by the local Mayor. You'll get a letter from the Department or your local government council to tell you when and where your ceremony will be held.

Citizenship ceremonies are warm, friendly events where you celebrate becoming an Australian citizen. You might want to invite your family and friends to be part of this important step you're taking, and to celebrate your citizenship with you.

Step 6 Go to the ceremony and make the pledge and receive your citizenship certificate

The citizenship ceremony will legally formalise your citizenship and welcome you as a new Australian citizen. You become a citizen at your ceremony when you make the Australian citizenship pledge.

Once you've made the pledge you will be given your certificate of Australian citizenship. The certificate is provided to all new citizens as legal proof of their Australian citizenship.

You'll also be able to complete an electoral enrolment form which registers you on the electoral roll and allows you to vote.

For more information visit the website of the Department of Immigration at www.immi.gov.au.