IT ALLOWS:

  • live in Australia
  • apply for an Australian passport and to leave and re-enter Australia without applying for a resident return visa
  • seek assistance from Australian diplomatic representatives while overseas
  • work in the public service
  • serve in the armed forces
  • register as Australian citizens by descent any of your children born overseas after you become an Australian citizen
  • stand for Parliament
  • vote to elect members of Parliament
  • You can enrol in university in Australia with a loan from the Government (HELP – Higher Education Loan Program) so you can defer your study costs until you earn enough to repay it
  • You can move permanently to New Zealand

 ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA:

Citizenship by Conferral

In order to be eligible for Australian Citizenship by conferral, applicants must meet a number of residency requirements, including:

  • 12 months as a permanent resident
  • Being lawfully resident in Australia for 4 years immediately prior to lodgement
  • Absences from Australia of no more than 1 year in the last 4 years and no more than 90 days in the 12 months immediately before applying.

Lawful residence does include time spent on temporary visas (i.e. Student, Working Holiday, Tourist, Bridging Visa) prior to grant of permanent residency.

Home Affairs will firstly confirm that you meet the residence requirement, and then conduct security checks and review your Immigration history. Once these are met, you will be invited to undergo a Citizenship test or – for applicants 60 years of age and over – attend a Citizenship appointment.

Following the test, if all requirements are satisfied then Home Affairs can approve your application.

The final step in the process is to attend a Citizenship Ceremony. This is when you become an Australian Citizen and are then able to apply for an Australian passport.

Ceremonies are organised by Councils and other local groups throughout the year.

Citizenship by Birth

If you were born in Australia, then you would automatically be an Australian citizen if at least one of your parents was an Australian Citizen or a permanent resident at the time of your birth.

Citizenship by Descent

If you were born overseas and one of your parents held Australian citizenship at your date of birth, then you may be eligible to apply for Australian Citizenship by Descent.

Applications are lodged online and processed through the responsible Australian Embassy or High Commission for your country of residence.

WHERE CAN I APPLY FROM:

You can lodge an Australian citizenship application and then leave Australia, for the Department of Home Affairs to continue processing your application you need to return to Australia or provide an intended return date.

If you have not provided an intended return date and are still overseas you may get a request from the department to provide evidence of your return to Australia (for example airline ticket, employment contract, lease agreement).

CAN I INCLUDE FAMILY MEMBERs:

Children under 16 years of age can be included on a responsible parent’s application form or can apply on their own form.

The Australian Citizenship Act 2007 defines responsible parent in relation to a child as:

  • a parent, unless that parent does not have parental responsibility because of orders made by the Family Court of Australia, or
  • any person having responsibility over the child because of an order made by the Family Court, or
  • any person who has guardianship or custody of the child under an Australian law or a foreign law, whether because of adoption, operation of law, an order of a court or otherwise.