Citizenship Application

What is Citizenship Application?

Becoming an Australian citizen is a major achievement and for most migrants it is the final chapter of the lengthy migration journey! This is where you pledge your commitment and loyalty to Australia and in return you continue to receive the many opportunities Australia has to offer.

BENEFITS OF BEING AN AUSTRALIAN CITIZEN:

apply for an Australian passport
freely travel in and out of Australia as you please
being able to vote
access assistance from Australian consulates or embassies whilst you are oversees
stand for election (ie become a politician)
defer your study costs with access to HELP
register the birth of your children in another country as Australian citizens.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS:

behaving in accordance with Australia’s democratic beliefs
respecting the rights and liberties of Australia
following and obeying the laws
voting in all federal and state or territory elections and referenda
serving on jury duty, if summoned
defend Australia, if necessary

The different ways of becoming an Australian citizen are listed below -

Permanent Residents or NZ Citizens

(BY CONFERRAL)

This is one of the most common way people become eligible for citizenship. Some of the eligibility criteria include:

have permanent residency for at least 12 months, or be an ‘eligible New Zealand citizen’
have been living in Australia on a valid visa for the past 4 years, ie you have spent no more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years outside of Australia, including no more than 90 days in the past 12 months (unless you are exempt).

Persons who are 60 years and over can apply without sitting a citizenship test.

If your parent was an Australian Citizen when you were born overseas

(BY DESCENT)

This is another common way of becoming eligible for citizenship. Some of the eligibility criteria include:

be born outside of Australia on or after 26 January 1949
at the time of your birth, one or more of your parents was an Australian citizen.

Other pathways include:

Children 15 years and under who are permanent residents but whose parent(s) are not applying for citizenship
People who were born to a parent who was a former Australian citizen
Children who have been adopted outside Australia by an Australian citizen
Persons born in Papua before independence in 1975
People who used to be Australian citizens.