Way2Oz Migration Services

Australian Citizenship

Australia Citizenship

A person can become a citizen of Australia in different ways as long as they meet the criteria. The most common ways of applying for Australian citizenship are by conferral and descent.

What Australian Citizenship lets you do?

After receiving Australian citizenship, a person can:

  • Apply for children who are born overseas to become citizens of Australia by descent.
  • Voting rights in state/territory and federal elections and in a referendum.
  • Apply for a job in the Australian Defence Force or the Australian Public Service.
  • Apply for an Australian passport and re-enter Australia freely.
  • Seek election to the Australian parliament.
  • Ask for consular assistance from Australian officials while abroad.

What are the different pathways to get Australian citizenship?

Permanent Residents or Eligible New Zealand Citizens

You can apply for Australian citizenship under this category if you are a permanent resident of Australia or an eligible New Zealand citizen at the time of application and when the Department decides your application. You must also be in Australia when the decision is made on your application for Australian citizenship by conferral. You must also have spent time in Australia and know about the country. The applicant must also intend to live in Australia or maintain lasting links with Australia while abroad. You may apply for Australian Citizenship by conferral if you are an:

  • Australian Permanent Resident, or
  • Eligible New Zealand citizens, or
  • Partner or a spouse of an Australian Citizen, or
  • Refugee or humanitarian migrant, or
  • Child aged 16 or 17, or
  • Children 15 years or younger who are applying with a parent or guardian, or
  • Migrants under Commonwealth Child Migration Scheme.

Your Australian citizenship by conferral application will not be approved by DHA if:

  1. If DHA is not satisfied with your identity.
  2. Criminal Offences
  3. If DHA assesses you as a risk to the security of Australia.
  4. If the applicant ceased to be an Australian citizen in the last twelve months.
  5. If you are outside Australia when DHA decides on your application unless the spouse/interdependent partner discretion was applied to assist you in meeting the requirements of general residence or you satisfied one of the special residence requirements.

Persons 60 Years or Over

This category of Australian citizenship by conferral is only for people 60 years or older. To become a citizen, the person needs to be a permanent resident or an eligible citizen of New Zealand when they apply and when the Department of Home Affairs decide on their application. The person must intend to live in Australia or maintain lasting links with Australia while abroad. This category of Australian citizenship by conferral is for:

  • Permanent residents who are 60 years old or above
  • Migrants under Commonwealth Child Migration Scheme.
  • Eligible New Zealand citizens.
  • Partners/spouses of a citizen of Australia.
  • Refugees or humanitarian migrants

    • The applicants can include a dependent child aged 15 or younger in their application for Australian citizenship by conferral. However, if the dependent child is aged 16 or 17, then you cannot include them on your citizenship application. Moreover, the applicants are not required to sit in the citizenship test. 

    Your Parent Was an Australian Citizen When You Were Born Overseas (By Descent)

    A person who was born outside Australia is eligible to be a citizen of Australia by descent if one or both of their parents was a citizen of Australia at the time of their birth. The person applying for Australian citizenship by descent must be of good character if they are 18 years old or above at the time of application. If the applicant is 15 years or younger, their parents must sign their application. The Department of Home Affairs will not grant a bridging visa for this application.

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    What are the eligibility requirements to be an Australian citizen?

    Permanent Resident

    The applicant and every person included in the application for Australian citizenship by conferral must be a permanent resident.

    An Eligible New Zealand Citizen

    A person would be considered an eligible New Zealand citizen for citizenship under the permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen category (by conferral) if they arrived in Australia with a New Zealand passport and they were:
    1. Here on February 26, 2001, or
    2. Here for twelve months in the two years prior to February 26, 2001, or
    3. Assessed as a holder of a protected Special Category Visa (SCV) and were issued a Centrelink certificate stating they were living in Australia at a particular time.

    A person would be considered an eligible New Zealand citizen for citizenship under the Person 60 years or Over category (by conferral) if they arrived in Australia with a New Zealand passport and completed an Incoming Passenger Card, and were: 

    1. In Australia, on February 26, 2001, as an SCV 444 holder, or
    2. Outside Australia, on February 26, 2001, but in the two years prior to that date, they were in Australia as an SCV 444 holder for a year at least, or
    3. Holding a Centrelink certificate issued prior to February 26, 2004, stating you were living in Australia at a particular time.

    Residence Requirement

    The Department of Home Affairs, Australia, considers the amount of time an applicant lived in Australia in the last four years. The person applying for Australian citizenship by conferral must meet the general residence requirements, which are as follows:

    1. Must be living in Australia on a valid visa for the last four years.
    2. Should be a permanent resident or an eligible citizen of New Zealand for the last twelve months.
    3. Must have been outside Australia for no more than twelve months in total in the last four years, and it includes no more than ninety days in total in the last twelve months.

    You are exempted from meeting the residence requirements if:

    1. The child is below 16 years but is a permanent resident (only in case of Permanent Residents or Eligible New Zealand citizens (By Conferral) category).
    2. Were born to a former citizen of Australia who lost their citizenship before April 4, 2002.
    3. You were born in Papua before September 16, 1975, and either of your parents was born in Australia and was a citizen of Australia at the time of your birth.

    Character Requirement

    The person applying for Australian citizenship by conferral must be of good character if they are 18 years or above. 

    Knowledge of Australia

    Most people applying for Australian citizenship by conferral are required to sit the citizenship test to demonstrate what it means to be an Australian citizen. You must score 75% or more on this test. At the time of the appointment, you must have the following:

    1. Basic knowledge of the English language
    2. Knowledge of what it means to be an Australian citizen.
    3. Sufficient knowledge of Australia and the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship.
    4. Understanding and commitment to the values of Australia based on respect, freedom, and equality.

    Language Requirement

    The person applying for Australian citizenship by conferral needs basic knowledge of the English language. If you score 75% or above on the citizenship test and correctly answer all five questions on Australian values, then you meet the language requirements. 

    Close and continuing link to Australia

    The person applying for Australian citizenship by conferral must intend to live in Australia or keep a close and continuing link with Australia while abroad. The Department of Home Affairs may consider you if you have the following:

    1. A partner having Australian citizenship and your time together
    2. A child who is a citizen of Australia.
    3. Spent time in Australia.
    4. Extended family in Australia.
    5. A job in Australia.
    6. A bank account in Australia.
    7. Property in Australia.
    8. Paid income tax in Australia.

    However, to apply for Australian citizenship by Descent (Your Parent Was an Australian Citizen When You Were Born Overseas), the applicant must meet the following eligibility criteria:

    The person applying for Australian citizenship by descent must have been either:

    Born outside Australia on or after January 26 1949

    The person must have been born outside Australia on or after January 26 1949, and one or both of their parents was also Australian citizen at the time of their birth. Their parent will also need to have spent a minimum of two years lawfully in Australia before the person applies if they became an Australian citizen:

    1. By descent; or
    2. By adoption outside Australia

    Born outside Australia under an international surrogacy arrangement

    International surrogacy is an arrangement involving a surrogate mother who lives overseas, and the arrangement can be altruistic (not for profit) or commercial. In most Australian states and territories, commercial surrogacy arrangements are illegal. To apply for a child under the Australian citizenship by descent category, you must provide the following:

    1. Surrogate mother’s identity and consent.
    2. The surrogacy contract.
    3. Responsible parent’s consent and signature.
    4. DNA test results, if asked.

    Character requirement

    You and any family members included in the application for Australian citizenship by descent must meet Australia’s character requirements. 

    Cost for the Australian citizenship?

    Processing time for this visa can vary. Please visit Australian government site for current  Visa Cost

    Processing time for the Australian citizenship?

    Processing time for this visa can vary. Please visit Australian government site for current Processing Time

    How can you apply for Australian citizenship?

    Permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens

    You can apply either onshore or offshore, but you must be in Australia when DHA decides on your application for Australian citizenship by conferral. After the initial assessment, you will be asked to come for an interview and sit the citizenship test. The outcome of this will be communicated in writing. If the outcome is successful, you will receive an invitation to a ceremony, generally within six months of approval.

    Persons 60 years or over

    You can apply either onshore or offshore, but you must be in Australia when DHA decides on your application for Australian citizenship by conferral. After the initial assessment, you will be asked to come for an interview. You will not sit the citizenship test. The outcome of this will be communicated in writing. If the outcome is successful, most applicants will receive an invitation to a ceremony, generally within six months of approval. If you are not required to attend the Australian citizenship ceremony, your citizenship certificate will be sent to you at the same time as your approval letter.

    Your Parent Was an Australian Citizen When You Were Born Overseas (By Descent)

    You must be outside Australia when you apply for Australian citizenship by descent category. After the initial assessment, you will be notified of the outcome via email. If the outcome is successful, you become an Australian citizen on the day your application is approved. You will be issued Australian citizenship by descent extract that can be used when applying for an Australian passport. You do not need to attend the Australian citizenship ceremony.

    How Can Way2Oz Help You Apply Australian citizenship?

    At Way2Oz Migration Services, we can provide you with clear advice on whether an application for Australian citizenship is feasible. Some of the services we provide are:

    • Initial consultation on the viability of your application for Australian citizenship.
    • Review of all supporting documentation.
    • Overview of process, timescales and documents.
    • Advice and assistance throughout the entire Australian citizenship application process.

    There are many reasons you may wish to become a citizen of Australia. Gaining Australian citizenship can allow you to vote, apply for public services and work in the armed forces. It also gives applicants the right to the country’s passport and facilitates easier travel. While you are granted entitlements as a citizen of Australia, there are important responsibilities you must accept too. Way2Oz Migration Services provides guidance and assists you in applying for Australian citizenship. Our migration agents have in-depth knowledge of Australian immigration and citizenship laws and can help you at every stage of Australian citizenship. To learn more about your Australian citizenship options, you may feel free to contact our team of registered migration agents.

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