Lyla Lindsey
Australian citizenship by descent can be acquired by individuals born outside of Australia to an Australian citizen parent. The process involves lodging an application with the Department of Home Affairs, along with relevant documents. These documents may include birth certificates, citizenship certificates, and evidence of other citizenships held by the Australian parent. It's important to note that further documents may be required depending on individual circumstances. Once the citizenship certificate is obtained, an Australian passport can be applied for. This guide provides an overview of the process, but for specific and personalised information, it is recommended to contact the Department of Home Affairs directly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Born outside Australia with at least one Australian citizen parent at the time of birth |
| Application Process | Lodge the application with the Department of Home Affairs |
| Required Documents | Full Australian birth certificate, Australian citizenship or naturalization certificate, evidence of other citizenships held by the Australian parent, German birth certificate, passport or other travel documents |
| Citizenship Ceremony | Required in most cases before granting citizenship |
| Passport Application | Can be applied for after receiving the citizenship certificate |
| Former Citizens | Can apply for nationality restoration if they faced hardship or were automatically deprived of citizenship before 2002 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Eligibility requirements for citizenship by descent
To be eligible for Australian citizenship by descent, you must have been born outside Australia, and one or both of your parents must have been Australian citizens at the time of your birth. If your parent acquired citizenship by descent or adoption, they must have resided in Australia for at least two years at the time of your application.
If you are applying for citizenship for a child under 16 years of age, you will need to provide their German birth certificate, or an official certified English translation. If your child was not born in Germany, you can find a list of certified translators in Germany on the website www.bdue.de. You will also need to provide a passport or other travel document that shows a photograph and the current name of the child, if available.
If you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and face challenges providing documents to prove your citizenship, an alternative process is available. You can complete a B19 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander declaration and submit it with your passport application.
If you were born on or after 20 August 1986 and cannot present documents to prove your parents' and/or grandparents' Australian citizenship, you will need to provide your full Australian birth certificate and your parent's full Australian birth certificate. If your parent was born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, you will also need to provide:
- The full Australian birth certificate of a grandparent who was born in Australia before 20 August 1986
- The Australian passport of a grandparent, issued on or after 20 August 1986, that was valid for at least two years and issued before your parent was born
- The Australian citizenship certificate of a grandparent that shows they acquired citizenship before your parent was born
Please note that the Australian Embassy Berlin does not process citizenship applications and cannot answer questions about your application. The information provided is for guidance only, and further documents may be required depending on your personal circumstances. Applications must be lodged with the Department of Home Affairs.
Applying for Australia: A Guide to Your New Life
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Required documents for citizenship by descent
The documents required for Australian citizenship by descent depend on when you or your parents became citizens. If you were born in Australia before 20 August 1986, you only need to show your full birth certificate issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. If born after this date, you can prove citizenship by presenting an Australian citizenship certificate or an Australian passport issued after 1 January 2000 that was valid for a minimum of two years.
If you were born in Australia after 20 August 1986 and one of your parents was an Australian permanent resident or citizen when you were born, you can prove citizenship by presenting your full birth certificate and either:
- Your parent's full birth certificate showing they were born in Australia before 20 August 1986
- Your parent's Australian passport, issued on or after 20 August 1986, valid for at least two years, and issued before your birth
- Your parent's Australian citizenship certificate, showing citizenship was acquired before your birth
- If both your parents were Australian permanent residents when you were born, you will need to apply for evidence of your citizenship through the Department of Home Affairs
If your parent was born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, to prove citizenship by birth, you will need to show your full Australian birth certificate and your parent's full birth certificate, as well as:
- The full Australian birth certificate of a grandparent who was born in Australia before 20 August 1986
- The Australian passport of a grandparent, issued on or after 20 August 1986, valid for a minimum of two years, and issued before your parent's birth
- The Australian citizenship certificate of a grandparent that shows they acquired citizenship before your parent's birth
If the link between you and your parent or grandparent is unclear from birth certificates due to name changes, you will need to show name change documents that prove these links.
Bauxite Deposits in Australia: Where Are They Found?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![4-Film Collection Cabin Fever/ Cabin Fever 2/ Descent/ Descent 2 [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Ma9L52m6L._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Where to lodge the application for citizenship by descent
To apply for Australian citizenship by descent, you must lodge your application with the Department of Home Affairs. This can be done online via the Department of Home Affairs website, or manually by mailing the application form and supporting documents to the Department of Home Affairs.
If you are applying for citizenship for a child under 16 years of age, the Australian Embassy Berlin has provided a guide to assist with the application process. However, it is important to note that the embassy does not process citizenship applications and cannot answer specific questions about your application.
When lodging your application, ensure that you have provided all the relevant documents and that the form has been filled out correctly. The required documents may vary depending on your personal circumstances, but generally, you will need to provide evidence of your parent's Australian citizenship at the time of your birth. This can include a full Australian birth certificate (if your parent was born before 20 August 1986), an Australian citizenship or naturalisation certificate, or evidence of other citizenships held by your Australian parent.
If you are applying for citizenship for a child, you will need to provide their German birth certificate (an international version or an official certified English translation), as well as a passport or other travel document showing their photograph and current name. It is important to note that once you have lodged your application for citizenship, you will not be able to apply for an Australian visa for your child.
Explorers' Food in Australia: A Historical Diet
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![By Jeff Long The Descent (Reissue) [Mass Market Paperback]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51197ga0NcL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
What to do after receiving the citizenship certificate
Once you have received your Australian citizenship certificate, there are several things you can do. Firstly, if you haven't already, you can apply for an Australian passport. You will need to provide your citizenship certificate, as well as your full name as it appears on the certificate, and your citizenship certificate number or Home Affairs Client ID (CID) number if you have it. If you don't have these numbers, you will need to complete a paper form. If you were born in Australia before 20 August 1986, you will also need to provide your full birth certificate issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. If you were born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, you may also need to provide additional documentation such as your parent's full birth certificate or Australian passport, or your grandparent's Australian passport or citizenship certificate.
If you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and face challenges providing documents to prove your citizenship, you can complete a B19 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander declaration form and submit it with your passport application. The Australian Passport Office will verify the information provided in your B19 form to confirm your identity and proof of Australian citizenship.
In addition to applying for a passport, there may be other steps you can take to fully enjoy the benefits of your new citizenship status. For example, you may wish to register with the Department of Home Affairs, update your driver's license or other identification documents, or explore the rights and responsibilities that come with being an Australian citizen. You may also want to look into any additional benefits or services that are now available to you as a citizen, such as access to certain government programs or services, or the ability to sponsor family members for immigration.
Finally, be sure to keep your citizenship certificate in a safe and secure place, as it is an important document that you may need to access in the future. Consider making certified copies or scanning and storing digital copies for your records.
Aquatic Australia: Exploring Unique Watery Biomes
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![The Descent 2 [Blu-ray] [Region2] Requires a Multi Region Player](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/717nE59WjRL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
How to apply for an Australian passport
To apply for an Australian passport, you must first be an Australian citizen. If you were born in Australia before 20 August 1986, you are automatically an Australian citizen. If you were born after this date, you are an Australian citizen if at least one of your parents is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
If you were born outside of Australia, you may still be eligible for citizenship by descent if one or both of your parents were Australian citizens at the time of your birth. In this case, you will need to apply to the Department of Home Affairs for evidence of your citizenship. You will need to provide various documents, including your parent's Australian citizenship certificate, or, if they acquired citizenship by descent or naturalisation, evidence of this process. If your parent was an Australian permanent resident when you were born, you will need to provide your own and your parent's full Australian birth certificates, as well as evidence of your grandparent's Australian citizenship, such as their birth certificate, passport, or citizenship certificate.
Once you have received your citizenship certificate, you can apply for an Australian passport. You will need to provide documents that prove you are an Australian citizen, such as your citizenship certificate or full Australian birth certificate. If you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and face challenges providing these documents, you can complete a B19 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander declaration and submit it with your application.
Australia's Individual Rights and Freedoms: Where Are They Found?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
A person born outside Australia to an Australian citizen parent is eligible to acquire Australian citizenship by descent through application.
Examples of documents that show one of the applicant’s parents was an Australian citizen at the time of the applicant’s birth include:
- Full Australian birth certificate if the parent was born before 20 August 1986
- Australian citizenship or naturalisation certificate
- Evidence of other citizenships held by the Australian parent, if applicable, such as a letter or certificate showing the date of the acquisition of the citizenship
Applications must be lodged with the Department of Home Affairs.
Once you have received the citizenship certificate, you can apply for an Australian passport.
![The Descent [Region 2]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5100sL03myL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
