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If you are a parent seeking Australian citizenship for your baby, there are a few steps you must follow. First, you must apply for an Australian birth certificate for your newborn. Once you have obtained the birth certificate, you can apply for citizenship or evidence of citizenship. To be eligible for Australian citizenship, your baby must meet one of the following criteria: at least one parent holds Australian citizenship or permanent residency, or the baby has been a resident in Australia since birth until the age of 10. If your baby was born outside of Australia, different criteria apply.
Applying for Australian Citizenship for a Baby
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Baby born before 20 August 1986 | Only needs to show their full birth certificate issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages |
| Baby born on or after 20 August 1986 | Needs to provide either an Australian citizenship certificate or an Australian passport issued after 1 January 2000 and valid for at least two years |
| Baby born outside Australia | If one parent is an Australian citizen, the baby will be considered an Australian citizen. If the baby was born outside Australia and neither parent is an Australian citizen but is a permanent resident, the baby will be eligible to apply |
| Baby with at least one parent as a temporary visa holder | The baby is granted the same visa as their parent(s) |
| Baby with at least one parent as a New Zealand stream visa holder | The baby will have automatic acquisition of Australian citizenship at birth |
| Baby with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage | An alternative process is available, where a B19 form can be completed and submitted with a passport application |
| Baby with parents who are Australian citizens or permanent residents | The baby will be considered an Australian citizen |
| Baby ordinarily resident in Australia from birth until 10 years old | The baby can become an Australian citizen |
| Application process | Apply for a birth certificate, then apply for citizenship or evidence of citizenship, and finally apply for a passport |
| Application requirements | A certified copy of the parent's current identity document with a photograph and signature, such as a passport or driver's license |
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What You'll Learn
Citizenship criteria for babies born in Australia
If your baby was born in Australia before 20 August 1986, they are automatically Australian citizens. You only need to show their full birth certificate issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages as proof of citizenship.
For babies born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, they will be Australian citizens by birth if at least one of their parents is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. To prove your baby's citizenship, you will need to provide:
- Your baby's full birth certificate
- Your full birth certificate showing that you were born in Australia before 20 August 1986, or your Australian passport issued on or after 20 August 1986 and valid for at least two years before your baby was born, or your Australian citizenship certificate.
- If both of 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 baby was born in Australia to New Zealand citizens on or after 1 July 2022, they are also Australian citizens by birth.
If your baby does not meet any of the above criteria, they may still be eligible for Australian citizenship through descent if one of their parents is an Australian citizen. Alternatively, they may become eligible for citizenship later on if they have lived in the country for at least four years and held permanent residency for one year.
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Citizenship for babies born to Australian citizens outside Australia
If your baby was born outside Australia and at least one parent is an Australian citizen, the baby will be considered an Australian citizen. If the baby was born outside Australia and neither parent is an Australian citizen but is a permanent resident, the baby will be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship.
To apply for Australian citizenship for your baby, you will need to provide the following documents:
- A certified copy of your current identity document, such as a passport or driver's license.
- Your baby's foreign passport or national identity card.
- Your baby's foreign birth certificate.
- Your marriage certificate, if you have one.
- Your baby's Australian birth certificate, if they have one.
- Evidence of your Australian citizenship, such as your Australian passport or birth certificate.
You can apply for Australian citizenship for your baby by completing the B19 form and submitting it to the Department of Home Affairs. The processing time for citizenship applications may vary depending on your circumstances. Once your application is approved, you may be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony before your baby is granted citizenship.
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Applying for a birth certificate
To apply for an Australian birth certificate, you will need to fill out an application form. This can be done online, and the application will be for a legal birth certificate, which can be used as official proof of identity. Commemorative birth certificates are also available; these are decorative keepsakes that are not legal documents and cannot be used for official purposes.
Victorian-issued birth certificates
If your child was born in Victoria, you can apply for a Victorian-issued birth certificate. This certificate is only issued for births registered in Victoria. If the birth has not yet been registered, you will need to do this before applying for the birth certificate. If your child was born overseas or in another Australian state, you will need to apply for a certificate from the place where the birth was registered.
Proving your identity
To prove your identity, you will need to provide two identity documents. One must be from category 1, and the other from category 2. One document must include a photo. For example, you could provide an Australian passport (current or expired less than three years ago), an Australian driver's licence, a Medicare card, and a recent bank statement. If you are applying for someone else's certificate, you must prove that you are authorised to do so.
Fees
There may be fees involved in applying for a birth certificate, and these are non-refundable. However, a fee waiver may be available in certain circumstances of financial hardship. Legal certificates are sent by express post for security, whereas commemorative certificates are sent by standard post. You can pay via credit/debit card or BPAY.
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Notifying the Department of Home Affairs
If your baby was born in Australia, you must notify the Department of Home Affairs as soon as their birth certificate and passport are available. This is so that a visa can be attached to the baby's passport.
If one parent is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and the baby was born in Australia, the baby will be considered an Australian citizen. If the baby was born outside of Australia, one of the parents must be an Australian citizen for the baby to be eligible for citizenship.
If you are applying for Australian citizenship for your baby, you must apply for an Australian birth certificate first. Once you have this, you can apply for citizenship or evidence of citizenship. You can only apply for evidence of citizenship for children under 16 years of age if you are the responsible parent of the child. Your application must include a certified copy of your current identity document with your photograph and signature, such as your passport or driver's license.
If your baby was born in Australia before 20 August 1986, you only need to show their full birth certificate issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. If your baby was born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, you can prove their citizenship by showing either an Australian citizenship certificate in the baby's name or an Australian passport issued in the baby's name on or after 1 January 2000 that was valid for at least two years. If your baby was born in Australia after 1986 and one of their parents was an Australian permanent resident or citizen, you can prove their citizenship by showing the baby's full birth certificate and the parent's full birth certificate, showing they were born in Australia before 20 August 1986.
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Citizenship ceremony requirements
To finalise your baby's Australian citizenship application, you will need to attend a citizenship ceremony. This is a formal event where your baby will receive their citizenship certificate and you will make the Australian Citizenship Pledge of Commitment on their behalf.
- Invitation: Once your baby's citizenship application has been approved by the Department of Home Affairs, you will receive an invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony. The invitation letter will specify the date and time of the ceremony.
- Identification: You must bring identification to the ceremony. This can be in the form of a passport or other photographic identification. If you do not have photographic identification, you will need to bring at least three documents that include your name, address, and signature. However, children under 16 years of age, including babies, are not required to show identification.
- Accompanying Citizen: Babies and children must be accompanied by the main applicant or a citizen who is over the age of 16.
- Guest Policy: Attendance at the ceremony is by invitation only, and guests are limited to one per applicant, plus any babies or small children who do not require their own seat.
- Dress Code: There is a dress code for the citizenship ceremony, which is formal and intended to reflect the significance of the occasion.
- Pledge Requirements: During the ceremony, you will be required to make the Australian citizenship pledge. If desired, you may bring your own holy book to take the pledge.
Please note that the ceremony is the final step in the journey to becoming an Australian citizen, and there may be specific requirements or variations depending on your location and circumstances.
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Frequently asked questions
If your baby was born in Australia before 20 August 1986, you only need to show their full birth certificate issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. If your baby was born after this date, you must meet certain criteria. One or both parents must be Australian citizens or permanent residents, or the baby must have been a resident in Australia from birth until they are 10 years old.
You will need to provide a certified copy of your current identity document with your photograph and signature, such as your passport or driver's license. You will also need to provide your baby's full birth certificate. If your baby was born after 20 August 1986, you will also need to provide your full birth certificate.
You can find the application form on the Department of Home Affairs website.
The cost of applying for Australian citizenship depends on your circumstances. You can find out more about the costs and processing times on the Department of Home Affairs website.
In most cases, you must attend a citizenship ceremony before being granted citizenship. You can provide your baby's Australian citizenship certificate with their application if they have one.
