Lyla Lindsey
If your child was born in Australia, you will need to obtain their full Australian birth certificate. If your child was born overseas and acquired Australian citizenship after you held a permanent residency visa, you will need to apply for an Australian citizenship certificate for them. This can be done by applying to the Department of Home Affairs, and the cost is $265. In most cases, you can apply for the certificate online, and it takes approximately 7-20 days for the application to be processed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost | $265 |
| Application method | Online |
| Processing time | 7-20 days |
| Delivery time | Up to 10 days |
| Application fee waiver | Available if replacing certificate due to a natural disaster listed on the IMMI natural disaster list |
| Citizenship by birth | Australian birth certificate, parent's full Australian birth certificate, grandparent's Australian birth certificate, passport, or citizenship certificate |
| Citizenship by descent | Parent's Australian citizenship certificate acquired before birth, or evidence of permanent residency |
| Citizenship by adoption | Child's foreign birth certificate, parent's Australian citizenship certificate, and adoption certificate |
| Citizenship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander | B19 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander declaration |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Citizenship by birth
If your child was born in Australia, they may be eligible for citizenship by birth. Here is what you need to know about acquiring Australian citizenship for your child born in the country.
If your child was born in Australia before 20 August 1986, they automatically receive citizenship at birth, regardless of the nationalities of their parents. All you need to do is provide their full birth certificate issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. This certificate must show the names of the child's parent or grandparent(s).
If your child was born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, they can get citizenship by birth if at least one parent is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. To prove this, you will need to provide the following documents:
- Your child's full Australian birth certificate.
- Your full Australian birth certificate (the child's parent).
- Proof that you acquired citizenship or permanent residency before your child was born. This can be an Australian passport issued on or after 20 August 1986 and valid for at least two years before your child's birth, or an Australian citizenship certificate.
- If you do not have the above, you can provide your full Australian birth certificate, showing you were born before 20 August 1986.
- If neither parent can provide the above, then you will need to provide the full Australian birth certificate of a grandparent, showing they were born in Australia before 20 August 1986. Alternatively, you can provide an Australian passport or citizenship certificate of a grandparent that meets certain conditions.
If your child was born in Australia to New Zealand citizens on or after 1 July 2022, they also receive Australian citizenship at birth.
If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and face challenges providing documents to prove your child's citizenship, an alternative process is available. You can complete a B19 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander declaration and submit it with your child's passport application.
To obtain an Australian citizenship certificate for your child, you must apply to the Department of Home Affairs.
Flying to Australia with Kids: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Citizenship by descent
If your child was born outside Australia and you are an Australian citizen, your child is eligible to acquire Australian citizenship by descent through application. If you acquired Australian citizenship by descent or adoption, you must have resided in Australia for a minimum of two years at the time of application.
To apply for Australian citizenship for your child, you must apply to the Department of Home Affairs. You will need to provide:
- Your child's full, original Australian birth certificate, issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, showing the names of the parents or grandparents.
- Your Australian citizenship certificate, acquired before the birth of your child.
- If your child was born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, you will need to show your full Australian birth certificate and your parents' full Australian birth certificates.
- If your child was born after 1 July 2022 and one or both of their parents are New Zealand citizens, they will automatically receive Australian citizenship.
- If your child was born overseas and adopted, they are eligible to apply for Australian citizenship by descent.
It is important to note that you must attend a citizenship ceremony before being granted citizenship. You can provide your Australian citizenship certificate with your application, or ensure that you provide your full name on the passport application form as it appears on your citizenship certificate.
Australian Bushfires: Government Response and Action
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Citizenship certificate cost
The Australian citizenship certificate is an official document that provides formal evidence of Australian citizenship. The cost of obtaining a citizenship certificate varies depending on the applicant's circumstances and the date of their application.
From 1 July 2024, applicants will be charged based on the date their application is received by the Department. There is no fee for children aged 15 or younger who apply on the same form as a parent. Additionally, applicants aged 17 or younger who are listed as dependents on a Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) issued by the Australian Government are exempt from paying a fee. To be eligible for this concession, applicants must provide a certified copy of both sides of their PCC with their citizenship application.
For applicants who are not covered by the above fee exemptions, the specific cost of obtaining a citizenship certificate is not explicitly stated. However, it is mentioned that fees are adjusted to better reflect the cost of application processing.
It is important to note that the delivery time for citizenship certificates varies depending on the provided address. Certificates sent to Australian addresses typically arrive within two weeks, while international deliveries can take up to six weeks. If the country of residence has no functional mail system, the certificate will be sent to the nearest Australian Embassy or High Commission, and the recipient will be notified of the collection procedure.
Tying Possum Fur on a Fly Hook: An Australian Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Citizenship certificate application
Eligibility
To be eligible for an Australian citizenship certificate, you must be a citizen of Australia. If you were born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, you must also have acquired citizenship by the time you turned 10 and have been an Australian resident for the first 10 years of your life.
Required documents
If you were born in Australia, you will need to provide your full, original Australian birth certificate. If you were born overseas and became a citizen after holding a permanent residency visa, you will need to apply for a citizenship certificate from the Department of Home Affairs.
If you are applying for a child, and they do not have a birth certificate, you will need to obtain one. If your child was born in Australia, you will need to contact the State or Territory Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages to enquire about a late birth registry. If your child was born overseas and does not have a foreign birth certificate, you will need to contact the Australian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages for further information.
If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and face challenges providing documents, you can complete a B19 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander declaration form and submit it with your application.
Application process
In most cases, you can apply for an Australian citizenship certificate online. The cost of the application is $265. It takes approximately 7-20 days for the Department of Home Affairs to process the application. Once processed, the certificate will be printed and mailed to you, which can take up to 10 days.
If you are applying for a replacement certificate due to a natural disaster listed on the IMMI natural disaster list, there is no application fee. You will need to apply within 18 months of the date of the event and can do so using Form 119 – Application for evidence of Australian citizenship.
Australian Woodlands: Exploring the Unique Plant Life
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Citizenship ceremony
To officially become an Australian citizen, you must attend a citizenship ceremony in person and take the pledge. This is a requirement for all conferees, including children over the age of 16. The ceremony lasts about 30 minutes, but extra time is needed for registration on the day. The registration process begins 1.5 hours before the ceremony, so allow approximately 2 hours from the time of registration to the ceremony's conclusion.
The Department of Home Affairs will allocate you to a ceremony and send your details to your local council. The council will then send you an invitation to attend. You cannot choose which ceremony to attend, and you will receive the details of the date, time, and place of your allocated ceremony in your invitation. If you are unable to attend your allocated ceremony, you will be invited to another ceremony in the future. The Department of Home Affairs will send you a non-attendance letter after your scheduled ceremony, outlining the next steps. If you need to bring your ceremony forward, you must contact the Department of Home Affairs with documentary evidence supporting your circumstances.
You must bring valid photo identification to the ceremony—a current Australian driver's license or valid passport are ideal. If you are under 16, you do not need to bring photo identification. You are also welcome to bring your own camera, and if you want to make the Australian citizenship pledge on a holy book, please bring one with you. You should dress in formal or smart casual clothing, and you are more than welcome to wear national or cultural dress.
At the ceremony, you will make the pledge of commitment out loud and in English with the presence of a presiding officer to validate your citizenship and receive your certificate. After making the pledge, you will be eligible to apply for an Australian passport. Wait at least 10 days before you apply online with the Australian Passport Office. All new citizens aged 16 and over will also receive an Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) enrol-to-vote information sheet with a QR code to assist in enrolling to vote online.
TUI's Australian Adventure: Where Can You Fly?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
You will need to apply to the Department of Home Affairs. The application costs $265. You can apply online in most cases.
You will need to provide a combination of identity documents in categories A, B and C. For example, you will need a full, original Australian birth certificate for your child. If your child was born overseas, you will need to provide their foreign birth certificate.
It takes approximately 7-20 days for the Department to process the application. Once processed, the certificate will be mailed to you and may take up to 10 days to arrive.
