Ruqayyah Snyder
Australian citizenship brings with it privileges and responsibilities. Citizens are required to make an ongoing commitment to Australia and everything it stands for. To become a citizen, you must meet certain criteria and requirements. If you were born in Australia, you can prove your citizenship by showing your full birth certificate. If you were born overseas, you can still be eligible for citizenship in different ways, such as by being a permanent resident or a citizen of specific countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Citizenship Requirements | Pass a citizenship test (unless over the age of 60) |
| Be a permanent resident at the time of application and decision | |
| Likely to reside in Australia or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia | |
| Have lived in Australia for at least 4 years (for New Zealand citizens) | |
| Have lived in Australia for at least 1 year (for non-Australian citizens applying to join the ADF) | |
| Have a checkable background for the past 10 years | |
| Hold a current licence for certain roles (e.g., trade, plant, machinery, or manual driver's licence) | |
| Pass a physical fitness test for certain roles | |
| Proof of Citizenship | Full Australian birth certificate |
| Parent's full birth certificate showing they were born in Australia before 20 August 1986 | |
| Parent's Australian passport issued on or after 20 August 1986 and valid for at least 2 years before the applicant's birth | |
| Parent's Australian citizenship certificate showing citizenship was acquired before the applicant's birth | |
| Both parents' Australian permanent resident certificates if the applicant's parent was born on or after 20 August 1986 |
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What You'll Learn
Citizenship test exemption
To become an Australian citizen, you must meet certain criteria. While there is a citizenship test, or 'residence requirement', in place, there are some exemptions to this rule.
The citizenship test can be waived for those who can prove they have a close and continuing tie to Australia. This includes permanent residents in an interdependent relationship with an Australian citizen.
If you have been confined to prison or a psychiatric institution, you may have to wait four years after your release to meet the residence requirement. However, the minister has the discretion to waive this requirement.
Minister Hawke has also announced changes to streamline the pathway to citizenship for talented prospective Australians. The 'special residence concession' applies to distinguished talent visa holders, athletes in the Australian Commonwealth Games team, and past, present, and future distinguished talent stream visa holders. This requires the applicant to have held a valid visa for the last four years, living in Australia for at least 480 of those days, and been a permanent resident for 120 days before applying.
To meet the 'special residence requirement', an applicant must seek to engage in a specified activity that benefits Australia. The head or senior member of a specified organisation must give written notice to the Minister stating that the applicant is likely to be engaged in this activity.
Finally, if you were born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986 and one of your parents was an Australian permanent resident or citizen, you can prove your citizenship by providing your full birth certificate and your parent's full birth certificate, Australian passport, or citizenship certificate. If both parents were permanent residents, you will need to apply for evidence of citizenship through the Department of Home Affairs.
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Permanent residency
To be eligible for permanent residency, you must meet specific requirements. For instance, if you were born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, you must prove that one of your parents was an Australian citizen or permanent resident when you were born. You can do this by providing your full birth certificate and one of the following:
- 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 and valid for at least two years before your birth
- Your parent's Australian citizenship certificate, obtained before your birth
- If both your parents were Australian permanent residents when you were born, you must apply for evidence of your citizenship through the Department of Home Affairs
If you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and face challenges in providing documents to prove your citizenship, you can complete a B19 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander declaration and submit it with your passport application.
Additionally, permanent residency requirements may vary depending on your circumstances. For example, if you are a New Zealand citizen, you must have lived in Australia for at least four years before applying for Australian citizenship.
It is important to note that permanent residency is different from citizenship. Permanent residency allows you to make Australia your permanent home, while citizenship entails additional privileges and responsibilities, such as the requirement to maintain a close and continuing association with Australia.
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Citizenship by birth
If you were born in Australia before 20 August 1986, you were automatically a citizen at birth regardless of your parents' nationalities. If you were born after this date, you are an Australian citizen if one of your parents was an Australian citizen or permanent resident when you were born. In this case, you can prove your citizenship by providing your full birth certificate and one of the following:
- 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, you will need to provide your full Australian birth certificate to prove citizenship by birth.
Children born in Australia to New Zealand citizens since 1 July 2022 also receive Australian citizenship at birth. Additionally, children born overseas to Australian citizen parents can acquire citizenship by descent through application. Adopted children are treated as naturally born to the adopting parents and receive citizenship if adopted in Australia; otherwise, they are eligible to apply.
If you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and face challenges providing documents to prove your citizenship, you can complete a B19 form and submit it with your passport application.
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Citizenship certificate
To obtain an Australian citizenship certificate, you must apply to the Department of Home Affairs. This certificate is one way to prove your Australian citizenship.
Proving Citizenship
There are several ways to prove Australian citizenship. If you were born in Australia before 20 August 1986, you can prove your citizenship by presenting your full birth certificate. If you were born on or after this date, you must also prove that one of your parents was an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time of your birth. This can be done by presenting:
- 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, that was valid for at least two years 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
Citizenship by Descent
If your parent was born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, you will need to present your full Australian birth certificate to prove citizenship by descent.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
If you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, there is an alternative process available if you face challenges providing documents to prove your citizenship. You can complete a B19 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander declaration and submit it with a passport application.
Citizenship Test
Unless you are over 60 years old, you must pass a citizenship test before applying for Australian citizenship. The test is designed to help future citizens understand Australia's history, values, and community. It also promotes social cohesion and successful integration.
Other Requirements
To become an Australian citizen, you must be a permanent resident at the time of application and be likely to continue residing in Australia or maintain a close association with the country. There may also be a cost associated with your application, and the processing time will depend on your circumstances.
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Application cost
The application cost for Australian citizenship is dependent on a variety of factors. Firstly, it is important to note that there are different ways to become an Australian citizen, and the cost may vary depending on the specific path to citizenship. For example, New Zealand citizens who have been residing in Australia for at least 4 years can apply for Australian citizenship, and the associated costs may differ from other applicants.
Additionally, the application cost may be influenced by the applicant's age. Generally, individuals over the age of 18 applying for Australian citizenship must undergo a citizenship test, unless they are over the age of 60. The cost of the application, including the test, may vary depending on whether the applicant is required to take the test or not.
Moreover, the application cost could be impacted by the applicant's residency status. To apply for citizenship, one must be a permanent resident at the time of application and decision. The cost of the application may differ for those who are already permanent residents compared to those who need to first obtain permanent residency.
It is also worth noting that the Department of Home Affairs website offers a Citizenship Wizard to help determine if applicants meet the residence requirement. This tool can provide personalized information on the application process and costs based on an individual's specific circumstances.
Lastly, the processing time for citizenship applications can vary depending on the applicant's circumstances. The application cost may be influenced by the complexity of the case and the time it takes to process the application. It is recommended to refer to the Department of Home Affairs website for detailed information on the costs associated with applying for Australian citizenship, as they can provide the most accurate and up-to-date fee structure.
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