Australian citizenship
Australian citizenship provides a range of benefits and is often the final step after obtaining permanent residency.
Eligibility Criteria
If you are an Australian permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen or a child of an Australian citizen, you may be eligible for Australian citizenship if you meet the relevant criteria.
You may be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship if:
- you are a permanent resident of Australia;
- you are an eligible New Zealand citizen who arrived in Australia on or before a specified date;
- you are the child of an Australian citizen, or were born overseas to at least one Australian citizen parent;
- you were adopted by an Australian citizen through a recognised adoption process.
In addition to meeting one of the above pathways, you must also satisfy:
- residency requirements;
- character requirements;
- an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship.
In some cases, eligibility may be complex due to factors such as travel history, visa issues, or personal circumstances. Our team can assist with preparing your application and advising on your specific situation.
Benefits of Australian Citizenship
Once you become an Australian citizen, you will gain the following rights and privileges:
- the ability to apply for an Australian passport;
- the right to vote in Australian elections;
- eligibility to work in the Australian public sector or hold government positions;
- access to consular assistance from Australian Embassies or Consulates overseas;
- the ability to pass on citizenship to your children, whether born in Australia or overseas.
FAQs
If you have applied for citizenship and leave Australia during processing, you will be required to notify the Department of your travel dates and intended return. In most cases, you must be in Australia at the time your application is decided.
Your application will go into the queue for processing at the Department. You will then be advised of the date and time for your citizenship interview and test. After the test, you will be notified of the outcome. If successful, you will attend a citizenship ceremony to obtain your citizenship certificate. Once this has been completed, you can commence the application to apply for your Australian passport.
Yes, you are permitted to hold dual citizenship in Australia. However, not all countries allow for dual citizenship. In some cases, your citizenship from another country may be lost once you become an Australian citizen. It is best to check the rules of the relevant country before applying for Australian citizenship if you do not want to lose your citizenship from that country.
Not necessarily. Some laws in relevant countries stipulate that you automatically lose your citizenship once you become a citizen of another country. As such, in some circumstances you will not be advised or even aware you have lost your citizenship. It is best to understand the laws surrounding citizenship from the country before applying for Australian citizenship.