How to Become an Australian Citizen: A Comprehensive Guide
Becoming an Australian citizen is a significant milestone for those who have made Australia their home. Whether you have been or are considered a permanent resident of Australia, and you are planning to apply for citizenship, understanding the requirements and the process is essential. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Australian citizenship, including the eligibility criteria, how long it takes, and when you can apply.
What Does It Mean to Be an Australian Citizen?
Being an Australian citizen, you are offered numerous benefits, such as the right to vote, access to government services, and the ability to obtain an Australian passport. It also comes with responsibilities, such as obeying Australian laws and serving on a jury when required. Unlike permanent residency, which allows you to live and work in Australia indefinitely, citizenship provides full legal rights and integration into the nation.
Eligibility Requirements for Australian Citizenship
To become an Australian citizen, you must meet eligibility criteria such as:
- Permanent Residency Status: You must hold permanent residency status in Australia for at least one year. This is the first and most crucial step toward citizenship.
- Continuous Residence: You need to have lived in Australia for at least four years before applying for citizenship, with at least 12 months as a permanent resident.
- Good Character: Applicants must demonstrate good character, which typically involves passing a background check. Individuals with serious criminal records may be ineligible for citizenship.
- Language and Knowledge Requirements: You may need to pass a citizenship test to demonstrate your understanding of Australian society, values, and history. This test is generally for applicants aged between 18 and 59.
How Long Does It Take to Get Australian Citizenship?
The time it takes to transition from permanent residency to citizenship can vary, but generally, you must wait four years from the time you become a permanent resident before applying for citizenship. After submitting your application, the processing time can range from several months to over a year, depending on factors like the completeness of your application and the demand for citizenship services at the time.
When Can You Apply for Australian Citizenship?
You can apply for Australian citizenship once you have met the residency requirement. This means that after living in Australia for four years, you can submit your application. However, it’s important to note that you must have been a permanent resident for at least 12 months before applying. If you have been outside of Australia for extended periods, this may affect your eligibility, as the time spent abroad may not count toward your residence requirement.
Special Cases: Citizenship for Children and Special Applicants
- Citizenship for Children: Children born in Australia or to Australian citizens may automatically acquire citizenship. However, children born overseas may need to meet specific criteria, including residency requirements or parental citizenship status.
- Applicants Over 60: Individuals over 60 may be exempt from taking the citizenship test but still need to meet other requirements, such as residency and good character.
- Special Circumstances: If you are a refugee or humanitarian entrant, the requirements for citizenship may differ slightly. These applicants may have different pathways to citizenship based on their specific circumstances.
The Citizenship Application Process
The application process for Australian citizenship involves several key steps:
- Prepare Your Documents: Ensure that you have all the necessary documents, including proof of your permanent residency status, identification, and evidence of your residence in Australia.
- Complete the Application: You can apply online or submit a paper application. The application will ask for personal details, your residency history, and other information related to your eligibility.
- Take the Citizenship Test: If required, you will need to pass the citizenship test. The test covers topics such as Australian history, values, and government.
- Wait for a Decision: Once your application is submitted, it will be processed. If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony.
- Citizenship Ceremony: After your application is approved, you will attend a ceremony where you will take the citizenship pledge and officially become an Australian citizen.
How to Improve Your Chances of Success
To improve your chances of a successful citizenship application, follow these tips:
- Ensure Accuracy: Double-check all the information in your application. Mistakes or omissions can delay the process.
- Meet Residency Requirements: Ensure that you have lived in Australia for the required period and that you have no significant breaks in your residence. Short trips abroad are generally acceptable, but long stays outside Australia may affect your eligibility.
- Prepare for the Test: If you are required to take the citizenship test, study the official materials to ensure you are well-prepared.
What Happens After You Apply for Citizenship?
After you submit your application, you will receive confirmation of receipt. If required, you may be asked to attend an interview or provide additional documentation. Once your application is processed, you will be notified of the decision. If successful, you will be invited to a citizenship ceremony where you will officially become an Australian citizen.
Conclusion
Becoming an Australian citizen is a significant and rewarding step for those who have made Australia their home. By understanding the eligibility criteria, residency requirements, and the application process, you can navigate the journey to citizenship with confidence. Whether you’re just starting your application or looking for more information on how to meet the residency requirements, this guide provides the essential details to help you achieve your goal of becoming an Australian citizen.
For more information, contact us for guidance specific to your case.
92 Responses
Hi, So I landed in Australia on visitor visa on 20/08/2018, got my spouse visa on 05/08/2019. Got my PR on 07/09/2020. Went out of Australia from 10/10/2019-30/01/2020. When should I be eligible to apply for citizenship? Also my residence calculator shows 20/08/2022 however the citizenship application isn’t letting me go further! Im confused.
Hi there,
It’s been a year since I got ‘drug driving’
It was when my application for the the citizenship was lodged.
I had the interview in the same week that I received the letter to go to court.
So my citizenship got refused as i had an open case in court.
My question is when can i apply again for the citizenship?
And my pr expire in October 2024
Thank you very much for your question. Here are the first three (3) things that come to my mind in relation to your post. There may also be other important issues which arise from your particular circumstances and you should seek specific immigration law advice before taking any further steps. It could be that I misunderstood you.
1. You need to show good character and this can be done through a period of non-offending if there is such a word.
2. You need to understand when your period of conviction and sentence ends including any probationary period and I would personally couch to use from that end stage before lodging a fresh application for citizenship unless they’re particularly unique circumstances about your case.
3. You should also understand what your motivation is for citizenship and then have a discussion with somebody who is qualified to give you some specific advice about your circumstances.
*In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. Please also see the standard Notes and Disclosures which apply to my communications. These are located at the footer of my work emails.
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Regards
Nilesh Nandan
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus)
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
myvisa.com.au/about/
1300558472
Hello Sir,
I am a NZ Citizen in 2016 and moved to Australia in July 2018 (Default received 444 visa on arrival into Australia). I got PR visa in July 2020. Now in Aug 2022, I checked and found that I am eligible to apply for citizenship. I was away from Australia for only 35 days in Dec 2019 – Jan 2020.
When I try to apply online citizen application, I am failed to progress with my application from page 6/36.
” The applicant is unable to proceed with this application. Access the Residence calculator to check when the applicant will have been in Australia long enough to be eligible for Australian citizenship. ”
But Residence calculator says “I am eligible to apply for citizen”.
Please help with my citizen application.
Regards,
Sandhya C
*In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. Please also see the standard Notes and Disclosures which apply to my communications. These are located at the footer of my work emails.
This is because you had no Visa for Australia for the 35 day period.
As the holder of a special category 444 Visa you were not required to get a bridging Visa to exit and return to Australia (for your 35 day holiday) like most other people who are not New Zealand citizens would have been required to do.
Whilst you are allowed to have a period of limited travel outside of Australia in the four years prior to making your citizenship application and also in the 12 months prior to making a citizenship the online application form is glitching because it can’t detect that you continuously held a Visa for Australia.
This is a similar problem to when somebody lodges a Visa in Australia but no bridging Visa is immediately granted and they appear in immigration system to not have held any Visa for a short period of time and that gives the similar error to them when making an online application … but for this there is a workaround based on submissions addressing administrative error arguments.
Book a quick 10 minute chat with me here: https://myvisa.com.au/10-Minute
Did you benefit from this response? Feel free to buy me a coffee if this was useful. It helps me answer more questions like yours!
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus)
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
myvisa.com.au/about/
1300558472
Hi Nilesh,
I received PR on 23/3/2020 and I have been living in AU since 7/7/18 with some travelling trips. However there’s a trip in 2018 which is 6/5 to 20/9. Would like your advice on when I can apply for citizenship?
Hi Piya
The residence calculator helps you estimate the number of days you have lived in Australia.
There are two separate periods you need to consider when ascertaining your eligibility for citizenship by conferral.
The first period
You must’ve been resident in Australia for a four year period prior to application for citizenship by conferral.
The second period
You must be a permanent resident for at least 12 months immediately before application.
Things only get problematic if you have been outside of Australia for more than 12 months in relation to the first period and more than three months in relation to the second period.
There are other rules which also affect eligibility.
*In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. Please also see the standard Notes and Disclosures which apply to my communications. These are located at the footer of my work emails.
Did you benefit from this response? Feel free to buy me a coffee if this was useful. It helps me answer more questions like yours!
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus)
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
myvisa.com.au/about/
1300558472
Hi Nilesh, your responses are really helpful to so many people like me. I have a situation where I spent two years as legal resident in Australia, followed by one year outside Australia due to COVID-19 pandemic (I was stuck and couldn’t return due to border closure), and now for the last year, I am again living in Australia. So altogether, I spend 3 years inbound and one-year outbound. Do you think I will have to makeup only for that one year that I spent outside Australia or my initial two years in Australia are also no longer going to be counted towards my residency requirement?
Thanks
Hello my husband is a permanent resident he holds a Lebanese passport and he needs to apply for a citizenship he’s been here for 12 years but his passport is expired does it needs to be new or it doesn’t matter he’s visa is renewed for five years
Gihan
The passport does not necessarily need to be renewed. What is critical is that his permanent residence Visa has been renewed if he is to travel. Remember that a permanent residence Visa has a return facility which expires after a five year period. The permanent residence Visa itself does not expire But rather the return facility attached to it. In this way it is possible for somebody to remain a permanent resident for life provided they are excepting of the fact that after five years, they will not be able to return to Australia if they exit unless they first apply for a resident return Visa.
Did you benefit from this response? Feel free to buy me a coffee if this was useful. It helps me answer more questions like yours!
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus)
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
myvisa.com.au/about/
1300558472
Hi, thanks so much for this article. Is this updated with recent changes?
Last month I read that you could max leave for 90 days in the year before applying. Has this changed?
Also, after applying, what is the max time you can leave the country?
Many thanks!!
Hi,
I have been living in Australia since I was 12 years old, I am 26 now.
I finished my high school and have done a few certifications but yet I have never had my PR.
I have only been back to my country once in 2016 since I came to Australia..
is there anyway I can use this to apply for a citizenship?
Thank you in advance