Applying for Australian Citizenship
Why to apply
After becoming a citizen, you have the same rights and privileges as an Australian born in the country, including voting rights. You will become a part of a prosperous and globally respected community. After getting Australian passport you can travel visa free to many countries and you won’t have to worry about renewing your Resident Return Visa
Assess your Eligibility
An Australian permanent resident may be eligible for applying for citizenship in Australia when they meet the residence requirement. The residence requirement for citizenship stipulates that the applicant must have:
- been lawfully resident in Australia for four years before the application
- spent at least three (3) years of the most recent four years in Australia
- spent at least nine (9) months of the most recent one year in Australia
- spent at least the most recent one year as an Australian permanent resident
In addition to meeting the residency requirement, all applicants must meet character requirements for citizenship. Police check certificates will be required from all countries in which applicants 16 years and over have lived an accumulative period of at least ninety days in one country since being granted Australian permanent residence where a total of one year or more has been spent outside Australia since being granted Australian permanent residence.
Apart from being on permanent residency visa there are other categories of citizenship eligibility criteria like:
- Adopted child of an Australian citizen
- Born outside Australia to an Australian citizen
- Child of a former Australian citizen
- Citizen of New Zealand living in Australia
- Partner of an Australian citizen
- Resumption of Australian citizenship
- Refugee or humanitarian entrants:
There are also certain miscellaneous criteria:
If you were born in Australia between:
- 22 November 1984 and 19 August 1986 you became an Australian citizen at birth unless one parent was entitled to diplomatic privileges or was a consular officer.
- 26 January 1949 and 21 November 1984 you became an Australian citizen at birth unless your father was entitled to diplomatic privileges or was a consular officer.
If you were born in Australia on or after:
- 20 August 1986 to an Australian citizen or permanent resident parent, you became an Australian citizen at birth.
- 20 August 1986 to parents who were not permanent residents or Australian citizens, you may have become an Australian citizen automatically on your 10th birthday.
Forms Applicable for different categories
Categories:
- Form 118 (For Australian citizenship by descent)
- Form 119 (For evidence of Australian citizenship)
- Form 128 (For renunciation of Australian citizenship)
- Form 132 (To resume Australian citizenship)
- Form 1272 (Australian citizenship for adopted children)
- Form 1290 (Australian citizenship – Other situations)
- Form 1300t (Australian citizenship – General eligibility)
Note: The Applicants can apply for Australian citizenship online or can submit a paper application. All forms and annexures are available on the immigrations website.
Documents for Online Application of Australian Citizenship
For online applications, scanned copies of all documents and attachments can be uploaded on the application portal. While for the paper applications, the copies of original documents must be certified by a designated officer not related to the applicant in any capacity.
For the documents in languages except for English, the documents must be translated by designated personnel and submitted with the original document.
Character certificates and other identity documents are necessary with the application.
