Australian Citizenship Application
When you become an Australian citizen you gain the same rights as those who were born in Australia. After becoming a citizen you can call yourself an “Australian” in the full sense of the word. You have the same rights and privileges as an Australian born in the country, including voting rights.
This is a privilege that allows you to become part of a very prosperous country with considerable economic and social opportunities.
An important part of becoming a citizen of Australia is the understanding and commitment to the values of this unique community of peoples.
According to Department of Home Affairs, Australians believe in the dignity and freedom of each person, the equality of men and women and the rule of law. Australian citizenship is about living out these values in your everyday life.
Do you qualify for a visa?
Free AssessmentWho is an Australian citizen?
People born in Australia to parents who are Australian or are permanent residents automatically become Australian citizens. The other alternative is to apply and become accepted to be an Australian citizen by Department of Home Affairs.
Also there are some specific additional circumstances outlined by Department of Home Affairs where people can Australian citizens.
The Department states:
“There are a number of circumstances where you could have automatically gained citizenship even though your parent or parents were not Australian citizens.
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.
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.”
Citizenship test
An important part of the application process is the Citizenship Test. Introduced in 2007, this compulsory test must be passed in order to gain citizenship.
The test consists of multiple choice questions.
How do I study for the Australian citizenship test?
Everything you need in order to prepare for your citizenship test can be found in Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, which can be downloaded in 38 languages.
Is the Australian citizenship test I English?
Although the test revision booklet is available in other languages, the test itself will be conducted in English.
What topics does the Australian citizenship test cover?
You’ll be asked questions about the Australian Government and legal system, Australian people and culture, and Australian rights and beliefs.
Practice tests are available online and the citizenship test pass rate is relatively high.
Contact us today for a free citizenship eligibility check.
How can I become an Australian citizen?
You must make a valid application for Australian citizenship.
If you currently hold a permanent residency visa and wish to apply via that pathway, you’ll need to meet the general residency requirement associated with a citizenship application.
To meet the requirement, you must have been living here for at least four years on a valid visa (a minimum of one year as a PR). Additionally, you must not have spent more than 12 months outside Australia during the last four years and you must not have spent longer than 90 days outside the country in the year preceding your application.
We can help you calculate whether you meet the citizenship residence requirement.