Step 1: Am I Eligible?
1. Permanent Residency Requirement
2. Residence Requirement
3. English Language Requirement
4. Requirement of Understanding your Application
5. Understanding your Privileges and Responsibilities
6. Good Character Requirement
7. Requirement of Intention
More Information
To be eligible for Australian citizenship, you should meet the following seven requirements.
1. Permanent Residency Requirement You must be a permanent resident of Australia – this requirement is mandatory
2. Residence Requirement
You should have resided in Australia as a permanent resident for a total of at least two years in the last five years including a total of at least 12 months in the last two years
See: Residence calculator
You are exempt from this requirement if:
you have served in the permanent Australian Defence Forces for at least three months
you have served in the Australian Reserve Forces for at least six months
You may be eligible for a residence discretion if:
you are a former Australian citizen or you were born in Australia
you have permanent residence outside Australia and engaged in activities beneficial to Australia
you are a spouse, widow or widower of an Australian citizen*
you have permanent residence taken into account before the five year residential period*
you have temporary residence counted towards permanent residence in Australia*
* This usually only applies if you would suffer significant hardship or disadvantage if Australian citizenship was not granted
3. English Language Requirement
(been there and not everyone speaks english)You should be able to speak and understand basic English
You may be exempt from this requirement if:
you are a person aged 50 years or over
a person whose ability is affected by a physical or intellectual impairment
if you provide evidence of having completed the English language tuition with the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and you can respond in simple English on aspects of the application.
See: Learning English with the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)
4. Requirement of Understanding your Application
You should understand the nature of your application.
You may be exempt from this requirement if you have permanent physical or mental incapacity
5. Understanding your Privileges and Responsibilities
You should understand the privileges and responsibilities of Australian citizenship.
See: Privileges and Responsibilities of Australian Citizenship
You may be exempt from this requirement if:
you are a person aged 60 years or over
you provide evidence of having completed the Australian citizenship course offered by the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)
See: Learning English with the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)
6. Good Character Requirement
You must be of good character. If you have lived in any country for a total of 1 year since you were granted a permanent resident visa you must provide overseas police clearance certificates for each country in which you have lived since your permanent residence visa was granted. Residence overseas can be a continuous period or cumulative periods totalling 12 months or more between the grant of a permanent visa and applying for citizenship. Police certificates are not required for persons under the age of 16 years. Refer to Form 47P.
Instructions and country information required to obtain police certificates from other countries are contained in Form 47P.
See: Form 47P - Character requirements penal clearance certificates (141KB PDF file)
Note: In your application you are required to disclose all 'spent convictions' or findings of guilt recorded against you.
See: Spent Convictions
7. Requirement of Intention
You must intend to reside in Australia or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia. This requirement is mandatory.
More Information
For further information regarding eligibility,
See: Form 1027i - How to apply for grant of Australian citizenship
Your eligibility for Australian citizenship may be affected when proposed changes to the Australian Citizenship Act currently before the Australian Parliament come into effect.
See: Proposed changes to Australian citizenship legislation
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Step 2: Application Process
Standard application fee
Concession fees
Fee exemptions
To begin the application process, you should check if you are eligible for any fee concessions or exemptions.
Standard application fee
The standard application fee is $AUD120.
Concession fees
A concession fee is available to applicants who have a permanent financial disadvantage and are recipients of certain pensions from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs. The fee payable is $AUD20.
Evidence of eligibility for a fee concession is required.
Fee exemptions
There are three categories of applicants who are exempt from paying the fee:
persons who have served in the Australian Defence Force for a period of at least three months
British and Maltese former child migrants who arrived in Australia unaccompanied under the Commonwealth Child Migrant Scheme between 22 September 1947 and 31 December 1967.
if you have previously applied and paid the fee but were refused because you did not meet the residence requirement, you may re-apply within three months without paying an additional fee.
Evidence of eligibility for exemption from payment of a fee is required.
To check if you are eligible for concession or exemption check below.
See: Charges (Fees) - Citizenship
Please Note: If you are eligible for a concession or exemption fee, you cannot apply online.
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Step 3: Attend an Interview
The appointment
Make an appointment for an interview by ringing the Citizenship Information Line on 131 880. The Department will send you a letter confirming the details.
If you live outside a capital city or metropolitan area, you may be able to attend your interview at an Australia Post Office.
The interview
At your interview, the interviewing officer will:
review your application and personal documents to make sure they are complete VERY IMPORTANT
assess whether you understand the nature of the application
assess whether you have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship
assess whether you have a basic knowledge of the English language
The approval
You will receive written advice on whether or not your application has been approved.
Processing time can vary. Around 90 per cent of applications are decided within 90 days of lodgement.
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Step 4: Attend a Citizenship Ceremony
Pledge of Commitment
Most people are required to make the Pledge of Commitment as the final step in becoming an Australian citizen.
Once your application has been approved, arrangements will be made for you to attend a citizenship ceremony at which you can make the Pledge.
Once you have made the Pledge before a person delegated by the Minister you will be an Australian citizen and you will be given a Citizenship Certificate.
See: Ceremonies
Ceremonies
Most ceremonies are arranged by local government councils. It can take a few months from the date of approval until you are invited to attend a citizenship ceremony. You will receive details about your citizenship ceremony well in advance so that you can invite relatives and friends if you wish.
The date of my citizenship ceremony
If you have special needs please let the Department know as soon as possible, either at the interview or by calling the Citizenship Information Line during business hours on 131 880 during business hours to arrange another date.
Remember that if at any time you are concerned about the ceremony you should contact the Citizenship Information Line during business hours.
Telephone: 131 880
Attendance Requirements
You should be aware that if you do not attend a ceremony within 12 months of the date of approval of your application for citizenship, you will be required to reapply unless you have an acceptable reason for failing to attend.
Example: If you had to travel overseas for medical treatment that was not available in Australia or to care for a close relative who was critically ill.
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Privileges and Responsibilities of Australian Citizenship
Australian citizenship formalises your
membership of the Australian community.
Privileges of Australian Citizens
It entitles you to privileges of Australian citizenship giving you the right to:
live in Australia
apply for an Australian passport and to leave and re-enter Australia without applying for a resident return visa
seek assistance from Australian diplomatic representatives while overseas
vote to help elect Australia's governments
stand for Parliament
work in the public service
serve in the armed forces
register as Australian citizens by descent any of your children born overseas after you become an Australian citizen.
Responsibilities of Australian Citizens
[attachmentid=2060]Citizenship also brings with it responsibilities. For example, citizens are required to:
obey Australian laws
enrol on Federal and state/territory electoral registers
vote in elections
defend Australia should the need arise
serve on a jury if called to do so.
AND THIS MY FRIENDS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN AUSTRALIAN CITIZEN !!!!!
Yale