Australian Citizenship

You may qualify for Australian Citizenship if you

1. Are a migrant that
   1. Holds a permanent resident visa
   2. Has Lived in Australia
      1. As a permanent resident for the last 12 months (you are allowed to have travelled overseas for up to 90 days during this time)
      2. For a total of 4 years, even if some of that was on a temporary visa (you are allowed to have travelled overseas for up to one year during this time)
   3. Pass the citizenship test (in English)
   4. Are of good character
   5. Go to a citizenship appointment and attend a citizenship ceremony

2. Are a New Zealand Citizen who arrived in Australia before 26 February 2001, or who holds a special Centrelink certificate regarding your residence in Australia

You may automatically be an Australian Citizen if you were born in Australia:

3. Before 20 August 1986, or
4. After 20 August 1986 and;
   1. have at least one parent who was an Australian Citizen or permanent resident on the date of your birth; or
   2. lived your first 10 years here

These are common cases. There are many more possibilities.

Some of the normal rules are relaxed for people

• Under 18
• Over 59
• Who are children of New Zealand Citizens that have permanent visa status in Australia
• Born overseas to a parent who was an Australian Citizen but lost it by becoming a citizen of another country (Australia now allows dual citizenship)
• Who have significant impairment of hearing, speech or sight
• Cannot understand what applying for citizenship is, because of an enduring physical or mental incapacity
• Who serve in the Australian defence forces
• Who fit within certain occupational groups (eg aircraft crew, CSIRO scientists, Olympic athletes
• Fit within the Immigration Ministers discretionary categories (eg spouses of Australian Citizens)

Children born outside Australia, to an Australian Citizen parent, can usually apply for Citizenship by Descent.  There are extra requirements if the Australian Citizen parent, gained their Australian Citizenship through a ‘Citizenship by Descent’ application.

Children born in Australia, to a parent who holds Australian Citizenship or Australian Permanent Residence, are automatically Australian Citizens.  They may need to apply for evidence that they are an Australian Citizen before they can apply for an Australian Passport.  An Australian Birth Certificate alone, is not evidence of Australian Citizenship.

Special arrangements exist for adopted children, abandoned children and children born in Australia to a New Zealand Citizen parent.

Children can be included in their parent’s Australian Citizenship application, until they turn 16 years of age.

Australia allows dual citizenship, but not all countries do.

If you are an Australian Citizen and are considering taking citizenship of another country you will not automatically lose your Australian Citizenship by doing so.

If you are going to apply for Australian Citizenship we recommend you check with your current country of citizenship. Find out if you can keep your current citizenship if you acquire Australian Citizenship.