HOW TO BECOME AN AUSTRALIAN CITIZEN | CAN I APPLY?
Australian Citizenship is a privilege that many people aspire to achieve – however, not everyone is granted this privilege. There are various Australian Citizenship streams and pathways to become a citizen, with each designed to suit a variety of individuals. With over 30 years of experience in the migration industry, Interstaff has successfully assisted more than a thousand individuals to work, study, live and become Permanent Residents and Citizens of Australia. Our qualified and experienced migration agents liaise on your behalf with the Immigration Department, Australian State or Territory government agencies and any regional certifying bodies as required to provide professional advice at each step of the process, saving you valuable time and energy.
It would be our pleasure to assist you in your journey to migrating to Australia. Citizenship is the final step of that journey. Get in touch with our registered migration agents on 08 9221 3388 (Perth) or 02 7200 2567 (Sydney) or 03 8319 0902 (Melbourne) or +61 8 9221 3388 (Internationally) or contact us here to see if you qualify to apply for Australian Citizenship under the different pathways or streams available.
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Australian Permanent Residents or New Zealand Citizens
Are you an Australian Permanent Resident that would like to complete their migration journey by becoming an Australian Citizen?
Permanent Residents of Australia (or eligible New Zealand Citizens) can apply for Australian Citizenship if they intend to live in Australia indefinitely. You may also be able to add dependent children under 15 years of age to your application.
Individuals Aged 60 Years and Above
Are you an Australian Permanent Resident aged over 60? You may be able to apply for Australian Citizenship. Dependent children under 15 years may also be added to your application.
Permanent Residents of Australia (or eligible New Zealand citizens) aged 60 and above as well as Commonwealth Child Migrants and Refugees can apply for Australian Citizenship if they intend to live in Australia indefinitely. This pathway may also be open to partners or spouses of an Australian Citizen.
Individuals Whose Parents are Australian Citizens
Individuals born outside Australia can apply for Citizenship if their parents are Australian Citizens. An application by descent is one of the most common pathways to Australian Citizenship.
If you are under 15 years of age, your parent will need to sign and support your application.
Other Pathways
You can become an Australian Citizen through other pathways – for example, previous citizens can apply to resume their Citizenship. There may also be instances where you can apply if your parents are former Australian Citizens, in addition to other pathways.
Australian Permanent Residents or New Zealand Citizens
Australian Permanent Residents (or eligible New Zealand citizens) can apply for Australian Citizenship if they intend to live in Australia indefinitely. If you meet the following, then you may be eligible to apply for Australian Citizenship through this scheme (conditions apply so get in touch for a full assessment via a consultation):
- You are a Permanent Resident of Australia living in the country on a valid visa for the past 4 years, or
- You are a Permanent Resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen for the past 12 months
- You are present in Australia when the Department of Home Affairs announces the decision for application
- You must not have been away from Australia for more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years
- You must not have been away from Australia for more than 90 days in total in the past 12 months
- You are knowledgeable about the country and its history
- You intend to live in Australia indefinitely
- You intend to maintain a lasting link with Australia while overseas
Exemptions apply. You must also meet character requirements, including not having criminal convictions and domestic violence records. You must also not have provided false or misleading information on previous Visa or Citizenship applications.
Individuals Aged 60 Years and Above (Citizenship by Conferral)
Permanent Residents of Australia (or eligible New Zealand citizens) aged 60 years and above may be able to apply for Australian Citizenship if they intend to live in Australia indefinitely. If you meet the following, you may be able to apply for Australian Citizenship through this scheme (conditions apply so get in touch with Interstaff for an assessment):
- You are at least 60 years of age and understand the nature of your Citizenship application
- You are a Permanent Resident of Australia living in the country on a valid visa for the past 4 years, or
- You are a Permanent Resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen for the past 12 months
- You are present in Australia when the Department of Home Affairs announces the decision for your application
- You have not been away from Australia for more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years
- You have not been away from Australia for more than 90 days in total in the past 12 months
- You intend to live in Australia indefinitely
- You intend to maintain a lasting link with Australia while overseas
Exemptions apply. Individuals aged 60 years and above do not need to sit the Australian Citizenship test but may need to be interviewed about the nature of their application.
All applicants must be of good character and pass the Australian Government’s character requirements, including not having criminal convictions and domestic violence records. You must also not have provided false or misleading information concerning previous Visa or Citizenship applications.
Individuals Whose Parents are Australian Citizens / By Descent
Individuals born overseas and whose parents are Australian citizens may be able to apply for Australian Citizenship if they intend to live in Australia indefinitely. Parents of individuals that are not yet of age can also apply for citizenship on behalf of their children. If you meet the following, then you may be eligible to apply for Australian Citizenship through this scheme (conditions apply – get in touch with our migration agents for an assessment):
- You are at least 18 years of age (parents can apply for children aged 17 and below)
- You were born overseas to parents with Australian Citizenship at the time of their birth, or
- You were born overseas through surrogacy for parents with Australian Citizenship
- You are knowledgeable about the country and its history
- You intend to live in Australia indefinitely
- You intend to maintain a lasting link with Australia while overseas
Applicants must pass the Australian Government’s character requirements, including not having criminal convictions and domestic violence records. You must also not have provided false or misleading information concerning previous Visa or Citizenship applications.
OTHER PATHWAYS FOR AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP
Other pathways to obtain Australian Citizenship applies to individuals under these categories:
- Children under 15 years of age who are Australian Permanent Residents
- Individuals born from parents who were former Australian citizens
- Children adopted through an international adoption arrangement by an Australian citizen – conditions apply
- Individuals born in Papua New Guinea before the 1975 Independence
- Previous Australian Citizens
- Stateless individuals born in Australia
For these pathways, applicants must also pass the Australian Government’s character requirements. They must not have provided false or misleading information concerning previous Visa or Citizenship applications.
Australian Citizenship allows you to:
- Stay in Australia indefinitely
- Work and study in Australia
- Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
- Sponsor dependent children or eligible family members to come to Australia
- Enrol in Medicare, Australia’s public health care scheme
- Access Australian Government benefits
How Interstaff Can Help You Get Australian Citizenship
Our Registered Migration Agents servicing Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Australia-wide can:
- Determine the most suitable application pathway to apply for Australian Citizenship according to your circumstances
- Assess your case to advise whether you are qualified to apply for Australian Citizenship
- Advise of a strategy for your Citizenship application, including how you should prepare your evidence requirements
- Assist with your documentation and requirements
- Help you remain compliant with your requirements and obligations by providing ongoing advice
Interstaff has assisted countless individuals to apply for Australian Citizenship for over 30 years since 1988. Individuals interested in applying for Australian Citizenship are encouraged to contact us by calling 08 9221 3388 (Perth Head Office), 02 7200 2567 (Sydney) or 03 8319 0902 (Melbourne), 1800 449 858 (Free Call Within Australia) or by sending us an online enquiry.