Are you thinking of becoming an Australian citizen in 2024? If so, you are not alone. According to the latest statistics, more than 200,000 people applied for Australian citizenship in 2023, and this number is expected to rise in 2024.
- But why do so many people want to become Australian citizens?
- What are the benefits of being an Australian citizen?
- What are the requirements and steps to become one?
These are some of the questions you may have if you consider applying for Australian citizenship in 2024.
Okay! I will answer all these questions, including the different ways to become an Australian citizen, the eligibility criteria, the application process, the fees, the citizenship test, and the citizenship ceremony.
Also, there are some tips and personal anecdotes from people who have successfully become Australian citizens. By the end, you will have a clear idea of what it takes to become an Australian citizen in 2024 and how to prepare for it.
What is Australian Citizenship?
Before we dive into the details of how to become an Australian citizen, let us first understand what Australian citizenship means.
Australian citizenship is the legal status that grants you the right to live, work, study, vote, and access social services in Australia. It also gives you the right to apply for an Australian passport, which allows you to travel to more than 180 countries without a visa.
Australian citizenship is not automatic. You have to apply for it and meet specific criteria. You can become an Australian citizen by birth, descent, adoption, conferral, or marriage. Each of these pathways has its own requirements and procedures, which we will discuss in the following sections.
How to Become an Australian Citizen by Birth
The easiest way to become an Australian citizen is by birth. Suppose you were born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986. In that case, you are automatically an Australian citizen if at least one of your parents was an Australian citizen or a permanent resident at birth.
You do not need to apply for citizenship or take any test. You need proof of citizenship, such as a certificate or a passport.
However, suppose you were born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, and neither of your parents was an Australian citizen or a permanent resident.
In that case, you are not an Australian citizen by birth. You are only an Australian citizen if you acquire a permanent resident visa and live in Australia for at least ten years before turning 16. Alternatively, you can apply for citizenship by conferral, which we will explain later.
How to Become an Australian Citizen by Descent
Another way to become an Australian citizen is by descent. This means that you have a parent who was an Australian citizen at the time of your birth, regardless of where you were born. You can apply for citizenship by descent if you meet the following criteria:
- You were born outside Australia on or after 26 January 1949; or
- You were born outside Australia before 26 January 1949, and your parent became an Australian citizen on 26 January 1949; or
- You were born in Papua New Guinea before 16 September 1975, and your parent was born in Australia and was an Australian citizen on 16 September 1975.
To apply for citizenship by descent, you must provide evidence of your parent’s citizenship, such as a citizenship certificate or a passport. You must also provide your birth certificate, identity, and character documents.
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances, such as adoption papers, name change certificates, or court orders. Here is the full list of documents the Department of Home Affairs provided.
The fee for citizenship by descent is $230 for each applicant. You can apply online or by paper. The processing time varies depending on your case’s complexity and the staff’s availability. The average processing time in 2023 was 8 months.
If your application is approved, you will receive a citizenship certificate, which you can use to apply for an Australian passport. You do not need to attend a citizenship ceremony or take a citizenship test.
How to Become an Australian Citizen by Adoption
If an Australian citizen adopted you, you may be eligible to become an Australian citizen by adoption. Two types of adoption can lead to citizenship: Hague Convention and bilateral adoption.
Hague Convention Adoption
Hague Convention adoption is when you were adopted from a country that is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. This is an international agreement that aims to protect the rights and interests of children, birth parents, and adoptive parents involved in intercountry adoption. Check the list of Hague Convention countries by the Department of Home Affairs.
Bilateral Adoption
Bilateral is when you were adopted from a country with a bilateral agreement with Australia on intercountry adoption. This agreement outlines the two countries’ legal and administrative arrangements for adoption. The list of countries with bilateral agreements is on the Department of Home Affairs website.
To apply for citizenship by adoption, you need to meet the following criteria:
- You were adopted before you turned 18;
- You were adopted by an Australian citizen who was living in Australia at the time of the adoption;
- The Hague Convention or a bilateral agreement adopted you;
- You have a valid visa to enter and remain in Australia.
To apply for citizenship by adoption, you must provide evidence of your adoption, such as an adoption certificate or a court order. You must also provide your birth certificate, identity, and character documents. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to provide additional documents, such as name change certificates, consent forms, or medical reports.
The fee for citizenship by adoption is $230 for each applicant. You can apply online or by paper. The processing time varies depending on your case’s complexity and the staff’s availability. The average processing time in 2023 was 9 months.
If your application is approved, you will receive a citizenship certificate, which you can use to apply for an Australian passport. You do not need to attend a citizenship ceremony or take a citizenship test.
How to Become an Australian Citizen by Marriage
If you are married to an Australian citizen, you may be eligible to become an Australian citizen by marriage. However, marriage alone does not grant you citizenship. You still need to apply for citizenship by conferral, the most common way to become an Australian citizen.
In the next section, we will explain how to apply for citizenship by conferral.
The only difference between applying for citizenship by marriage and applying for citizenship by conferral is that you may be exempt from the residence requirement if you meet the following criteria:
- You have been married to an Australian citizen for at least 3 years at the time of application;
- You have been living in Australia for at least 2 years as a permanent resident at the time of application;
- You have not been absent from Australia for more than 1 year in total in the 4 years before applying, including no more than 90 days in the year before applying.
If you meet these criteria, you do not need to prove that you have lived in Australia for at least 4 years as a permanent resident, the standard residence requirement for citizenship by conferral.
However, you still need to meet all the other requirements for citizenship by conferral, such as passing the citizenship test, attending the citizenship ceremony, and being of good character. We will discuss these requirements in detail in the next section.
How to Become an Australian Citizen by Conferral
The most common way to become an Australian citizen is by conferral. This means that you apply for citizenship after meeting certain eligibility criteria. You can apply for citizenship by conferral if you meet the following criteria:
- You are aged 18 years or over;
- You are a permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen;
- You have lived in Australia for at least 4 years as a permanent resident, including at least 1 year in the 12 months before applying;
- You have not been absent from Australia for more than 1 year in total in the 4 years before applying, including no more than 90 days in the year before applying;
- You intend to live in Australia or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia;
- You are of good character;
- You have a basic knowledge of the English language;
- You have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship;
- You are likely to reside or continue to reside in Australia or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia.
To apply for citizenship by conferral, you must provide your identity and character documents and evidence of your residence and citizenship status.
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances, such as name change certificates, marriage certificates, or divorce decrees.
The fee for citizenship by conferral is $285 for each applicant. You can apply online or by paper. The processing time varies depending on your case’s complexity and the staff’s availability. The average processing time in 2023 was 12 months.
You will be invited to take the citizenship test and attend the ceremony if your application is approved.
The citizenship test is a multiple-choice test that assesses your knowledge of Australia and its people, history, culture, values, and system of government. You need to score at least 75% to pass the test.
You can prepare for the test by studying the official resource book, “Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond,” available online or in print.
The citizenship ceremony is the final step to becoming an Australian citizen. It is a formal event where you pledge to commit to Australia and receive your citizenship certificate.
Your local council usually holds the citizenship ceremony within 6 months of your application approval. You will receive an invitation letter with your ceremony’s date, time, and location.
Benefits of Being an Australian Citizen
Becoming an Australian citizen is a rewarding and life-changing decision. It gives you many benefits and opportunities unavailable to permanent residents or other visa holders.
Some of the benefits of being an Australian citizen are:
- You can vote and stand for election in federal, state, and local government elections. You can also participate in referendums and plebiscites, which are public votes on important national issues.
- You can apply for an Australian passport, which allows you to travel to more than 180 countries without a visa or with a visa on arrival. You can also get consular assistance from Australian embassies and consulates when you are overseas.
- You can access social services and benefits like Medicare, Centrelink, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and the Age Pension. You can also apply for student loans and scholarships and enroll in the Defence Force or the public service.
- You can sponsor your eligible relatives, such as your parents, children, siblings, or partner, for permanent residence in Australia. You can also pass on your citizenship to your children born overseas.
- You can express your cultural identity and diversity and enjoy the rights and freedoms protected by the Australian law and the Australian Constitution.
Conclusion
Permanent residency is the status that allows you to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely without being a citizen. Depending on your skills, qualifications, and circumstances, you can apply for permanent residency through various visa options.
We hope this guide has helped you understand how to become an Australian citizen in 2024 and what it means to be an Australian citizen.
If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch with us. We wish you all the best in your journey to becoming an Australian citizen.
References and Useful Links
Here are some references and useful links that you can use to learn more about becoming an Australian citizen in 2024.