When do i become eligible for australian citizenship

A Citizenship Wizard is available on the Department of Home Affairs website to help you determine if you meet the residence requirement. If you satisfy the general eligibility criteria, you will need to pass a test before applying for Australian citizenship. Those covered by other situations such as those aged under 18 or over age 60, or people who suffer from a substantial impairment or loss of hearing, speech or sight are not required to sit a test.

The Australian citizenship test has been designed to help future Australian citizens gain an understanding of Australia's:. The test is an important part of ensuring you have the capacity to fully participate in the Australian community as a citizen and maximise the opportunities available to you in Australia. It promotes social cohesion and successful integration into the community. More information about the privileges and responsibilities of Australian citizenship can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Permanent residency visa An Australian permanent resident is someone who holds a permanent visa but is not a citizen. A permanent resident can live, work and study without restriction in Australia. Differences in rights and entitlements A permanent resident has most of the rights and entitlements of a citizen, but there are some differences:.

A person may apply to the Minister to be registered as an Australian citizen if a natural parent of the applicant was an Australian citizen at the time of birth of the applicant or is dead and was an Australian citizen at the time of death. The following table explains how Australian citizenship is issued by acquisition naturalisation.

The following table explains how Australian citizenship is granted to people who have been adopted. Where an adoption order is made under Australian law after the child arrives in Australia as a permanent resident, and at least one of the adoptive parents is an Australian citizen, the child will automatically acquire Australian citizenship.

An application for Australian citizenship is not required, but parents may apply for a Certificate of Evidence of Australian Citizenship also known as a declaratory certificate.

A permanent residence visa is granted to the child, which will appear in the child's foreign passport. Where the adoptive parents have been resident overseas for at least 12 months at the time of the adoption and at least one parent is an Australian citizen, the adoptive child may be eligible for grant of Australian citizenship even if the adoption is not recognised under Australian law.

Where a full adoption occurs overseas, an application for the grant of Australian citizenship is required. Where a state or territory welfare authority has arranged an adoption, Australian citizenship will not normally be granted until all the requirements have been completed and the adoption has been recognised under Australian law. The requirements for Australian citizenship in this case are similar to the adoption visa requirements. Following the grant of Australian citizenship, the adoptive child is eligible for an Australian passport.

If Australian citizenship is granted prior to entry to Australia, an adoption visa is not required. Acquired Australian citizenship at the time of adoption in Australia if adopted by an Australian citizen and the child was a permanent resident of Australia at the time of adoption. Note: An application for Australian citizenship is not required, but parents may apply for a Certificate of Evidence of Australian Citizenship also known as a declaratory certificate.

There are some other, much less common, ways of acquiring Australian citizenship not described in the above tables. For persons who claim to be Australian citizens but do not fit into any of the above categories, DHS staff are able to make enquiries that will often obtain proof of Australian citizenship.

If DHS staff cannot obtain that proof they can suggest further avenues of enquiry available to the person themselves. Be able to satisfy the residence requirement; 3. Be likely to reside, or continue to reside, in Australia or to maintain a close and continuing association with Australia; 4.

Be of good character if you are 18 years of age or over. Once you have applied for the citizenship application, you will be required to attend an interview and sit a citizenship test. If you are successful, you will be invited to attend a Citizenship Ceremony.

If you would like us to assess your eligibility for Australian citizenship or to assist you with your citizenship application, please feel welcome to contact us. Have you been granted a Bridging visa with limited work rights, or no work … Read More. When you become an Australian citizen, you can live and work in Australia freely.

A valuable part of becoming an Australian citizen is the understanding and commitment to the values of the country and its people. To become an Australian citizen, you must lodge a completed application form and pay the applicable fee to DOHA. Once you have submitted your application, you will be contacted by the department. If your application is successful, you will be invited to participate in an Australian citizenship ceremony, which comprises of the Australian Citizenship Pledge.

There are certain Australian citizenship requirements you must meet, which include:.