Advice on Becoming a Citizen of Australia
If you’re an expat in Australia and have fallen in love with life there, you might be considering becoming an Australian citizen. Along with being able to say that you are officially a citizen, there are a number of other benefits to becoming a citizen of the country you reside in. If you’ve made the decision to apply for citizenship, or are just considering it, we will walk you through how to apply for Australian citizenship.
According to the Australian Government, there are 10 key steps to take into consideration.
1. See if you are eligible. You must meet the following requirements to apply:
- be a migrant who is a permanent resident
- satisfy the residence requirement
- be likely to reside, or to continue to reside, in Australia or to maintain a close and continuing association with Australia
- be of good character if you are 18 years of age or over
2. Meet the residency requirements. This means that you must have lived in Australia for at least the last 4 years and have been a permanent resident for the 12 months prior to applying. Using the residency requirements calculator can help you determine if you’re eligible.
3. Study for your citizenship test! Australian Citizenship – Our Common Bond is the testing resource that you will want to have and look over.
4. Gather proper identification. You will need to be able to prove your identity, establish links in each of your names, prove you have not had any serious criminal convictions, and apply for variations to resident requirements or fees. You can see what documents you will need here.
5. Complete the application!
6. Pay the application fee.
7. Attend your citizenship appointment. This appointment will consist of your original required documents being reviewed along with verification of your identity. You will also have to take a citizenship test or have an interview. These appointments can take up to two hours.
8. Take the test or go through the interview.
9. Receive your notification on your citizenship approval or denial.
10. If approved, attend the citizenship ceremony, take the Australian citizenship pledge and celebrate!
Keep in mind that while these are the typical steps, they may vary depending on your situation.
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