A visa holder’s guide to Australian citizenship requirements

Over 6 million people have secured Australian citizenship since it was introduced in 1949. In 2022-23 alone, nearly 200,000 people from over 200 different countries became Australian citizens. 

Citizenship by conferral is the pathway to citizenship for permanent visa holders. Think of it as the final step in your migration process. It gives you the ability to vote in Australian elections, apply for an Australian passport, and access all the rights and privileges of an Australian citizen.

This guide will cover everything you need to know about Australian citizenship requirements as a migrant, including a step-by-step guide to obtaining Australian citizenship by conferral. 

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• What is Australian citizenship? 
• Who is eligible to become an Australian citizen?
• Your step-by-step guide to Australian citizenship by conferral 

What is Australian citizenship?

Australian citizenship can be secured in three ways: by birth, by descent or by conferral. 

As an Australian citizen, you have an ongoing commitment to Australia’s shared values and way of life. Key responsibilities of becoming an Australian citizen include obeying Australian laws, voting in elections and referendums, defending Australia (if the need arises) and serving on jury duty (if called to do so).

But Australian citizenship also offers a range of unique privileges, including the ability to seek election to parliament, the ability to re-enter Australia freely with an Australian passport and receive consular assistance from an Australian official while overseas.

Who is eligible to become an Australian citizen?

In Australia, citizenship can be acquired through several pathways. If you aren’t granted automatic citizenship due to being born in Australia, the most common pathways include:

• Citizenship by descent: You may be eligible to acquire citizenship if your parent/s were an Australian citizen at the time of your birth and you were born outside of Australia on or after 26 January 1949.
  
  
• Citizenship by conferral: For permanent residents of Australia who have lawfully resided in the country for at least a four-year period, citizenship may be conferred upon you. While this is the most common pathway for migrants, you will need to meet the eligibility requirements for Australian citizenship.

For the purposes of this article, we’re going to focus on the process of becoming an Australian citizen as a migrant. No matter what permanent visa pathway you follow, you’ll need to have spent at least four years in Australia with at least one of these as a permanent resident.

To acquire Australian citizenship by conferral, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:

• General residence requirement: Be a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen for the past 12 months or have been living in Australia on a valid visa for the past 4 years at the time of the application. You must also not have been away from Australia for more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years, including no more than 90 days in total in the past 12 months.
  
• Character requirement: You must be of good character, meaning that you uphold Australian laws and meet the commitments of the citizenship pledge.
  
• Knowledge requirement: To become an Australian citizen, you will need to show that you understand what it means to be a citizen. You will also need to sit a citizenship test and score at least 75%. Exemptions to the test include those who have a hearing, speech, or sight impairment and a dependent child aged 15 years of age or younger in your application.‍
• Language requirement: Given that English is Australia’s national language, you’ll need to show that you have a basic knowledge of English. You’ll have met the language requirement if you pass the citizenship test.‍
• Close and continuing link to Australia: You’ll need to demonstrate close and continuing links to Australia, such as a child or partner who is an Australian citizen or a job or property in Australia.
  

You’ll also be required to pay the citizenship application fee, which is $560 as of 1 July 2024.

Your step-by-step guide to Australian citizenship by conferral

Stage 1. Preparation and lodgement

The first step in gaining Australian citizenship is to lodge your citizenship application form and any supporting documents required to satisfy the relevant requirements to the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA). Time of application is crucial as you must have been living in Australia on a valid visa for 4 years immediately before the day you apply.

To support your citizenship application, you’ll need to provide:

• Original police certificates
• Scans of original documents (if you’re applying online)
• Certified copies of all other documents (if you’re lodging a paper application)

More specifically, you’ll need to share:

• Identity documents: at least three documents that show your birth name, date or birth and gender, your photograph, your signature and your current residential address. 
• Character documents: to assess if you’re of good character, you’ll need to provide police check certificates from every country you’ve lived in and an Australian National Police Check.
• Supporting documents: these are any documents that support your unique personal circumstances, such as any exemptions or concessions you’re applying for. 

Thankfully with Matilda Migration's tech-driven platform, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your supporting documents are safely stored for ease of reference. You’ll also receive notifications when applications are due so all deadlines are met, and receive a personalised timeline of your journey with an estimated processing time.

Stage 2. Citizenship appointment and test

If the Department of Home Affairs deems you eligible for the conferral of citizenship, you’ll need to sit the Australian citizenship test. You’ll need a score of at least 75% to pass the test, but the questions are based on testable information contained within the Australian citizenship resource book, which we recommend you study.

Stage 3. Citizenship ceremony

After passing the citizenship test and having your application approved by DOHA, you’ll attend a citizenship ceremony where you make the Australian citizenship pledge and receive the Australian citizenship certificate.

When making the pledge, you have two options: a religious and a non-religious option.

Pledge 1

From this time forward, under God,

I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,

whose democratic beliefs I share,

whose rights and liberties I respect, and

whose laws I will uphold and obey.

Pledge 2

From this time forward,

I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,

whose democratic beliefs I share,

whose rights and liberties I respect, and

whose laws I will uphold and obey.​​​

Processing times for citizenship applications are generally faster than many permanent visa applications: 90% of applicants are processed within nine months, and 90% of approved applicants have the opportunity to attend a ceremony within seven months of approval.

Australian citizenship FAQs: answered

Does Australia recognise dual citizenship?

Australia recognises dual citizenship, meaning that Australian citizens can hold an additional foreign citizenship as well as multiple passports, too. 

However, dual citizenship is not recognised in many countries around the world (including Japan, Indonesia, China, India and Singapore). That’s why it’s important to check whether your home country allows for dual citizenship before applying for Australian citizenship as a permanent resident. 

What happens if you have a baby in Australia as a non-citizen?

A common question that comes up around Australian citizenship is this: if I have a child in Australia as a non-citizen, does the child automatically become an Australian citizen?

The answer depends on the visa status of the parents. If at least one parent is an Australian permanent resident, the child may be considered an Australian citizen. This also applies if at least one parent is a Special Category (subclass 444) visa holder on or after 1 July 2022. 

Plus, your child may be a citizen of your home country (dual citizenship), as long as your country of residence recognises dual citizenship. 

It’s recommended that you secure evidence of your child’s Australian citizenship by applying online for evidence of Australian citizenship.