Australian citizenship
Holding Australian citizenship brings with it a multitude of benefits including voting rights, permanent residence in Australia, unrestricted travel in and out Australia, easier mortgage approvals and access to student finance schemes such as VET FEE-HELP to name just a few. You’ll also gain the honor of calling yourself a true Australian!
There are four ways of becoming an Australian citizen, however the most common pathways are:
Citizenship by descent
If you were born overseas and one (or both) of your parents were Australian citizens at the time of birth, you may be eligible for Australian citizenship by descent.
You will also need to prove that the parent(s) you are claiming descent from were in fact an Australian citizen at the time you were born. This can be done by providing, or applying for an Australian citizenship certificate.
Character requirements
Persons over 18 applying for citizenship by descent will need to undergo a character check.
Citizenship by conferral
To apply for citizenship by conferral you are required to be in Australia at the time of application.
You must be either a permanent Australian resident or an Eligible New Zealand citizen before you can apply. You will generally be required to have lived in Australia legally for at least 4 years before becoming eligible to apply, however certain exemptions to this rule apply.
Character requirements
Persons over 18 applying for citizenship by descent will need to undergo a character check.
Knowledge of Australian history and culture
Most applicants will need to undergo a citizenship interview and test. The test is based on the booklet entitled “Our Common Bond”, and can be downloaded for the department’s website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/test-and-interview/our-common-bond.
Our Common Bond consists of three parts:
- Part 1 — Australia and its people
- Part 2 — Australia’s democratic beliefs, rights and liberties
- Part 3 — Government and the law in Australia
The test consists of multiple choice questions covering all three parts. A score of 75% or above is required to pass.
English language requirement
The applicant must have at least a basic knowledge of the English language. If you score 75% or above in the citizenship test your English ability is deemed sufficient.