Australian Citizenship

To be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship, you must be a permanent resident of Australia who has lived in the country as a permanent resident for the prescribed amount of time. There are generally very few exceptions to this. Generally, applicants must also be of good character and have a basic working knowledge of English and have an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of being an Australian citizen.

All applicants undergo an interview prior to final grant of Citizenship. Applicants are then invited to attend a citizenship ceremony, where they receive their certificate of citizenship.

If you obtained your Permanent Residence before 1 July 2007, and apply for citizenship before 30 June 2010, you must meet the following residence requirements:

you must have lived in Australia as a permanent resident for at least two years during the last five years, and
you must have lived in Australia as a permanent resident for one year in the two years before making your application.

If you obtained your Permanent Residence after 1 July 2007, you must meet the following residence requirements:

you must have been lawfully resident in Australia for at least four years before making your application, and
this must include at least one year as a permanent resident, and
absences from Australia of no more than 12 months, including no more than three months in the twelve months before making your application.

The Australian parliament has also introduced a formal test for applicants for Australian citizenship to sit prior to applying for Australian citizenship. Please check the Department of Immigration & Citizenship's website for more information.

If you have any questions about your eligibility for Australian citizenship, please contact our offices.

Migration Agents Code of Conduct

Migration Agents Registration Numbers Viegas: 0532285; Tuaine: 0534898

The contents of this site are for information purposes only and should not, under any circumstances, be used as a substitute for legal advice. We recommend that you seek legal advice in relation to your situation.

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