The Flemington and Kensington Community Website

If you have come to settle in Australia as a permanent resident, you are welcome to become a citizen, granting you full participation to the civil life of Australia. This gives you substantial legal rights, such as the right to vote in elections, stand for Parliament, work in the public service, or serve in the armed forces. Citizenship also entitles you to hold an Australian passport, which makes it easier to re-enter the country if you leave to travel overseas. You also have the right to register your children as Australian citizens if they were born overseas.

When you become an Australian citizen, you might be able to retain your country of origin's citizenship as well. Some countries that allow this are the United Kingdom, France, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, and the USA. To check if your country of origin allows dual citizenship, seek advice from its embassy or consulate.

An understanding of English by applicants for citizenship is made. However, this requirement doesn't apply to people of fiftyyears of age and over, a benefit in particular to older parents.

The Commonwealth government's citizenship website is the best place to get full information on the process of citizenship, including what forms are needed to be filled in. The site describes the following six steps in the procedure.

The contact phone number for citizenship enquiries is 131 880, Monday to Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm.

Six Steps to Citizenship

STEP 1: CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY
If you are a permanent resident, and you have lived in Australia for two or more years you may be eligible to apply for citizenship by grant. You are eligible if you can answer yes to all of the following questions:

Are you a permanent resident?
Have you been present in Australia as a permanent resident for two years in the previous five years, including for twelve months in the past two years?
Are you of good character?
Do you have a basic knowledge of English? (This requirement won't apply if you are aged 50 or over)
Do you have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of being an Australian Citizen? (This requirement won't apply if you are aged 60 or over)
Do you intend to live in, or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia?

STEP 2: GET AN APPLICATION KIT
The Application Kit contains the forms and detailed information you will need to make your application for citizenship. You can get an Application Kit:

At an Australia Post outlet
By downloading one from the Citizenship website (click here)
By post from the Government after you send them your details

You can call the Citizenship Information Line for more information on 131 880.

STEP 3: FILL IN FORMS, AND LODGE IT WITH THE CORRECT FEE
Once you have received your application kit, read and fill in the form in full, and sign and date it.

Some of the documents you may need to attach to your application are:

Your birth certificate
The passport or travel documents you had when you came to Australia
Any other passports or travel documents you have
Evidence of your permanent residence
Proof of any changes of name

For proof of identity, you'll also need a current passport sized photo, signed by an authorised person who isn't a family member, and who has known you for at least one year (authorised people include employees in a number of professional and other occupations).

You can lodge the form by mail, or in person at any office of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. (Click here for the nearest departmental offices.)

There is an application fee of $120. There is a $20 concessional fee for people who receive certain social security or Veteran's Affairs pensions. Charges can differ depending on the nature of your application.

In a couple of special cases there is no fee:

former British child migrants who came to Australia between 22 September 1947 and 31 December 1967 under the British child migrant scheme; and
persons who have served in the Australian Defence Force for a period of no less than three months.

STEP 4: ATTEND A SHORT INTERVIEW
If you apply for citizenship you'll need to attend a short interview, unless you're under the age of sixteen.

If you put in your application in person, you may be interviewed then, or you might be asked to come back later for an interview. If you live outside a capital city, you may be able to have your interview at an Australia Post office.

At the interview, Department staff will:

Look over your application form and personal documents to make sure they are complete
Ask you about the responsibilities and privileges of Australian Citizenship and assess whether you can speak and understand basic English

After your interview, the Department will write to you about whether your application has been approved. Most applications are processed in 30 days. Once your application has been approved, you'll be scheduled to attend a Citizenship ceremony held by your local government council. It may take up to a few months, depending on where you live.

STEP 5: PREPARE FOR THE CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY
To become a citizen, you will need to attend a citizenship ceremony, unless you are under sixteen years of age (though, of course, you are still welcome to attend). Most ceremonies are held at the local town hall or another civic building and are usually presided over by the local mayor. You should get a letter from the Department of Immigration or your local government council advising you when and where your ceremony will be held. Family and friends are welcome to witness your ceremony.

STEP 6: YOUR CEREMONY, PLEDGE AND CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATE
The Citizenship ceremony will legally formalise your citizenship and welcome you as a new Australian Citizen. You become a citizen at your ceremony when you make the Australian Citizenship pledge. The pledge is an oath or affirmation and making it is a highlight of the citizenship ceremony. The pledge reads:

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.

*New Citizens can choose to take the pledge in the form of an oath, which includes the words "under God", or in the form of an affirmation, which does not.

Once you've made the pledge you will be given your Certificate of Australian Citizenship, which is your legal proof of citizenship. Also, you may complete an electoral enrolment form which registers you on the electoral roll and allows you to vote.

Citizenship Apllication Forms

The following lists the forms and information relating to the granting of Australian citizenship as well as other citizenship services and departure and re-entry requirements. These forms are available on the internet at the citizenship website (click here).

To apply for citizensship you will need at least three forms:

Form 1027i -- How to Apply for Grant of Australian Citizenship
Form 1063i --Becoming a Citizen - What You should Know
Form 124 -- Application for Grant of Australian Citizenship

You may need to download additional forms according to your individual circumstances.

Form 1195 -- Proof of Identity Form (only for applications lodged electronically)
Form 1014i -- Citizenship - Former British Child Migrants
Form 975i -- Citizenship by Birth in Australia
Form 1014i -- Citizenship - Former British Child Migrants
Form 1113i -- Deprivation of Australian Citizenship
Form 1114i -- Australian Citizens who Acquire another Citizenship
Form 993i -- Safeguarding your personal information
Form 118 -- Australian Citizenship by Descent
Form 119 -- Evidence of Australian Citizenship
Form 125 -- Application to Amend a Certificate to Include Children Under 16
Form 128 -- Declaration of Renunciation of Australian Citizenship
Form 132 -- Loss and Resumption of Australian Citizenship
Form 1037 -- Declaration of a New Zealand Citizen Parent of an Australian born child

DEPARTURE AND RE-ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Form 968i -- Return documents for Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents

CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION CHARGES AND COSTS

Form 990i -- Charges

LINKS

Department of Immigration

Commonwealth Citizenship website

The Flemington & Kensington Community Website is a Work for the Dole project brought to the community by NorthWest Work Net and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Work fo the Dole is an Australian Government initiative. The site is proudly designed by ENET participants, © 2004. Click here to read disclaimer.