Australian Citizenship

There are different ways to become an Australian citizen. The most common ways to becoming a citizen are when you

• Are a permanent resident living in Australia
• Were born overseas to a parent who is an Australian citizen
• Were born overseas and adopted by an Australian citizen outside Australia
• Lost your Australian citizenship and would like to resume your citizenship
• New Zealand citizens who have been living in Australia for 4 years or more can apply for Australian citizenship
• Born in Australia and are stateless
• The person is ordinarily resident in Australia throughout the period of 10 years beginning on the day the person is born

The residence requirement for a conferral of Australian citizenship application is based on the time you have lived in Australia and the time you have spent outside Australia.The Residence Calculator helps you estimate the number of days you have lived in Australia

Once you have applied for Australian citizenship, you may get an invitation to attend an interview and sit the citizenship test. If you fail the test, you can sit it again up to 3 times

People aged between 18 and 59 years on the day we receive your application for citizenship by conferral generally must sit the test

The Australian citizenship test resource booklet Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond has all the information you need to help you pass the test

The test is a multiple-choice exam with 20 questions about Australian values, history, culture, government and laws. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 questions) to pass. The test is available in English only, and you must have basic English skills to complete it

If you are applying for Australian citizenship by conferral, you do not need to sit the test if you

• Are aged 17 years or younger at the time you apply for citizenship
• Are aged 60 years or over at the time you apply for citizenship
• Are the child of a former Australian citizen who lost their Australian citizenship under specific circumstance
• Were born in Papua before 16 September 1975 to an Australian citizen born in Australia (as Australia is now
• Were born in Australia and are stateless (have never been the citizen of another country and are not entitled to the citizenship of another country
• Are unable to sit the test due to an incapacity or impairment

You can check  The Processing Times for Australian Citizenship according to Application types.

Citizenship ceremonies are usually organised by local government councils. The wait time by local council can be found in Ceremony Wait Times

Australian Citizenship Pledge

All Australian citizens should understand what it means to be a citizen. It is a critical part of building our nation.

People make the Australian citizenship pledge at a citizenship ceremony. You might hear people call it the ‘pledge of commitment’.

The pledge is a serious legal promise and a public commitment to Australia. It means that you are accepting the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

If you learn the meaning behind the pledge, you will begin to understand what Australian citizenship means.

Australian citizenship is a privilege offering enormous rewards.

Becoming an Australian citizen means that you are making an ongoing commitment to Australia and Australia’s shared values. It is also the beginning of your formal membership of the Australian community. It is the step that will enable you to say, ‘I am Australian’.

Responsibilities and Privileges of Australian Citizenship

When you become an Australian citizen, you will have additional responsibilities and privileges.

• Responsibilities – What You Will Give Australia
  As an Australian citizen you must:
  • Obey the laws of Australia
  • Vote in federal and state or territory elections, and in a referendum
  • Defend Australia should the need arise
  • Serve on jury duty if called to do so
• Privileges – What Australia Will Give You
  As an Australian citizen you can:
  • Vote in federal and state or territory elections, and in a referendum
  • Apply for children born overseas to become Australian citizens by descent
  • Apply for a job in the Australian Public Service or in the Australian Defence Force
  • Seek election to parliament
  • Apply for an Australian passport and return to Australia freely
  • Ask for consular assistance from an Australian official while overseas

You can choose between 2 versions of the pledge.

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.

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