Australian Citizenship

Australia is one of the most popular countries for immigration. Those wishing to become its citizens are attracted by a high standard of living, the opportunity to find a high-paying job or run their own business, security, the world level of education, climate, and much more.

The conditions for obtaining citizenship are quite feasible, although the process can be quite time-consuming. You need to carefully study all the requirements, prepare, and then you will have the chance to become a full citizen of Australia.

There are two main documents governing the procedure for obtaining Australian citizenship:

1. The Australian Citizenship Act 2007 regulates the possibility and procedure for obtaining Australian citizenship.
2. The Australian Passports Act 2005 regulates the possibility and procedure for obtaining an Australian passport

How to become an Australian citizen?

The Australian Citizenship Act 2007 sets out how you become an Australian citizen, the circumstances in which you may cease to be a citizen, and some other matters related to citizenship of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Australian Passports Act 2005 sets out provisions for the issue and administration of Australian passports, used as evidence of identity and citizenship by Australian citizens who are traveling internationally.

According to the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, there are several ways how the applicant may become a citizen of the Commonwealth of Australia:

• Automatic acquisition of Australian citizenship by birth;
• Automatic acquisition of Australian citizenship by adoption;
• Automatic acquisition of Australian citizenship by descent;
• Acquisition of Australian citizenship by conferral.

The applicants acquiring Australian citizenship by conferral will need to meet the following eligibility criteria at the time they apply for Australian citizenship:

• You must have been living in Australia on a Permanent Residency visa for four (4) years immediately before applying, and
• You must have a competent English, and
• You must not have been absent from Australia for more than 365 days during the 4 year period immediately before applying, and
• Be aged 16 years or over at the time the application is made, and
• Pass the Australian citizenship test before applying for Australian citizenship and

The Australian citizenship test has been designed to assist people who want to become Australian citizens to gain an understanding of Australia’s values, traditions, history, and national symbols,

• Demonstrate integration into the Australian community, and
• Be likely to reside, or to continue to reside, in Australia or to maintain a close and continuing association with Australia, and
• Be of good character.

The length of a physical presence in Australia for the purpose of fulfilling a residence requirement may not include a period of Confinement in prison or psychiatric institution by order of a court made in connection with proceedings for an offense against an Australian law in relation to the person at any time during the four year period, with the exception of a limited number of circumstances.

Privileges of Australian citizenship/passport

Acquisition of Australian citizenship by conferral gives you the following obvious and not obvious advantages:

• Ability to live in Australia and to leave and re-enter Australia without applying for a resident return visa;
• Ability to save your former citizenship (citizenships);
• Ability to acquire additional citizenship of a third country, such as Canada, while keeping the Australian citizenship;
• Register as Australian citizens by descent any of your children born overseas after you become an Australian citizen.

It is possible to view it as a particular kind of transfer by inheritance of the status of an Australian citizen to all children born after you have obtained your Australian citizenship, regardless of where they were born and what other citizenship they have;

• Apply for an Australian passport and to leave and re-enter Australia without applying for a resident return visa;
• Ability to travel visa-free to the majority of the countries;
• Seek and obtain real assistance from Australian diplomatic representatives while overseas;
• Work in the public service;
• Serve in the armed forces;
• Stand for Parliament;
• Vote to elect members of Parliament;
• Right to be elected;
• Obtain income support for mature students and Australian apprentices aged 25 years and older
• Obtain family income assistance from Centrelink.

Can there be refusals or difficulties in obtaining the citizenship of Australia?

The process of acquiring Australian citizenship by conferral is essentially straightforward – for most immigrants, the acquisition of Australian citizenship means obtaining a permanent residence visa and subsequent residence in Australia for a minimum of four (4) years. In addition, the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 provides for a number of exceptions decreasing the duration of the residency.

Refusals or difficulties in obtaining the citizenship of Australia can take occur on a number of reasons, for example:

• Not passing a character test, due to the convictions. Including bad driving convictions;
• Nonpresence of the applicant in Australia at the time of the decision for the acquisition of Australian citizenship;
• The Applicant is unable to confirm his/her identity;
• Children of 16-17 years old who are unable to meet residence requirement;
• Children up to 15 years old making application on their own without responsible parent;
• Children of a former Australian citizen;
  Resuming of Australian citizenship;
  Bridging visa E Immigration history.

Professional immigration services fees for Australian citizenship are varied depending on the readiness of the documents and number of the applicants. On average: AUD$1,000.00 – AUD$3,000.00.

All fees are in Australian dollars and are for my professional immigration services only. Any disbursements or miscellaneous expenses incurred that are associated with the migration process (e.g. visa application charges, translation costs, etc.) are not included.
For those who are interested, the range of average fees for professional services, charged by registered migration agents is available on MARA web site. Please note these fees do not include charges payable to the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) and cover only visa application-related services.

In the case of selecting a Licensed Australian Migration Agent, you are primarily guided by the question of the cost of services, I will match or better any genuine offer made to you in writing by another migration agent, provided that it does not contradict the legislation of Australia.

Additional services that are provided for an extra charge or by a third parties include:

• Translation of the documents by a NAATI accredited translator. It is possible to use alternatives to the NAATI translations as long as they are accordingly certified. Though such translations may not be accepted by the Australian Post Office when applying for the Australian Passport. Please discuss fees for the translations directly with NAATI accredited translators.
• Comprehensive submissions writing for extremely complex cases.

If you require any further information regarding Australian Citizenship or need assistance with any other matters related to immigration to Australia, please book an interview.