Australia Citizenship

Australian citizenship is available to those living overseas who were born in Australia and to foreign nationals living and working in Australia with a grant of permanent residency. Although permanent residency allows the holder to live and work in Australia on a permanent basis placing no time restrictions upon their stay and the freedom to work for any employer they choose, becoming an Australian Citizen grants the applicant all the rights and privileges afforded to existing citizens including the right to vote.

As specialists in Australian immigration and visa services Global Visas help thousands of clients to obtain their Australian visa each year. We provide everything from short term visit visas through to helping people start a new life in Australia through permanent residency and naturalisation. To find out whether you qualify to become an Australian citizen, visit the online assessment area today.

Applying for Australian Citizenship

Australian citizenship is automatically awarded to those who were born in Australia before 20th August 1986. People born after this date will also qualify for Australian citizenship through birth if one or both of their parents was an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time.

Australian citizenship also applies to those candidates born overseas who have at least one parent with Australian citizenship. In these circumstances, it may be possible for a candidate to obtain dual citizenship, thus retaining the citizenship of the country they currently reside in. However, for dual citizenship to be obtained both countries must support the practice, and whilst Australia does, in circumstances where the other country does not, dual citizenship will not be possible. In such cases, applicants obtaining Australian citizenship will forfeit the right to citizenship in their country of residence.

Australian Naturalisation – Citizenship for Permanent Residents

For most overseas nationals becoming an Australian citizen will be achieved through the process of Australian naturalisation. For this to happen a candidate must be able to meet the minimum residency requirements for Australian citizenship. A candidate must be in possession of Australian permanent residency which may have been gained through a work or business visa such as a skilled independent visa or a 457 work permit or through a family immigration visa such as the marriage visa, fiance visa or contributory parent visa. They must have held their permanent residency status for at least 1 year and must have been residing in Australia for no less than 4 years. Crucially, Australian immigration requires that this time is spent in Australia continuously and if more than 12 months within this period have been spent outside Australia, or more than 3 months within the year preceding the application were spent overseas, a candidate will be disqualified.

The four year requirement means that applicants must have been legally resident in Australia on a work permit or another visa status for four years. Although some temporary residence permits are issued for a finite period and require a candidate to return to their country of residence on or before expiry, many such as the Australian work permit will count towards permanent residency and citizenship applications.

Australian Citizenship – Other Requirements

Beyond the minimum residency requirements, all applicants must be proficient in the English language. Citizenship provides permanent irrevocable residency in Australia and as such, great emphasis is placed upon a candidate’s ability to integrate with Australian society. Applicants must be deemed to have a satisfactory knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and must intend to make Australia their physical home or to retain close relations with the country. Applicants must undergo Australia's strict health and character requirements and in most cases it will be necessary to sit the Australian citizenship test. The test focuses upon the values and history of Australian citizenship and requires candidates to pass as part of their application. The test may only be waived in circumstance where an applicant is below the age of 18, over the age of 60 or has disability which prevents them from completing it.

Visit the Global Visas online assessment area today to begin your application for Australian citizenship. Our team of specialist immigration lawyers and migration consultants are committed to helping you to obtain the right immigration service for you. Simply complete one of our application forms now and a Global Visas consultant will contact you.