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Australian Citizenship
There are several different ways to become a citizen of Australia. The most common ways are by conferral or by descent.
Call 1300 320 300 Claim your consultationAustralian Citizenship – Key Eligibility Requirements (by Descent)
To be eligible and receive Australian Citizenship by descent, you must:
- Have been born outside Australia;
- Ensure that the person you are claiming descent from was your parent at the time of your birth and was also an Australian Citizen at the time of your birth; and
- Be of Good Character.
Australian Citizenship – Key Eligibility Requirements (by Conferral)
To be eligible and receive Australian Citizenship by conferral, you must:
- Be a Permanent Resident of Australia or an eligible New Zealand Citizen;
- Intend to live in Australia or maintain a lasting link with Australia whilst overseas;
- Have spent time in Australia and know about the country;
- Meet the Residence Requirement (see below);
- Be of Good Character; and
- Pass a Citizenship Test (if you’re between 18 and 59).
AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP – RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT FOR CITIZENSHIP BY CONFERRAL
At the time you apply for Citizenship you must have been:
- living in Australia on a valid visa for the past 4 years;
- a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen for the past 12 months; amd
- away from Australia for no more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years, including no more than 90 days in total in the past 12 months.
For children 16 or 17 years old, if meeting this requirement would cause significant hardship or disadvantage, you will need to provide proof.
Children under 16 do not need to meet the general residence requirement but must be permanent residents.
Claim your consultationAUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP – KNOWLEDGE OF AUSTRALIA FOR CITIZENSHIP BY CONFERRAL
You must understand what it means to be an Australian citizen. To assess this, most applicants will sit the citizenship test.
At the time you have an appointment, you must show that you have:
- a basic knowledge of the English language;
- an understanding of what it means to become an Australian citizen;
- an adequate knowledge of Australia and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship; and
- an understanding and commitment to Australian values based on freedom, respect and equality
If you score 75% or more on the citizenship test, and answer all 5 questions on Australian values correctly, then you meet the knowledge requirement.
SPEAK WITH ONE OF OUR IMMIGRATION LAWYERS TO GET MORE HELP WITH AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP
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VISA APPROVED IN 3 MONTHS!I recently had the pleasure of working with Gold Migration Lawyers for my fiancé visa application, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with their service. From the very beginning, their team was incredibly supportive and professional, guiding me through every step of the process with ease.Special thanks to Saleh El Kheir and Juliana Aywaz, who directly assisted us. Their expertise and dedication were evident throughout, providing clear recommendations and actionable steps to fast-track the application.The standout was the swift processing and approval of my application. Their diligent work made the process much faster than usual, which was a huge relief for us.I highly recommend Gold Migration Lawyers to anyone in need of immigration assistance. Their dedication and efficiency are truly commendable!read more
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Thank you to Noor and Justin for helping with the spouse visa application which was granted in just under 6 months. They were both very helpful and ensured we had the right documentation for smooth processing.
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Walt at Gold Migration is an absolute star. He was consistently kind, provided easy to understand information and direction, and secured our partner visa within 8 months! Walt was always friendly on calls, available when we needed him and reassured us throughout the journey. 10/10 would recommend.read more
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I contacted Gold Migration Lawyer in April this year (2024). On 30 August 2024 we received the fantastic news that our visas have been double granted. This is life changing for my partner. I would like to express our sincerest gratitude for the extraordinary time and work Gold Migration lawyers have done for us both (and a special shout out to our amazing lawyer Oliver Christiansen who helped make this possible with his support, expertise and professionalism, James Scott (our very first point of contact) and Aileen Chour-our last & bearer of great news). The professionalism, a friendly voice at the other end of the telephone line, the guidance and expert advice given was exceptionally outstanding and beyond words. Highly recommended without a doubt. Dreams do come true! Thank you for changing our lives Gold Migration Lawyers. Henry & Leonaread more
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My partner and I used Gold Migration for our partner visa. You will be hard pressed to find a migration lawyer with more integrity, attentiveness, or interest in providing genuine support for any challenge than Walt Calis at Gold Migration. He was(is) quick to respond and willing to do anything to help as it surfaced. You get what you pay for and we received consistent gold star service from Walt.read more
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Australian Citizenship – frequently asked questions
If my parent was an Australian Citizen when I was born overseas, am I eligible for Australian Citizenship?
Yes, depending on your date of birth. As long as you can prove that they are your parent and that they were a Citizen or a Permanent Resident the day you were born.
If I am applying for Citizenship by Conferral, how long must I have spent in Australia before lodgement?
This is known as the Residence Requirement. You must have been a Permanent Resident or an eligible New Zealand Citizen for at least 12 months before lodgement, been living in Australia on a valid visa for at least 4 years, and not spent more than 12 months away from Australia in the past 4 years, or more than 90 days in the past 12 months.
Do I need to provide Police Records when applying for Citizenship?
Yes, you will need to. In most cases, you will need to provide Police Records from Australia and any country in which you have lived for more than 12 months in the past 10 years.
What is the “Citizenship Test”?
Depending on your age, it is a test which you will need to pass in order to obtain Citizenship. You will need to score 75% or more on the citizenship test, and answer all 5 questions on Australian values correctly.
What does the Citizenship Test contain?
The Citizenship Test contains questions on a wide range of topics, such as an understanding of what it means to become an Australian citizen, an adequate knowledge of Australia and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship and an understanding and commitment to Australian values based on freedom, respect and equality.
Would my parent and I need to provide a DNA test after I apply for Citizenship by Descent?
In some cases, yes. If you’re unable to find an original Birth Certificate, it is likely that the Department will request a DNA test.
