Citizenship

Eligibility for Australian Citizenship: Meeting the Criteria

To be eligible for Australian citizenship, certain criteria must be met.

Residency and Status

You must be either a permanent resident of Australia or a New Zealand citizen holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa (SCV) when you apply, and this status should be maintained throughout the application process.

Presence in Australia

In most cases, you should be in Australia when your application is being considered.

Intention to Live in Australia

You must have a genuine intention to either live in Australia or maintain a lasting connection with the country while you are abroad.

Age Requirement

These criteria apply to individuals aged 59 or under. Different rules apply if you are 60 years of age or older.

Children in the Application

If you are a parent, you have the option to include a dependent child aged 15 years or younger in your application at no extra cost. However, this child must also be a permanent resident. Children aged 16 or 17 cannot be included in a parent’s application and must apply separately.

Commencement of Permanent Residency

It’s important to note that certain changes to the commencement date of permanent residency apply to specific New Zealand citizens holding an SCV or a New Zealand stream Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa. You should check your eligibility to understand the implications.

New Zealand citizens holding a New Zealand stream Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa and their New Zealand citizen family members who also have this visa, the following rules apply when determining eligibility for Australian citizenship under the purview of the Department of Home Affairs:

For the purposes of acquiring citizenship:

If granted the permanent visa between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022, eligibility for Australian citizenship begins on 1 January 2023, considering the individual a permanent resident from 1 January 2022.

If granted the permanent visa on or after 1 January 2023, eligibility to apply for Australian citizenship commences from the date the permanent visa was granted, with no requirement to hold it for 12 months before applying, given the conditions above are met.

In addition to these criteria, when applying for Australian citizenship, applicants must also fulfill the general residence requirement, which entails:

Living in Australia on a valid Australian visa for a continuous 4-year period immediately preceding the application.

Not being absent from Australia for more than 12 months during the last 4 years, with no single absence exceeding 90 days in the 12 months immediately before applying.

Other Eligibility Categories

There are alternative pathways to Australian citizenship for individuals aged 17 years or under, 60 years or older, or those with specific incapacities. You may already be an Australian citizen if you were born in Australia to New Zealand citizen parents.

Character Requirement

Individuals who are 18 years or older must meet the ‘good character’ requirement, which assesses a person’s moral qualities and whether they are likely to uphold Australian laws and fulfill their citizenship commitments.

Knowledge of Australia

Most applicants must take the citizenship test to demonstrate their understanding of what it means to be an Australian citizen, including knowledge of Australia, its values, and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

Language Requirement

Basic knowledge of the English language is necessary to become an Australian citizen. While most applicants take the citizenship test to fulfill this requirement, some may be exempt from the test but will need to have an interview to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of citizenship responsibilities and privileges.

Close and Continuing Link to Australia

Applicants must satisfy the requirement that they are likely to live or maintain a close and continuous connection with Australia. This is determined by factors such as living arrangements, migration status, source of income, and community participation.

Please note that various exemptions and special circumstances can impact these requirements, such as exemptions for members of the Australian Defence Force and individuals engaged in specific activities that benefit Australia. Furthermore, ministerial discretions may be applied in certain situations to assist individuals in meeting the residence requirement.

Applicants should provide supporting evidence as needed, and eligibility for a discretion cannot be determined in advance of the citizenship application.

Meeting these criteria is essential for obtaining Australian citizenship, a privilege that demands a long-term commitment to the country. The Australian government takes these requirements seriously to ensure that all citizens uphold the values and responsibilities of Australian citizenship.

Australian Passport