How to Get Australian Citizenship - Eligibility, Process, Requirements & Cost

How to get Australian citizenship? This is one question that you should think about carefully, especially if you are studying or working in the country. Obtaining Australian citizenship is not an overly complicated process, although you must keep a few things in mind if you wish to study abroad.

Eligibility Requirements for Australian Citizenship for Indians

If you were wondering how to get Australian citizenship, here are some general eligibility requirements that you should meet.

• Those over 18 years of age should pass a citizenship test (unless one is over 60 years of age).
• One should be a permanent resident while applying and meet the residence requirement at the time of the decision. 
• Should continue/be likely to reside in the country or maintain close and continuing ties with it.
• Should be of good character.

6 Benefits of an Australian Citizenship

Living in Australia as a citizen comes with its share of advantages. Some of them include the following:- 

1. Live, work and travel without restrictions in Australia. 
2. Apply for an Australian passport and leave and re-enter the country without conditions or restrictions. 
3. Get diplomatic assistance from Australian representatives abroad. 
4. Get employment in Australia’s public sector or armed forces. 
5. You can stand for elections to Parliament and also vote in them. 
6. You can also serve on a legal jury if required while getting enrolled in the state/territory and federal electoral registers.

How to Get Australian Citizenship - Ways and Means

Now that you know about Australian citizenship eligibility, here is a glimpse of some of the ways you can obtain citizenship:-

How to Get Australian Citizenship After Permanent Residency

Here’s how you can get Australian citizenship after permanent residency:-

• You can be a permanent resident while applying and at the time of the decision. 
• You should stay lawfully in the country for at least four years before applying. 
• This will include 12 months at least as a permanent resident and absences of no more than 12 months from the country. 
• Maximum absences from Australia will be a maximum of three months in the 12 months prior to applying. 
• You must meet the other requirements and pass the citizenship test to qualify.

How to Get Australian Citizenship By Investment

You can get citizenship via investment if you satisfy any of these criteria:- 

• Funding from a specific investor category of a minimum of AUD 200,000 for commercializing any service/product in the country. 
• Successful history of business with net assets standing at AUD 800,000. 
• Approved AUD 1.5 million investment with net assets standing at AUD 2.5 million. 
• Approved AUD 5 million investment. 
• Approved AUD 15 million investment.

How to Get Australian Citizenship By Conferral

You can also become an Australian citizen (by conferral) if you meet these conditions:- 

1. A permanent resident who is 60 years or older. 
2. Migrant under the Commonwealth Child Migration Scheme. 
3. Spouse/partner of any Australian citizen. 
4. Eligible citizen of New Zealand. 
5. Humanitarian/refugee migrants.

How to Get Australian Citizenship by Descent

If you want to know how to get Australian citizenship fast, you can only do so through descent. Some of the key things include the following:-

• You should have been born outside the country on/after 26th January 1949/born outside Australia via an international surrogacy arrangement.
• The person from whom you are claiming descent should have been your parent at birth and an Australian citizen at the time.
• You should be of good character and 18 years old or older when applying. This means being likely to uphold the country’s laws and obey them. The authorities will check for criminal convictions, court obligations, association with people of concern, honesty in dealings with the community, providing false/misleading information in citizenship/visa applications, and incidents of any reported domestic violence.
• If you are already an Australian citizen and require proof, you should apply for Evidence of Australian citizenship.

How to Get Australian Citizenship by Marriage

Here’s how to get Australian citizenship by marriage:-

• If you have married an Australian citizen, you must apply for citizenship.
• You will be granted the temporary partner visa for living, working, and studying in the country while the permanent partner visa is being processed.
• Once granted, you can indefinitely live, work, and study in Australia.
• You can then apply for citizenship if eligible under the permanent residency rules.

How Indians Can Apply for Australian Citizenship

When it comes to Australian citizenship for Indians, here is the procedure to apply:

• Check your eligibility.
• Prepare vital documents (original police certificates, scans of original documents if applying online, certified copies of all other documents in case you have to submit a paper application, as much information as possible to help the authorities decide on your application, and so on).
• Apply for citizenship and pay online in ImmiAccount. Complete the application and provide all listed documents. You may apply both from inside and outside of Australia.
• The next step is a citizenship appointment for people between 18-59 years of age. You will get an appointment letter with all the details. Some applicants may not have to take citizenship tests but only take an interview.
• After the citizenship test and/or interview, you must wait for the decision and provide additional documents if required in the interim.
• The outcome will be intimated to you officially via a letter.
• If you make it, you can attend a citizenship ceremony and make the Australian Citizenship Pledge (you will receive the invitation letter around four weeks prior to the event).

How New Zealand Citizens Can Apply

As a citizen of New Zealand, you may apply for citizenship if you hold either an SCV or a permanent visa. The procedure is the same for all those New Zealand citizens with SCVs and does not depend on the time/date of your first arrival in the country. Before applying, you must meet the general residence criteria (lawful presence for four years in the country, including permanent residency of 12 months).

You need not apply first and get a permanent visa to meet the 12-month requirement. The SCV time will be taken as the duration of permanent residence for this purpose (with effect from 1st July 2023). 

What are the Documents Required to Apply for Australian Citizenship?

Those born to parents with Australian citizenship will not require any citizenship documents. However, they will require some documents for getting their Australian passports. Here are some other documents that are needed: 

• Documents that serve as identity proof, like a driving license, for example. 
• Birth certificate showing birth in Australia to at least one parent with permanent residency or citizenship of Australia. 
• A Marriage certificate or other document showing proof of name change, if applicable. 
• Proof that any one parent is a permanent resident of Australia or citizen, including a certified copy of a parent’s passport or pages showing a permanent resident’s visa. 
• For applications for citizenship by grant, there should be identity proof documents submitted along with a valid passport that indicates the status of a permanent resident of Australia. 
• There should be documents proving the time spent in Australia. 
• There should also be a police certificate that proves that the applicant does not have any criminal record in Australia.

Australian Citizenship Test

This test is exempted for those above 60 or under 18. Those suffering from specific impairments or loss of sight/hearing/speech are also exempted. The test has been tailored to help prospective citizens learn about the country’s history, traditions, values, and national symbols. It is vital to ensure that future citizens take part in the local community while tapping into all available opportunities. 

You should be a permanent resident of the country to appear for the test and satisfy other identity and related criteria while registering for the same. You should also let the department take your photograph or provide a photograph yourself as per the specified criteria. 

Global Talent Program (GTI)

This global talent visa program is a special pathway for skilled and competent professionals to stay and work in Australia permanently. The country desires top international talents to come and stay there and introduce more innovation and skills for industries in the high-priority list while also building opportunities for Australians through innovation promotion, skill transfer, and job creation. 

Australia offers a specified number of positions in this program every year. For example, as per reports, there were 15,000 positions available in 2021-2022. Talented individuals can get permanent residency via this program to start fulfilling new lives and careers in Australia. 

How Much Does It Cost to Become an Australian Citizen

Here are the key details worth knowing in this regard:-

• Form 1300t (general)- $540
• Form 118 (by descent)- $345
• Form 1290 (other situations)- $330

Top Reasons for the Rejection of Australian Citizenship

Here are some of the major reasons why your application for Australian citizenship may be turned down.

• Document Discrepancies - If the immigration officers find any discrepancies in your documents and application form while verifying the application, then it may be rejected instantly.
• Verification of Identity - If discrepancies or misleading information exist, the application will be turned down.
• Previous Citizens - Those who were earlier citizens and have ceased to be so in the last 12 months will not have their applications approved.
• Reason for Applying - Candidates should have a valid application reason to get their applications approved by the authorities.
• Good Character - Applications are usually rejected if candidates have not demonstrated proper moral character in Australia and have criminal convictions.
• Application Form Errors - Discrepancies and errors in the form may lead to incomplete applications being rejected.
• Not Passing the Citizenship Test - Not clearing this vital test with the minimum pass percentile may lead to the authorities turning down the application.
• Applying Again in a Short Time - Those who were rejected earlier and have applied again within a short time may face rejection.

How to Avoid Rejection

Want to avoid the rejection of your citizenship application? Here are some tips that may come in handy.

• Make sure you submit a complete and filled-out application form without errors or discrepancies.
• Check whether all information provided by you is authentic and matching with your documents.
• Submit all documents in order as per the guidelines of the authorities.
• Ensure you follow Australian laws and avoid criminal convictions or police action while in the country.
• Always study hard for the citizenship test to pass successfully with the requisite marks.
• Make sure you have a solid reason for applying to convince the authorities about the genuineness of your application.

How Indians Can Check Status of Their Australian Citizenship Online

You can easily check the status of your Australian citizenship application online at the official website of the Department of Home Affairs. Login to ImmiAccount with your username and password and then check your application progress instantly.

Conclusion

Australian citizenship is not impossible or difficult to get, provided you adhere to all the rules and requirements. Make sure you fulfill the residency requirements and submit all documentation properly without any errors. Here’s to a wonderful future journey as an Australian citizen. You’ll definitely love being part of the vibrant community in the country.

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