Australia lets eligible permanent residents and New Zealand citizens become Australian citizens. This process is known as ‘becoming a citizen by naturalisation’, and it’s a common way to become an Australian citizen.
MORE ABOUT GETTING AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP BY NATURALISATION
THE REQUIREMENTS:
To apply for Australian citizenship, candidates must:
- Be an Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Intend to live in Australia or maintain a lasting link with the country while overseas
MORE INFORMATION FOR CITIZENSHIP APPLICANTS 59 AND YOUNGER:
- Citizenship applicants must meet the residence requirements, which are that applicants must:
- Have lived in Australia on a valid visa for four years before making a citizenship application
- Have been a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen for the 12 months preceding the application
- Not have been away from Australia for more than 12 months in total in the four years preceding the citizenship application, including no more than 90 days in total in the 12 preceding months
- Citizenship applicants must sit a citizenship test to prove:
- Basic knowledge of the English language
- An understanding of what it means to become an Australian citizen
- Adequate knowledge of Australia and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship
- Understanding and commitment to Australian values based on freedom, respect and equality
- Parents can include dependent children that are 15 or younger in their citizenship application. Children included in applications must also be permanent residents.
- Children 15 or younger can apply for citizenship in their own right if their parents are not applying to become citizens.
- Parents cannot include children who are 16 or 17. Instead, children of these ages must apply for citizenship on their own.
- Most New Zealand citizens must hold Australian permanent residency.
- Applicants must meet Australia’s character requirements.
MORE INFORMATION FOR CITIZENSHIP APPLICANTS 60 AND OLDER:
- Parents can include dependent children that are 15 or younger in their application.
- Parents cannot include children who are 16 or 17. Instead, children of these ages must apply for citizenship on their own.
- Applicants do not need to sit the citizenship test.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
It is possible to get Australian citizenship by naturalisation, as described on this page.
It is also possible to become an Australian citizen by descent, which means the person was born outside Australia to a parent who was an Australian citizen at the time of the birth.
Australia does allow dual citizenship, so someone who becomes an Australian citizen can remain a citizen of another country.
Citizenship applicants must have held permanent residence for the 12 months preceding the application.
In addition, applicants must have lived in Australia on a valid visa for the four years preceding the application and must not have been away from Australia for more than 12 months in total in the four years preceding the citizenship application.
The latter requirement includes no more than 90 days in total in the 12 months preceding the application.
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