Australian citizenship can be obtained by birth/descent, by naturalization or through restoration of lost status. Children of Australians become citizens automatically. Persons of foreign origin are naturalized after 4 years of residence in the country, confirming knowledge of the English language and integration into society.
An Australian passport allows you to live in a developed country with a stable economy and high income levels. The document also gives the right to visit a large number of visa-free countries. Australian law allows dual legal status, which means that a foreigner does not need to give up a valid passport to naturalize in the state.
Benefits of an Australian passport
Australian citizenship gives its owner the right to live, cross the border an unlimited number of times and find employment on priority terms in a state with high economic potential and an average salary of 2,400 USD per month. Other status benefits include:
- freedom to travel without visas to 173 countries, including Canada and the USA;
- unrestricted access to the flexible labor market in Australia and New Zealand;
- the right to family immigration and inheritance;
- prospects for developing your own business with access to the international market;
- the possibility of obtaining a second citizenship without renouncing the current one.
Reasons for obtaining Australian citizenship
You can become an Australian citizen by birth, descent or invitation. For residents of post-Soviet countries, the most acceptable way to obtain status is naturalization, which involves moving to the state and going through all stages of legalization of residence.
By birth/descent
Australian citizens are those born in the country before 20 August 1986, regardless of the status of their parents. The fact of birth on the territory of the state after the specified date gives the right to assign legal affiliation by inheritance. In this case, registration of legal affiliation with Australia is possible if one of the following conditions is met:
- the applicant’s mother and/or father were born in the country before 08/20/1986;
- at least one parent received an Australian passport or permanent residence permit before the applicant’s birth;
- the applicant has lived in Australia for more than ten years from the date of birth.
Natives of the country who do not meet the conditions presented may acquire citizenship based on the status of a grandparent acquired before the birth of one of the parents. A child found on the territory of the state or adopted by Australians can also become a citizen unconditionally.
Descent status is granted to persons born outside Australia on or after 26 January 1949 to Australian parents. In this case, it is possible to inherit legal affiliation with the state even from one parent.
By invitation
Foreigners who have lived in the country for more than four years, the last year of which as a permanent resident, can obtain an Australian passport by naturalization (invitation). The applicant must fulfill the following requirements:
- reach 18 years of age;
- legally reside in the country, having specific grounds and a close connection with Australia (owning property, being a member of communities, having relatives among citizens and/or other);
- pass the integration test;
- speak English at a basic level;
- have a good character.
For the general naturalization procedure, it is necessary to legalize residence in the country on the basis of:
- employment;
- investing;
- marriage;
- family reunification;
- entrepreneurial activity;
- humanitarian reasons or other immigration purposes.
How to obtain Australian citizenship: step-by-step procedure
To become an Australian citizen, an immigrant must have lived in the country for at least four years. The applicant must have resided in the country on a permanent visa for the last year immediately before submitting the application. The total duration of the immigrant’s absence from the country should not exceed 12 months for the entire period of settlement and 90 days for the last 12 months. Also, one year before submitting an application for naturalization, you can leave the state for no more than 3 months. The period for consideration of the request is up to 11 months. The naturalization procedure consists of two main stages:
- Moving to Australia.
To immigrate to the state, a foreigner must obtain a visa equivalent to a residence permit. The document can be requested from the Australian diplomatic mission abroad, confirming the legitimate purpose of the move. Often the permit is issued within eight months. A temporary resident visa gives the right to stay in the country from six months to four years and can be extended if the grounds for its validity remain the same. At least one year before applying for citizenship, you must obtain a qualifying nominal permanent resident visa equivalent to permanent residence, which is issued for 5 years. - Passing the test.
To naturalize, the applicant must pass a test of knowledge of the English language, history and culture of Australia. The candidate can first check his competencies using a trial version of the exam. To take the test, you must register at one of the departmental offices and provide a photo and identification. A satisfactory exam result is at least 60% of the points scored. Persons under 18 and over 60 years of age are exempt from taking the test. There is no state fee for this procedure. - Application for assignment of status.
The applicant initially registers for the application registration ceremony using the Citizenship Information Line . During the registration of the request, the authorized person checks the correctness of filling out the application, the contents of the dossier and the readiness of the applicant to accept citizenship. You can check the status of your application on the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Once naturalization is approved, the applicant receives a corresponding letter. The final stage of the procedure is passing the oath ceremony and receiving a certificate of Australian citizenship.
Required documents: complete list
Documents for obtaining citizenship by naturalization must be translated into English and notarized. Certificates issued by foreign government agencies are required to be apostilled. Photographs of the applicant must be taken in good quality no earlier than 6 months before the application.
Statement
The online application for citizenship is submitted through the ImmiAccount portal , where the applicant must log in and fill out all forms electronically, as well as attach copies of available documents. Using the site, an immigrant can track his application and check the progress of its consideration. The application form can be downloaded from the Ministry of Internal Affairs website. The application is printed and submitted along with the dossier to the migration department. The registration fee is paid through the ImmiAccount application.
Documents for citizenship
The dossier required for obtaining citizenship consists of the following documents:
- a valid foreign passport;
- photo size 3.5 x 4.5 cm;
- confirmation of place of residence;
- birth certificates;
- identity declarations;
- certificates of no criminal record in Australia.
The immigrant will also need documents proving the legality of his stay in the country: a work permit, marriage certificate, data on kinship with Australians, or others.
Documents for obtaining a passport
To obtain an Australian citizen passport, an immigrant also needs to prepare the following documents:
- citizenship certificate;
- birth certificate;
- valid ID
- two photos measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm.
When applying for an Australian Identity Card, only original documents are required.
How much does it cost to obtain citizenship status?
According to the Law on Citizenship, status cannot be bought or acquired through investment. All costs that a candidate faces during the immigration process are related to the payment of state fees. Prices for services are fixed at the legislative level and are fixed.
| Expense item | Cost as of 2023 ($) |
|---|---|
| Visa | From 2000 |
| Resident card | For free |
| Country knowledge test | For free |
| Legalization of documents | 92 |
| Notarial services | 55 |
| Assignment of status | 540 |
Refusal to grant citizenship
The Migration Service has the right to refuse to grant citizenship if the applicant:
- has a bad characteristic;
- violates Australian laws;
- poses a threat to society;
- does not comply with the general requirements of migration legislation.
By enlisting the help of international law specialists, you can avoid common mistakes and obtain your status in the shortest possible time.
How to Apply for Australian Passports
The country has an internal Australian passport (ID card), which is necessary for personal identification on the territory of the state, as well as a foreign document that looks like a standard blue booklet. An application for the production of an identity card is submitted to the police department at the candidate’s place of residence. Submitting an application consists of several stages:
- Collection of documents.
- Filling out forms (you can request them at the police department or download them on the department’s website).
- Submitting an application to the competent authority.
- Payment of state duty.
- Receipt of documents at the branch where the request was submitted.
The production of an internal ID card takes 21 days and costs 78 USD. A passport is issued within six weeks, the state fee is 325 USD. The documents are valid for 10 years, after which they must be reissued.
Dual citizenship and second Australian passport
The Australian government recognizes multiple citizenship. However, dual legal status is possible only within the framework of interstate agreements on mutual recognition of several passports by countries. In the absence of this agreement, the applicant has the right to acquire a second citizenship, which will not be recognized by another state, but will open up new social opportunities. Thus, Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians can obtain a second Australian passport without giving up their existing identity card.
Is it worth getting an Australian passport through naturalization?
Despite the fact that Australia is a prosperous and developed state, residents of post-Soviet countries are more attracted to immigration to the European Union. In some EU countries, the process of obtaining citizenship takes up to a year. Thus, in Romania, Bulgaria and Poland there are repatriation programs that can be used to obtain EU passports on lost conditions. The procedure is intended for applicants who have an ethnic connection with the people of one of the specified countries. International law experts will tell you more about repatriation during a free consultation.
Reviews: what to look for when applying for citizenship
After analyzing the reviews of people who have received an Australian passport, we can highlight the main pros and cons of immigration to this state. Disadvantages include strict conditions for acquiring resident and civil status. The benefits of immigration include good prospects for professional development and progressive health care. Most successful relocation stories are associated with the support of international law specialists who helped collect the necessary package of documents and register the application in accordance with the law.