Security, new opportunities, and a sense of belonging. Make Australia your permanent home.
Applying for Australian citizenship is an important step for many permanent residents who want to make Australia their permanent home. Citizenship reflects a personal commitment to Australia and its values.
Apply for an Australian passport and travel with the protection of Australian consular services overseas.
The right to vote in federal, state, and local elections.
Greater certainty, as citizenship cannot be lost by extended time spent overseas.
Access to government jobs that require citizenship.
There are several pathways to citizenship. The correct one depends on your situation:
This is the most common pathway. You must be a permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen holding a subclass 444 SCV. Applicants aged 18 to 59 must pass the Australian citizenship test unless exemptions apply. If you are applying for citizenship by conferral, you will need to sit the Australian citizenship test. This test checks your understanding of Australian values and traditions.
If you were born outside Australia and had at least one Australian citizen parent at the time of your birth, you may be able to apply for citizenship by descent.
Some people automatically become Australian citizens at birth if one or both parents were citizens or permanent residents.
Children adopted under certain recognised arrangements may be eligible for citizenship by adoption.
Children born in Australia to non-citizen parents may also obtain Australian citizenship. Section 12(1)(b) of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 provides that if a child is born in Australia and lives here for the first 10 years of their life, they become an Australian citizen by operation of law on their 10th birthday, regardless of their parents’ immigration status during that time. The child does not need to apply for citizenship; they acquire it automatically. Parents or legal guardians can apply for evidence of Australian citizenship to obtain an Australian passport or prove the child’s status. This pathway provides security for children who grow up in Australia, ensuring they are recognised as part of the Australian community by the time they reach 10 years of age.
There are also provisions for former citizens, people born in Papua before independence, and stateless children born in Australia.
Scenario: You were born in Greece and lived there your whole life. Your mother is an Australian citizen and over the years you have been introduced to extended family, and you are familiar with Australian customs. As a child, you visited Australia during holidays, and now as an adult, you want to explore the opportunity to live and work in Australia. You have never lived in Australia and unsure if you are eligible for Australian citizenship.
Outcome: You contact Wintr Consulting and learn that because your mother was an Australian citizen when you were born in Greece, you are eligible for Australian citizenship.
Scenario: You migrated to Australia several years ago and built a life here as a skilled professional. You were first sponsored on a subclass 482 visa, then further nominated for permanent residency through the subclass 186 TRT stream. You’ve now lived in Australia long enough to meet the residency requirement for citizenship and want to take the next step. You’re unsure how the residence requirement is calculated as you took a few holidays last year and you were seconded overseas by your employer. You want to be sure you meet eligibility requirements before applying for the final chapter of your Australian migration journey.
Wintr Consulting acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters, and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures, and the elders past and present.
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