Everything You Need to Know About Applying for Australian Citizenship

Australia isn’t just a land of opportunity but it is a place where people can have a stable and better quality of life. The country’s economic situation gets better each year, opening jobs for hundreds of people. People migrate to Australia from different parts of the world so that they can have a better future for themselves and their next generations.

There are a few ways to become an Australian Citizen including taking and passing the Australian Citizenship Test. However, taking the test is the last step. Initial steps that include the application process are lengthy. Any mistake even if it's small can result in delay or cancellation of your application.  Here we will guide you on how to apply without any errors.

Requirements for Australian Citizenship

You need to meet the following eligibility criteria first

• You hold an Australian Permanent Residency Card.
• You should be 18-65 years of age.
• You have been a permanent resident for at least a year and lived in Australia for 4 years.
• You should have a good moral character.
• You shouldn’t be charged with any legal or criminal offence.
• You should solve all your legal penalties in Australia or overseas before applying for citizenship
• You should be in Australia when you start your application process

How to Become an Australian Citizen

There are three ways through which you can apply for Australian Citizenship

1. Conferral:

You can apply via conferral if you are an Australian Permanent Resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

An eligible New Zealand citizen refers to a citizen of New Zealand who meets certain criteria that allow them to live and work in Australia. New Zealand citizens who arrived in Australia prior to February 26, 2001, are generally granted a Special Category Visa (Subclass 444), which permits them to reside and work in Australia indefinitely. New Zealand citizens who arrived in Australia after this date may need to meet additional criteria to be eligible for certain social security benefits and become permanent residents.

2. Descent:

You are eligible for Australian Citizenship if you are born overseas to an Australian parent.

3. Birth:

You are eligible for Australian Citizenship if you are born to a parent who has a PR status.

How to Apply Online

First, you need to visit an official website and create your Australian ImmiAccount, to submit your application. All the documents that you have to upload should be original. Keep in mind that you also need to pay a fee which varies. To learn more about the cost, visit here.

Documents

The website will ask you to submit documents that verify your identity including a passport, national identity card, Australian driving license, ID Card etc.

You also have to upload your recent photograph and Complete Form 1195.

You also need to provide proof that you have stayed in Australia for a specific number of days. This proof can be shown by a travel document with a visa or any other valid document.

Citizenship Test and Interview

When your application is reviewed and approved then you are eligible to take the Australian Citizenship Test and interview. The Australian Citizenship Test is a round-up of 20 multiple-choice questions that you have to complete within 45 minutes. Out of the 20 questions, you will need to get 75% correct. You will also encounter 5 challenging questions based on Australian values that you have to answer accurately. The most reliable source of preparation that is government-approved is Australian Citizenship: Our Common​​ Bond. The book covers all the syllabus and is comprehensive.

You will also be asked to walk in for an interview, where you will be asked personal questions concerning your family, and job and also questions related to Australian values and the role of Australian citizens in Australia.

Citizenship Ceremony

Once you have passed the last and most important milestone which is the test, the government will send you an invitation to attend the Citizenship Ceremony through mail or email. There you will take a pledge to become a responsible citizen who is ready to fulfil all his/her responsibility as an Australian.

Bottom Line

Applying for Australian Citizenship is a lengthy process. First, you need to look that which way suits you more for applying for citizenship (as we have already mentioned in the beginning). Then you have to make sure that you submit all the required and original documents after fulfilling all the eligibility criteria. The last step is to study hard for the citizenship exam.