Citizenship by Descent

Australian Citizenship by Conferral Descent Become an Australian citizen (By Conferral)

Permanent Residents or New Zealand Citizens Permanent Residents or New Zealand Citizens. This is for: Australian permanent residents aged 18-59 children aged 16 or 17 children 15 years or younger applying with a parent or guardian Commonwealth Child Migration Scheme migrants eligible New Zealand citizens partners or spouses of an Australian citizen refugees or humanitarian migrants.

Note

• This information is for people 59 years old and under.
• You can include a dependent child (permanent resident) aged 15 years or younger in your application at no additional cost.
• If a responsible parent is not applying to become an Australian citizen, a child 15 years or younger can apply by their own and must pay the associated fee.
• You cannot include a dependent child aged 16 or 17 on your application. They must apply on their own by following the process outlined on this page. The child must be a permanent resident.

Eligibility Criteria:

• When you apply, you must be a permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand Citizen.
• Residence Requirement: At the time you apply you must have been:
• living in Australia on a valid visa for the past 4 years
• a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen for the past 12 months
• away from Australia for no more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years, including only than 90 days in total in the past 12 month

For children 16 or 17 years old, if meeting this requirement would cause significant hardship or disadvantage, you will need to provide proof. Children under 16 need not to meet the general residence requirement but must be permanent residents.

Permanent residence calculations:

Your residency starts on the date:

• we granted the permanent visa when you were in Australia, or
• you first entered Australia on a permanent visa

General exemptions

You need not to meet our residence requirement if you:

• are under 16 years
• were born to a former Australian citizen who lost their citizenship before 4 April 2002
• were born in Papua before 16 September 1975 and one of your parents was born in Australia and was an Australian citizen when you were born

Character requirement

You must be of good character if you are 18 years or over. When department assess good character, they consider whether you are likely to:

• uphold and obey the laws of Australia
• meet the other commitments made through the citizenship pledge

Knowledge of Australia

You must understand what it means to be an Australian citizen. At the time you have an appointment, you must know about:

• Australia and its people
• Australia’s democratic beliefs, rights and liberties, and
• Government and the law in Australia

If you score 75% or more on citizenship test, then you meet knowledge requirement.

Language requirement

You need to have a basic knowledge of the English language to become an Australian citizen. If you score 75% or more on citizenship test, then you meet the language requirement.

Close and continuing link to Australia You must intend to live in Australia or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia while overseas. You will be considered if you have: a child who is an Australian citizen a partner who is an Australian citizen and your time together extended family in Australia spent time in Australia a bank account in Australia a job in Australia paid income tax in Australia Property in Australia.

Cost

Cost is AUD285;

No cost for a child 15 years or younger applying with a parent.

Processing times

Below table shows timeframe it is currently taking to process citizenship applications. A ‘decision’ includes applications that have been approved, refused, withdrawn, and those that cannot be considered (invalid).

* Allow an extra 10 days after approval of your application for printing and postage of your citizenship document. If you applied from outside Australia, postage will take longer.

** The processing times presented for the citizenship by conferral process include applications for which, in the reporting month, either:

• a decision outcome was reached; or, 
• person/s who were included in the application acquired Australian citizenship by conferral by attending a citizenship ceremony and making the pledge of commitment. 

Circumstances affecting processing times

Factors that can affect the processing time of your application include:

• whether you have given a complete application, including all the supporting documents
• how speedily you respond when we ask for more information or documents
• the time it takes to check the information you have provided.
• the time it takes for information from other agencies, usually for character and national security requirements
• For applications for citizenship by conferral, where applicants are required to take the citizenship test, our ability to offer citizenship test appointments in the COVID-19 environment. Client service sites in Victoria remain closed at this time.
• for applications for evidence and citizenship by descent, the time it takes for the postage of your citizenship document.

Disapproval of Application: Citizenship application will be disapproved if

• Australian Government is not satisfied by your Identity.
• In case of Criminal Offences.
• If you pose a risk to National Security of Australia.
• If you ceased to be the Former citizen.
• if you are outside Australia at the time of decision of your application,

Location at time of application approval We must not approve your citizenship application if you are outside Australia at the time we decide your application, except under few circumstances. This is for: Permanent residents aged 60 years or over Commonwealth child migration scheme migrants Eligible New Zealand citizens Partners or spouses of an australian citizen Refugees or humanitarian migrants Eligibility criteria

      Location at time of application approval

Be in Australia when department decides on your application, in most cases When you apply, you must be a permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand Citizen.

• Residence Requirement: At the time you apply, you must have been:
• living in Australia on a valid visa for the past 4 years
• a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen for the past 12 months
• away from Australia for only 12 months in total in the past 4 years, including no more than 90 days in total in the past 12 months

For children 16 or 17 years old, if meeting this requirement would cause significant hardship or disadvantage, you will need to provide proof. Children under 16 need not to meet the general residence requirement but must be permanent residents.

Permanent residence calculations

Your residency starts on the date:

• we granted the permanent visa when you were in Australia, or
• you first entered Australia on a permanent visa

General exemptions You do not need to meet our residence requirement if you:

• were born to a former Australian citizen who lost their citizenship before 4 April 2002
• were born in Papua before 16 September 1975 and one of your parents was born in Australia and was an Australian citizen when you were born. You will need to provide documents that support your claim when you apply.

Requirement of Age You must be aged 60 or older to apply without sitting a citizenship test

Character requirement

You must be of good character if you are 18 years or over. When department assess good character, they consider whether you are likely to: uphold and obey the laws of Australia meet the other commitments made through the citizenship pledge Knowledge of Australia

• You need to understand the nature of the application you are making and for that you may have to give an interview. You do not have to sit the citizenship test.
• You can bring a family member or friend as an interpreter or can book one (after paying for the service) for your appointment.
• Close and continuing link to Australia

You must intend to live in Australia or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia while overseas. You will be considered if you have:

• a child who is an Australian citizen
• a partner who is an Australian citizen and your time together
• extended family in Australia
• spent time in Australia
• a bank account in Australia
• a job in Australia
• paid income tax in Australia
• Property in Australia.

Cost

AUD180, AUD20 for some concession holders

    No cost for children under 16 included on a parent’s application form.

Processing times

Below table shows timeframe it is currently taking to process citizenship applications. A ‘decision’ includes applications that have been approved, refused, withdrawn, and those that cannot be considered (invalid).

* Allow an extra 10 days after approval of your application for printing and postage of your citizenship document. If you applied from outside Australia, postage will take longer.

** The processing times presented for the citizenship by conferral process include applications for which, in the reporting month, either:

1. a decision outcome was reached; or, 
2. person/s who were included in the application acquired Australian citizenship by conferral by attending a citizenship ceremony and making the pledge of commitment. 

Circumstances affecting processing times

Factors that can affect the processing time of your application include:

• whether you have given a complete application, including all the supporting documents
• how speedily you respond when we ask for more information or documents
• the time it takes to check the information you have provided.
• the time it takes for information from other agencies, usually for character and national security requirements
• for applications for citizenship by conferral, where applicants are required to take the citizenship test, our ability to offer citizenship test appointments in the COVID-19 environment. Client service sites in Victoria remain closed at this time
• For applications for evidence and citizenship by descent, the time it takes for the postage of your citizenship document.

Australian Citizenship by Descent

Your Parents (one or both) were an Australian Citizen when you were born overseas. It is for:

• ??????people born overseas to a parent who is or was an Australian citizen and for parents to register a child born overseas

Note

if you are already an Australian citizen and need proof, apply for Evidence of Australian citizenship. if you are 15 years of age or younger, your parent must sign your application You cannot be granted a bridging visa for this application Born outside Australia on or after 26 January 1949.You may be eligible if you were born outside Australia and one or both of your parents at the time of your birth, was also an Australian citizen. Born outside Australia through an international surrogacy arrangement

Character requirement

You must be of good character if you are 18 years or over. When department assess good character, we consider whether you are likely to: uphold and obey the laws of Australia

Department will consider:

1. any recorded criminal convictions
2. obligations you may have to a court in Australia or overseas
3. your association with people of concern
4. incidents of reported domestic violence
5. whether you have been honest in your dealings with the Australian community, including providing false or misleading information in relation to a visa or citizenship application

Cost

AUD230;

AUD95 for each sibling who applies at the same time as you.

Processing times

Below table shows timeframe it is currently taking to process citizenship applications.  A ‘decision’ includes applications that have been approved, refused, withdrawn and those that cannot be considered (invalid).

* Allow an extra 10 days after approval of your application for printing and postage of your citizenship document. If you applied from outside Australia, postage will take longer.

** The processing times presented for the citizenship by conferral process include applications for which, in the reporting month, either:

1. a decision outcome was reached; or, 
2. person/s who were included in the application acquired Australian citizenship by conferral by attending a citizenship ceremony and making the pledge of commitment. 

Circumstances affecting processing times

• Factors that can affect the processing time of your application include:
• whether you have given a complete application, including all the supporting documents
• how speedily you respond when we ask for more information or documents
• the time it takes to check the information you have provided.
• the time it takes for information from other agencies, usually for character and national security requirements,
• for applications for citizenship by conferral, where applicants are required to take the citizenship test, our ability to offer citizenship test appointments in the COVID-19 environment. Client service sites in Victoria remain closed at this time
• for applications for evidence and citizenship by descent, the time it takes for the postage of your citizenship document.

****How can we assist you? Please call our number mentioned on the website.