How to become an Australian citizen?

In order to become an Australian citizen, one must show perseverance. This country offers an excellent quality of life, magnificent landscapes, and a very large population. Indeed, each country has different rules and procedures to follow and respect, and there are no exceptions to this principle. When it comes to Australia, there are several ways to become an Australian citizen. Below are some options or ways to help you apply for and obtain Australian citizenship:

Becoming a citizen by birth

When you are born in Australia, you automatically become an Australian citizen by birth. If one of your parents is not an Australian national, the decision regarding your nationality is up to them. The child born to a couple holding a provisional visa cannot become an Australian citizen, but he inherits the same type of visa. If, on the contrary, you were born before 1986, the right to become an Australian citizen is not granted to you automatically.

Becoming a citizen through naturalization

Among other means, naturalization is one of those you can choose. For this, you must reside in Australia permanently and meet a few eligibility criteria:

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Have permanent resident status for at least 48 months on the date of application and not have left Australia for more than 90 days during the last 12 months
  • Have lived at least 4 years in Australia with a valid visa on the date of the application and not have been outside Australian territory for more than one year during these 4 last years
  • Proof of “ good morals ”: the criminal record is checked, not having been guilty of criminal acts
  • Have the intention of living in Australia or keeping a close and ongoing link with Australia
  • Have a basic understanding of English by passing the language test
  • Be aware of the privileges and responsibilities of Australian citizenship

Becoming a citizen by inheritance

As long as one of your parents is an Australian citizen at the time of your birth, you are also entitled to Australian citizenship, regardless of your country of birth. Even later, if your parents lose their citizenship for any reason, the government cannot deny you residency either. You will remain an Australian citizen.

Become an Australian citizen by adoption

No matter what part of the world you were born in, if you are adopted by an Australian couple, then you have the right to become an Australian citizen by adoption. However, if you follow this path, you must meet certain conditions, including the following:

  • one of your adoptive parents must be an Australian citizen at the time of the adoption
  • Australian-born stateless persons must have a valid adoption compliance certificate etc.

Becoming a citizen by resuming citizenship

If by any chance, you were a former Australian citizen, you can very well resume your Australian citizenship. The decision of whether or not to allow you to do so depends solely on why you are no longer a citizen. If you do not fall into this category, you will need to refer to the procedure for acquiring citizenship by grant. Reasons for resuming citizenship include the following:

  • you were an Australian citizen, but your responsible parent removed it
  • you became a citizen of another country
  • you renounced your Australian citizenship or stated that it was acquired in another country

If you’d like to explore your options based on your unique circumstances, Schedule a free consultation with our team today!

Disclaimer

Widelia and its affiliates do not provide tax, investment, legal or accounting advice.  Material on this page has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, investment, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. Please consult https://widelia.com/disclaimer/ for more information.

Author

Fred Trebley

Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor. After graduating in European Law from the University of Exeter and l’Université de Rennes 1 in 2005, Fred worked in investment banking in London, qualifying as a stockbroker before moving to Gibraltar to join an asset management firm. Fred has enjoyed a career spanning multiple sectors and countries helping leaders and business owners reach their full potential.

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