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VISA FOR RESIDENT RETURN, SUBCLASS 155
Application for Citizenship of Australia
Permanent residents of Australia who meet all other requirements and have lived there for the necessary amount of time may be granted Australian citizenship. Those who have received citizenship enjoy the same freedoms and privileges as all other Australian citizens, including the ability to vote, serve in the military or government, and acquire and use an Australian passport. The same obligations as other Australian citizens apply to citizens by conferral, including the duty to participate in jury duty and, if necessary, to represent Australia.
Citizenship benefits
You are also entitled to certain benefits because you are an Australian citizen.
One can:
- apply for a passport from Australia
- You may leave and enter Australia as often as you like.
- If you are in trouble abroad, contact the Australian consulate for assistance.
- vote in elections for the federal, state, or territory
- vote in a plebiscite or referendum on the Constitution
- If you are at least 18 years old and do not hold a dual citizenship, run for office in the legislature.
- you must declare your citizenship in Australia when your children are born abroad.
There are three main paths to Australian citizenship:
- By birth: If both of your parents are Australian citizens or permanent residents and you were born in Australia.
- By descent: If you are an overseas-born child of an Australian citizen, you will typically be given Australian citizenship.
- By grant: If you are not an Australian citizen, you may apply to become one (by conferral).
CIVILISATION BY CONFERENCE
For applicants who have lived in Australia legally for at least four years and are permanent residents.
EACH candidate for conferral of citizenship is required to:
- be an Australian permanent resident (and have been an Australian permanent resident for at least the previous 12 months)
NOTE: If you are a citizen of New Zealand and are not a permanent resident of Australia, you may be eligible if you were there on February 26, 2001, with a Special Category Visa (SCV), OR if you were there for a total of at least 12 months in the 24 months prior to that date. Typically, the following addresses must be met to qualify for Australian citizenship by conferral:
- have lived legally in Australia for at least four years.
- not have spent more than 90 days in the previous 12 months (or more than 1 year overall) outside of Australia.
- be likely to live in Australia or maintain a strong and lasting connection with it
- be at least 18 years old and in good standing.
NOTE: The Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) requires you to provide details of ALL international travel you have done since turning 18 years old in order to determine your eligibility for citizenship.
A citizenship test is not required if you are 60 years of age or older.
You might qualify for the special residence requirement or be able to apply for a change to the residence requirement depending on the situation.
Make a permanent residency calculation.
Your date of permanent residence is the day you entered Australia if you were given a permanent resident visa before travelling there.
Your permanent residence date will be the day the visa was issued if you were granted a permanent resident visa after arriving in Australia.
Fees
If you don’t qualify for a concession, the application fee is AUD 540.
Do you qualify for citizenship in Australia? Set up a time to get application guidance.
PROCESS FOR APPLICATIONS
Stage 1 is the application’s submission.
The initial step is to submit your citizenship application along with any supporting paperwork needed to show that you meet the necessary criteria.
Stage 2: Citizenship Examination
After the DOHA has decided that you are qualified to receive citizenship, they will invite you to a meeting with a case officer. The citizenship test will be administered during this appointment. This includes inquiries about living in Australia and what it means to be an Australian citizen, as well as inquiries about the privileges and obligations of that citizenship. This examination is required of every eligible adult applicant. The Australian citizenship test resource book, which you can study before the test, contains testable information that is used to create the questions.
Third Stage: Citizenship Ceremony
Attending a citizenship ceremony is required after you successfully complete your citizenship test and the DOHA approves your application. Although waiting times differ between local councils, this typically occurs within three months of the application’s approval date. You must take the Australian Citizenship Pledge during the citizenship ceremony to complete the citizenship process. There are very few exceptions to the requirement that all adult applicants be eligible and present at the citizenship ceremony.
reasons for rejecting citizenship
An application for citizenship may be rejected by the Department of Immigration if the following requirements are not met:
- It is impossible to determine your identity;
- You pose a threat to national security;
- You are ineligible for an exemption because you cannot meet the general or special residence requirements;
- You are found to not be of good character or you have unresolved criminal matters; or
- Within the last 12 months, you have renounced your Australian citizenship.
However, if you are in danger of losing your nationality, this does not apply to you.
A New Zealand citizen who has held a special category visa and who currently holds a Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) visa in the New Zealand stream that was issued after 31 December 2021 but before 1 July 2023 is considered to have become a permanent resident on 1 January 2022, according to the Australian Citizenship (Permanent Resident) Determination (LIN 22/103) 2022- F2022L01628. Both holders of primary and secondary visas are covered by this arrangement. The spouse or dependent children of a New Zealand diplomatic or consular representative who is currently present in Australia do not fall under the scope of this arrangement.
The affected New Zealand citizens will now be able to fulfil the general residence requirement outlined in subsection 22(1) of the Act earlier than they otherwise would be able to. A New Zealand citizen may occasionally be qualified to apply for Australian citizenship by conferral right away after receiving a Subclass 189 visa in the New Zealand stream.
The agreement replaces IMMI 17/108 and largely upholds the terms of that agreement.
The instrument goes into effect on January 1, 2023.
The Australian Citizenship Amendment (Translation Requirements for Applications) Regulations 2022 – F2022L01667 eliminates the redundant demand that citizenship applications include English translations. The document repeals Section 14 of the Citizenship Regulations, which demanded that any non-English documents submitted by the applicant be accompanied by an official English translation. The citizenship application form that must be filled out in order to submit an application pursuant to Section 46 of the Citizenship Act maintains this requirement. Eliminating duplication simplifies the process and helps to clear up confusion.
The instrument goes into effect on January 1, 2023.
Related:
- Citizenship in Australia and Adopted Children
- Australian Citizenship by Descent and Surrogacy
New Zealanders will have a direct route to Australian citizenship starting on July 1, 2023.
The Australian government announced a direct route to citizenship for New Zealanders residing in Australia on April 22, 2023.
Citizens of New Zealand who have resided in Australia for four years or more as of July 1, 2023, will be qualified to apply directly for Australian citizenship. They won’t have to wait to apply for and receive a permanent visa. These modifications are applicable to New Zealand nationals who entered Australia after February 26, 2001, and who have a Special Category (subclass 444) visa (SCV). Holders of protected SCVs will still be able to apply directly for citizenship in Australia.
Beginning on July 1, 2023:
- For citizenship purposes, every New Zealand citizen with a SCV will be regarded as a permanent resident.
- The period of permanent residence for citizenship purposes for New Zealand citizens who receive a SCV before 1 July 2022 will be retroactively 1 July 2022.
- For citizenship purposes, New Zealand citizens who receive a SCV for the first time on or after July 1, 2022, are regarded as permanent residents as of that date.
Unless you have been granted a different kind of visa, you will typically be given a Special Category visa (subclass 444) when you arrive in Australia and show your New Zealand passport. This short-term visa entitles you to remain and work in Australia.
Immigration
TSS Visa: Temporary Skill Shortage Visa
Scheme for Employer Nomination (subclass 186)
Visa under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
Skilled Employer Sponsored (Regional) Subclass 494
Temporary Work (Short Stay) Visa, Subclass 400
Visa subclass 407 for training
Temporary Activity Visa, Subclass 408
Overview
Corporate Evaluation
Obligations of Sponsorship for TSS Visa
Business sponsorship from abroad
Business as Usual Sponsorship
Genuine Sponsorship
labour contracts
Independent Skilled Visa (subclass 189)
Visa for skilled workers (subclass 190)
Temporary (Subclass 485) Visa for Graduates
Regional Skilled Work (Provisional) subclass 491 Visa
Regional Skilled (Subclass 887) Visa
Graduate with Skill Recognition (Subclass 476)
Important details and requirements for partner visas
(Onshore 820 and 801) Partner Visa
Offshore Partner Visa 309 & 100
Fiancé (Subclass 300, Prospective Spouse)
Costs of Partner Visas
Spouse Visa Evaluation