About Australian Citizenship

Becoming an Australian citizen opens the door to many benefits to you and your family. It allows you to vote, enter and depart Australia without the need to renew your visa, obtain an Australian passport, have the certainty that your children born overseas can be deemed Australian citizens by descent and much more.

With so many benefits to gain by becoming an Australian citizen, there’s no doubt this is a worthy goal to pursue. However, to successfully obtain your Australian citizenship sooner rather than later, it pays to get help from immigration lawyers who can set you on the right path.

There are various requirements that need to be met depending on your circumstances. However, the main requirements are that you:

·       Are a permanent resident at time of the Australian citizenship application and at time of decision

·       Meet the residence requirements

·       Are a person of good character

·       Possess a basic knowledge of the English language

·       Have the intention to reside or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia

·       Have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges that come with Australian citizenship.

In order for you to meet the residence requirements, you must demonstrate that you:

·       Have lived in Australia on a valid Australian visa for 4 years immediately prior to applying;

·       Have been a permanent resident for 12 months immediately prior to making an application and not have been absent from Australia for more than one year in total, during the four year period, including no more than 90 days in the 12 months before applying.

You can include your children under the age of 16 in your application provided that they are permanent residents.

Please note that if you do not meet some of the above criteria, there are exceptions that may apply. Accordingly, we strongly recommend to get in touch with our office to discuss your matters in detail and ascertain your eligibility.