Services provided by NASC

Click here to fill the Assessment form

Australian Citizenship

Checking your eligibility
Bring the following documents to pay the fee
Attend a short interview
Citizenship ceremony

The Australian Government extends an invitation to all eligible permanent residents living in Australia to become Citizens.
This website will give you the information you need to become an Australian Citizen, and will help you to complete your application. Although Citizenship is a serious commitment, the process is simpler than you think.

To become an Australian citizen you need to follow a few simple steps:


Checking your eligibility
If you're a permanent resident, and you've lived in Australia for two or more years you may be eligible to apply for Citizenship by grant.

You are eligible if you can answer yes to all of the following questions:

• Are you a permanent resident?
• Have you been present in Australia as a permanent resident for two years in the previous five years, including for twelve months in the past two years?
• Are you of good character?
• Do you have a basic knowledge of English? (This requirement won't apply if you are aged 50 or over)
• Do you have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of being an Australian Citizen? (This requirement won't apply if you are aged 60 or over)
• Do you intend to live in, or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia?

Bring the following documents to pay the fee

• Your birth certificate
• The passport or travel documents you had when you came to Australia
• Any other passports or travel documents you have
• Evidence of your permanent residence
• Proof of any changes of name
• For proof of identity, you'll also need a current passport sized photo, signed by an authorized person who isn't a family member, and who has known you for at least one year.
  
  Authorized people include employees in a number of professional and other occupations. See the application form for details.

If you don't have all the documents you need to complete your application form, or need any other help to finalize it, call the Citizenship Information Line on 131 880.

We will lodge at Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

Make sure you have all your personal papers with you when you put in your application.

You'll also need to pay the application fee of $120. There is a $20 confessional fee for people who receive certain social security or Veteran's Affairs pensions.

There is no charge for citizenship for:

• Former British child migrants who came to Australia between 22 September 1947 and 31 December 1967 under the British child migrant scheme; and
• Persons who have served in the Australian Defense Force for a period of no less than three months.

Charges can differ depending on the nature of your application.

Attend a short interview
If you're applying for Citizenship you'll need to attend a short interview, unless you're under the age of 16.

If you put in your application in person, you may be interviewed then, or you might be asked to come back later for an interview. If you live outside a capital city, you may be able to have your interview at an Australia Post office.

At the interview, Department staff will:

• Look over your application form and personal documents to make sure they are complete
• Ask you about the responsibilities and privileges of Australian Citizenship and assess whether you can speak and understand basic English
• After your interview, the Department will write to you about whether your application has been approved. Most applications are processed in 30 days.
• Once your application has been approved, you'll be scheduled to attend a Citizenship ceremony held by your local government council. It may take up to a few months, depending on where you live. If you have an urgent need to attend a ceremony more quickly, the Department may be able to make special arrangements for you.

Citizenship ceremony
Everyone needs to attend a Citizenship ceremony, except for children under 16 who are of course welcome.

Most ceremonies are held at the local town hall or another civic building and are usually presided over by the local Mayor. You'll get a letter from the Department or your local government council to tell you when and where your ceremony will be held.

Citizenship ceremonies are warm, friendly events where you celebrate becoming an Australian Citizen. You might want to invite your family and friends to be part of this important step you're taking, and to celebrate your Citizenship with you.

The Citizenship ceremony will legally formalize your Citizenship and welcome you as a new Australian Citizen. You become a Citizen at your ceremony when you make the Australian Citizenship pledge.
Making the pledge is a moving, important part of the Citizenship ceremony.

The pledge reads:

From this time forward, under God*,
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
whose Democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect,
and whose laws I will uphold and obey.

*New Citizens can choose to take the pledge in the form of an oath, which includes the words 'under God', or in the form of an affirmation, which does not.

Once you've made the pledge you will be given your certificate of Australian Citizenship. The Certificate is provided to all new Citizens as legal proof of their Australian Citizenship. You'll also be able to complete an electoral enrolment form which registers you on the electoral roll and allows you to vote.