Australian Citizenship
In your migration journey, getting Australian citizenship is one of the important step. With Australian citizenship you make an ongoing commitment to Australia and its values. The Australian Community makes an ongoing commitment to you and your family after getting Australian Citizenship. There are following three ways in which you can get Australian Citizenship
Citizenship by Conferral
Any permanent resident of Australia who lived for 12 months as permanent resident and lived in Australia for 4 years in total with holding any kind of visa. During the period of 4 years, you can be outside for up to 12 months period in total and for up to 90 days in the period of 12-month before applying for this.
Attending a Citizenship Conferral Ceremony
On approving of your application, you need to arrange to attend a Citizenship Conferral Ceremony. Within 12 months from the approval of your application, you have to attend a Ceremony.
In short, you must fulfil following requirements to apply for citizenship by conferral :-
1.At time of application and decision, you must be a permanent resident.
2.Must comply with residence requirement.
3.Must pass a citizenship test.
4.Must be of good character
5.Must be likely to reside or continue to reside in Australia
6.Must attend a Citizenship conferral ceremony.
children who are under age of 16 years can be included in the parents’ application and who aged between 16 and 18 need to apply separately.
Citizenship Test
For the understanding of the values, traditions, history and national symbols of Australia to future citizens, this test is designed.
Cost
Cost of this application is AUD $285. A child who is under age of 15 and applying with a parent then there is no extra cost. You will get other concessions and exemptions as apply.
Citizenship by Birth
If you are born in Australia and at that time one of your parents is or was a permanent resident or Australian Citizenship, then you will get Australian Citizenship by birth. On the other hand, if at the time of your birth, your parents hold any temporary or provisional visa, then you will have the same visa. You will not get Australian citizenship just by born in Australia.
There is one exemption is that if you are born in Australia and at that your parents hold temporary or provisional visa and after that you lived for ten years in Australia then you can apply for a declaration of Australian Citizenship. In this case, you do not need to be a permanent resident of Australia.
If children born to permanent residents residing outside Australia, then your children will not automatically get this visa and you have to apply for a child visa.