September 21, 2022
Australian CITIZENSHIP
Citizenship
Immigration is an integral part of Australian culture. Australia is one of the most diverse countries globally, with more than 250 ethnic groups living within it, but they all share one thing – their love for this beautiful land down under!
Become an Australian citizen and enjoy unparalleled opportunities that only exist in Australia.
Types of Citizenship Application
There are many streams of citizenship streams that you can apply for. Read about some common Citizenship application stream:
For PR Holder or NZ Citizens
For Permanent Residents or New Zealand Citizens
This citizenship pathway is available for Australian Permanent Residents or eligible NZ citizens who meet the residency, character, and language requirements as part of the application. Applicants must also demonstrate their knowledge of Australian culture and close ties to Australia.
For Individuals
60 Years or Older
For Individuals 60 years or older
This citizenship pathway is available for applicants 60 years and over who are permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens at the time of application. Applicants for this stream must meet the residency, character, and language requirements as part of the application but is exempt from the citizenship test.
frequently asked questions
Under s 12 of the Citizenship Act, a child born in Australia is an Australian citizen by birth if one of the parents is an Australian permanent resident. However, children who are born outside Australia are not automatically granted citizenship. An application for ‘Citizenship by Descent’ must be applied for.
At the time of application, applicants must be:
- living in Australia on a valid visa for the past four years
- a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen for the past 12 months
- away from Australia for no more than 12 months in total in the past four years, including no more than 90 days in total in the past 12 months
Applicants must be of ‘good character’ if they are 18 years or over at the time of application. This includes an assessment of criminal convictions, including domestic violence, your obligation to a court in Australia or overseas, your association with people with concerns, and whether you have been honest in your dealings with the Australian community.
To prove your knowledge, you must sit a citizenship test.
You meet the language requirement if you score 75% or more on the citizenship test.
You must intend to live in Australia or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia. You can evidence this using bank statements, payslips, tax documents etc. Please reach out for a consultation to understand this requirement further.
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What our clients have to say
Phil and the SMC team were fabulous! Highly recommended. Our case was very very complex. Katherine was Stateless living in a Burmese refugee camp in Thailand. No passport, no ID documents. Health checks were required outside of the camp, a police check waiver was required, an ‘exit permit’ from Thailand and so many other difficulties. Phil guided us through and went well above his responsibilities to help us with everything from A-Z over more than two years. We would recommend SMC without hesitation.
I can’t express my gratitude enough to SMC for their care, support and amazing work. My case was a complex partner case involving family violence that required many extra layers of work and support. I am now a Permanent Resident and moving on with my life. SMC provided emotional support (not a core area of their work!) and showed patience, diligence and the highest level of knowledge to achieve a successful outcome. I highly recommend Phil West and SMC for your visa process.
We wish to express our heart-felt thanks for Phil & the SMC team for their amazing service for our really complicated and difficult case.
My wife and small son were in a refugee camp with no passport or ID Card. The complications for them to travel out of the camp to go to medical exams, obtain a Thai ‘Exit Permit’ were very difficult and involved communication with the International Organisation for Migration & the Thai Ministry of the Interior as well as the visa processing desk at the embassy. The SMC team went well beyond what they were obliged to do to obtain a positive outcome for us. The process started in 2018 when we submitted an incorrect visa. SMC took over our case, corrected this error and then worked over four years on our case. At times my wife and I were really stressed & anxious but SMC were able to help reduce this stress on a personal level showing patience and care.
In September 2022, my wife and son arrived as Permanent Residents in Australia and we were at last reunited to start the rest of our lives as a family together.
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