Australian Citizenship

The simplification of Australia's visa policy contributes to the fact that foreigners have begun to show increased interest in the citizenship program. Countries that have received residency have the right to be elected and be elected in elections, serve in the army, travel without a visa for up to 90 days to more than 175 countries of the world, participate in jury trials, stay in the territory indefinitely. And due to the fact that Australia is located on a separate continent, it is considered one of the safest countries in the world.

The provisions of civil law are prescribed in the Australian Citizenship Act. The requirements and norms contained therein do not contradict the Constitution of the country and define the conditions that the applicant must meet. If the candidate meets the criteria specified in this law, he has the right to count on full-fledged legalization in the country. Violations stipulated in the legal act may result in the loss of the assigned status.

Important

Obtaining Australian residency imposes on a person the obligation to participate in elections as a voter. A fine of $180 is provided for non-participation in the elections.

Ways to obtain citizenship

There are several ways for foreigners to obtain an Australian passport. The migration policy is quite loyal and gives the right to use the following methods:

• By naturalization. You must have lived in Australia for at least 4 years, with 1 year as a resident, after which you must pass the citizenship exams.
• By right of birth. Children with at least one parent with Australian citizenship become residents of the country automatically.
• By origin. Applicants who were born abroad after 01/26/1949 are eligible for legalization in the country. One or both parents must be citizens.
• Through adoption. It is suitable for persons adopted by Australian citizens and who have terminated legal relations with their guardians.
• On restoration. The status can be restored to a former resident of Australia if he previously lost it due to objective reasons.
• Through investments. To obtain legal status, it is enough to deposit 1.5 million. AUD in government bonds at 4-5% per annum. At the same time, there should be no criminal record for 1 year and no medical contraindications.

The advantages of Australian citizenship

In 2024, those who have received residency can make visa-free trips for up to 90 days to 175 countries of the world, of which 41 countries provide visas after arrival. 7 countries, including the USA and Canada, grant the right to obtain an electronic entry permit.

Australia attracts with its developed infrastructure, strong economy, and multicultural environment. In addition, there are other advantages of Australian citizenship:

• Employment. A permanent resident of Australia can work in all organizations in the country, including government agencies and law enforcement agencies.
• The right to provide consular assistance while abroad.
• Free entry into the territory of the Commonwealth countries.
• The possibility of obtaining citizenship status for a child born in Australia and abroad.
• The possibility of obtaining a state educational loan for studying at universities on preferential terms.
• Free living and work in New Zealand.

Dual citizenship

Australian law does not prohibit having a second citizenship. A permanent resident can keep his original passport if the legislation of his country of origin does not prohibit it. But in the Commonwealth, he is required to use only an Australian passport.

If the Government has concluded an agreement on dual citizenship with another State, then the citizen has the right to receive 2 identity cards. In this case, the rights and obligations regarding each party to the contract are prescribed. It is important to note that Australia does not have such agreements.

Citizenship by Investment Program

There is no direct program for granting permanent residency for financial investments in the Australian economy. The right of temporary residence is granted on the basis of an appropriate visa. To obtain an investor visa, you need to invest an amount of 1.5 million or more. AUD in Treasury bonds of any state in Australia without receiving an invitation from the government. In addition, the applicant may own a business with a turnover exceeding 400,000 AUD per year and property worth 200,000 AUD.

If there is an invitation, investments in state loan bonds for 4-5 years amount to only 750,000 AUD. At the same time, there are no requirements for the age of the investor and minimum language proficiency requirements are imposed. An automatic visa is provided for the applicant's family.

Important

The process of obtaining an investor visa is influenced by the presence of an invitation from the government of one of the Australian states. If it is available, the amount of investments in government bonds is reduced by 2 times.

Recent reforms of the citizenship program

In 2024, the Australian government carried out a reform of migration legislation. A 4-year visa is being introduced for temporary qualified workers with the possibility of changing employers and obtaining permanent residence.

The changes affected the processes of granting permits for education in the country. The minimum IELTS score has been increased to 6 points for obtaining student visas.

Step-by-step application process

The process of obtaining Australian citizenship involves a number of standard actions. Mandatory procedures may vary depending on the chosen program and the applicant's personal circumstances. In the standard case, the application is made as follows:

Collecting documents and submitting an application

The main way to obtain Australian residency is naturalization. The applicant must provide information about employment, business, property and other personal information. The information is provided to demonstrate the availability of a stable income and the possibility of providing for dependents.

The process of obtaining citizenship is standard:

• The selection of the basis for obtaining it.
• Moving to the country with registration of a residence permit / permanent residence.
• Preparation of the application and a set of documents.
• Registration of the application.
• Waiting for a decision.
• Obtaining the status of a citizen or refusal.

Important

To receive qualified assistance and minimize the possibility of rejecting an application, it is recommended to contact immigration lawyers. The identified shortcomings in the personal dossier can invariably lead to the rejection of the submitted application.

List of documents

A set of documents must be attached to the application. The relevant dossier must be submitted not only by the applicant, but also by his family members included in the application. Depending on the basis on which citizenship is obtained, the checklist may vary, but the standard list includes:

• A valid passport.
• A certificate of non-conviction from all countries in which the applicant has lived for more than 90 days.
• Color photo 3.5x4.5.
• A birth certificate (for a minor child) or a marriage certificate (for spouses).
• A document confirming the presence of a permanent place of residence.
• The applicant's declaration is filled out by an Australian citizen who has known the applicant for 12 months or more. At the same time, he should not be a relative and be employed.
• Form 1300t for applicants aged 18-60 or Form 1290 for those under the age of 16 or over the age of 60.

Attention

If there are grounds that can reduce the time of naturalization, they are presented in the prepared dossier.

Consideration and decision

The deadline for consideration of an application for registration of citizenship by birth is 10 working days from the date of registration of the application. For other reasons, consideration of the application may take up to 4 weeks, and sometimes it may take up to 2 months. Faster processing of submitted documents occurs if they are submitted electronically.

Additional features

To learn more about the terms of consideration of applications, depending on the type of visa, please visit the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.  

Disadvantages of Australian citizenship

The main disadvantages of Australian residency are that the country is located at a considerable distance from Europe and America. This significantly limits business opportunities. Other disadvantages include the following:

• The need for mandatory participation in elections under threat of a fine.
• A lengthy review of the application, depending on many factors.
• The high price of naturalization under the investment program.

It is worth noting that despite a number of disadvantages, foreigners actively show interest in Australian citizenship and, on average, up to 200,000 people become permanent residents per year.