Introduction
From the time of early European settlement, persons born or naturalized in Australia were “British subjects”. The Australian Citizenship Act 1948, which came into being on 26 January 1949 (Australia Day), created Australian citizenship.
Responsibilities and Privileges
Generally Australian permanent residents have the same rights as Australian citizens. However, there are situations where an Australian citizen has certain privileges which are not extended to Australian permanent residents. One example is where an Australian citizen can travel in and out of Australia on an Australian passport without restrictions whereas a permanent resident needs a visa for travel to Australia .
Responsibilities
Australian citizens have to:
- Make a pledge of commitment as a citizen
- Enroll on the electoral rolls and vote in government elections
- Serve on a jury if asked
- Defend Australia should the need arise
Privileges
Australian citizens are:
- Able to vote in government elections
- Able to stand for election in government elections
- Able to apply for or be appointed to public offices and certain government positions
- Able to apply for an Australian passport, and enter an Australia without a visa
- Able to serve in Australia 's defence forces
- Able to have their children born overseas registered as Australian citizens
- Able to seek protection overseas from Australian diplomatic or consular offices
- Not subject to removal or deportation provisions from Australia (unless they had obtained Australian citizenship by fraudulent means)
Eligibility
Apart from British subjects who had lived in Australia for 5 years immediately prior to 26 January 1949 , who became Australian citizens automatically on that day, persons can also acquire Australian citizenship through various means, being:
- By birth
- By descent
- By registration
- By adoption, or
- By grant
Specific provisions that apply to each of these categories will not be summarized here and for further details please Contact Us.
Also see http://www.citizenship.gov.au/. On this website you will find everything you need to know about citizenship and, in particular, the Australian Government's invitation to all eligible permanent residents in Australia to join the Australian family by becoming citizens.
Information for NZ citizens applying for Australian citizenship
New Zealand citizens who do not have an Australian permanent residence visa are eligible to apply for the grant of Australian citizenship if they are present in Australia as the holder of a Special Category Visa and
- They were in Australia on 26 February 2001; or
- They were not in Australia on 26 February 2001 and,
- They had been in Australia for a period of, or periods that total, not less than 1 year in the 2 years immediately before 26 February 2001; or
- They have been issued with a Centrelink certificate stating they were residing in Australia on a particular date. For more information contact Centrelink on 13 16 73; or visit http://www.nz-oz.gov.au/
More Information
The Department of Immigration operates a national Citizenship Information Line on 131 880 , for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia or email us on
If Overseas, please contact your nearest Australian diplomatic office in relation to citizenship enquiries.