Australian Citizenship Lawyers

Yes, absences are a critical part of the eligibility calculation. To meet the residence requirement, you must not have spent more than 12 months in total outside Australia during the 4-year period before you apply. Additionally, you must not have spent more than 90 days outside Australia in the 12 months immediately before your application date. If your travel history pushes you past these thresholds, you may need to wait longer before lodging. We calculate this precisely for every client before anything is submitted.

Australia allows dual citizenship. You do not need to renounce your existing citizenship when you become an Australian citizen. However, this only covers Australia's position. Your home country may have its own rules about whether you can hold dual citizenship, and in some cases acquiring Australian citizenship may automatically affect your home country status. We strongly recommend checking the rules of your country of origin before proceeding.

The citizenship test consists of 20 multiple choice questions, which must be completed in 45 minutes. You need to correctly answer at least 15 out of 20 questions (75%), and you must answer all 5 questions about Australian values correctly. If you fail any values question, you fail the test regardless of your overall score. The test is based entirely on the official publication Our Common Bond, which is available free from the Department of Home Affairs. The Department also provides free practice tests online. You can attempt the test up to 3 times; if you fail all 3 attempts, your application may be refused.

Yes. Children under 16 can be included in a parent's citizenship application and do not need to meet the residency requirements independently, nor do they need to sit the citizenship test. Children aged 16 to 17 have specific rules that vary depending on their circumstances. If your children were born in Australia, their citizenship status may also depend on whether you were a permanent resident or citizen at the time of their birth. We can assess the full picture for your family.

Not necessarily. A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you, but the Department assesses your character carefully. Relevant factors include the nature and seriousness of any offences, how long ago they occurred, and whether there has been a pattern of behaviour. Certain serious criminal convictions may result in refusal or a mandatory disqualifying period. If you have any criminal history, including traffic offences or matters from overseas, we strongly recommend getting legal advice before lodging. Full disclosure is always essential.

Processing times for citizenship by conferral have been extending in recent years. As of December 2025, the Department of Home Affairs reports that 50% of applications are finalised within 11 months, 75% within 12 months, and 90% within 14 months. These figures include the wait time for a citizenship ceremony, which varies depending on your local council area. Citizenship by descent is processed much faster, typically within 2 to 4 months.

Possibly. To be eligible for citizenship by descent, at least one parent must have been an Australian citizen at the time of your birth. You do not need to have lived in Australia to apply. However, there are additional requirements for people born before 26 January 1949 (when Australian citizenship was created) and for people who were born overseas to parents who themselves were born overseas to Australian citizen grandparents, as the rules around the generational limit apply. We can assess your specific circumstances.

In many cases, yes. Former Australian citizens may be eligible to resume citizenship through the resumption pathway. To be eligible, you generally need to be a current permanent resident of Australia. The requirements and process differ from citizenship by conferral, and the rules depend significantly on how and when you ceased to be a citizen. Some former citizens who renounced voluntarily face specific conditions. We recommend a consultation to assess your individual situation.

For citizenship by conferral, you generally do not need to be physically in Australia at the moment your application is lodged online, but your residence record up to your application date is assessed against the four-year requirement. For citizenship by descent, you can apply from outside Australia. In practice, you will need to be in Australia to attend the citizenship test and the citizenship ceremony, which are mandatory steps in the conferral process.

The documents required vary depending on your circumstances but typically include: proof of identity (passport, birth certificate), evidence of your current residential address, your travel history records, evidence of any name changes (such as a marriage certificate or change of name deed), and your visa grant letter. If you have any criminal history, police clearance certificates may be required. For citizenship by descent, you will also need documentary evidence proving your parent was an Australian citizen at the time of your birth. All non-English documents must be accompanied by certified translations.

There is no formal English language test such as IELTS required for Australian citizenship. However, the citizenship test is conducted in English, and during any interview or interaction with the Department, you will need to communicate in English to a basic level. If English is not your first language, we recommend accessing the free practice materials in advance. Applicants with a permanent incapacity that affects their understanding may be exempt from the test requirement.

This is a question that varies entirely depending on your home country. Some countries reduce or cease pension payments to people who acquire another citizenship. Others do not. Australia has bilateral social security agreements with a number of countries that affect how pension entitlements work across borders. This is an area where we recommend seeking specific legal and financial advice in both countries before you make your decision to apply.

Yes. Australian citizens can sponsor their parents for a parent visa. The most common pathways are the contributory parent visa (subclasses 143 and 884) and the standard parent visa (subclasses 103 and 804). Parent visas are among the most complex and expensive in the Australian migration system, with long waiting periods and significant government fees. Becoming a citizen before sponsoring your parents can also strengthen your relationship to Australia and demonstrate your settled commitment when it comes to other family sponsorship applications.

Attendance at a citizenship ceremony is mandatory for most applicants aged 16 and over. At the ceremony, you will make the Australian Citizenship Pledge, which marks your formal commitment to Australia and its people. You will then receive your citizenship certificate. Ceremonies are typically conducted by local councils and may be held monthly or quarterly depending on your area. You cannot collect your certificate or be formally granted citizenship without attending. Processing times published by the Department include ceremony wait times.

Your lawful residence date is the date from which you have been continuously living in Australia on a valid visa, including temporary visas. Your permanent residence date is the date your permanent visa was granted. Both dates are used in the 4-year calculation. For example, if you arrived on a temporary skilled visa three years ago and were granted a permanent visa one year ago, your lawful residence date is three years back but your permanent residence date is only one year ago. You would need to wait another year before you can apply, because the 12 months as a permanent resident has not yet been satisfied. This is one of the most common points of confusion, and we calculate it precisely for every client.

No. You must be the holder of a permanent visa (or eligible Special Category Visa) at the time of application and at the time of decision. You cannot apply for citizenship while holding a temporary visa of any kind, even if you have lived in Australia for more than 4 years. Your permanent visa must be valid and current throughout the process.

There is no legal requirement to use a migration agent or lawyer to apply for citizenship. Many people successfully apply on their own. However, mistakes in residence calculations, missed absences, undisclosed criminal history, or incomplete documentation can result in delays or refusal. For straightforward cases, a professional review of your application before lodgement can be sufficient. For complex cases, particularly those involving character issues, unusual visa histories, or significant overseas travel, full professional representation provides meaningful protection. We offer both options at transparent fees.

If your citizenship application is refused, you have the right to apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) for a review of that decision in some circumstances. The grounds for refusal matter significantly: if the refusal was based on the test, character, or a specific eligibility requirement, different review rights and strategies apply. Time limits apply to appeal rights, so it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible after receiving a refusal notice. Do not delay.

You can track your application status through your ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website. Log in, navigate to "My Applications," and your current status will be displayed. The Department will also notify you by email when your test appointment is ready to be scheduled, when a decision has been made on your application, and when your ceremony invitation is issued. If your application has exceeded the published processing times without any update, you can contact the Department's Global Service Centre on 131 881 to request a status update.