Australia is a lovely country with great culture and people. That is the only country that spans an entire continent. With so much land area Australia is open to anyone who wishes to emigrate to it.
Becoming an Australian citizen is a long but orderly process. However, all who follow the approach to the letter get granted Australian citizenship. The citizenship gives you perks like traveling visa-free, voting, or get elected into parliament.
Foreigners can become citizens through:
Having a spouse partner or close relative of an Australian
Anyone married to an Australian citizen, an eligible New Zealand, or a permanent resident can apply for a Spouse visa of Australia. Same-sex marriages and couples who have been in a De facto relationship for the last twelve months can apply for the visa.
The government issues the visa for two years. After the two years lapses, the spouse or family member should apply for residency.
A New Zealanders living in Australia
New Zealander who moved to Australia before 2001 are allowed citizenship without residency.
Here are things you need to prepare to become an Australian.
Table of Contents
1)Confirm the eligibility criteria for Australian citizenship
The primary step to start your journey knows if you are eligible for Australian citizenship. Make sure you have had permanent residency in Australia for at least four years.
Meet the satisfactory character requirement of Australia. Those who have had conviction recently will not qualify for the character.
Communicate in English. Take an English class if you cannot speak English. This step is essential for those from non-English-speaking countries.
Subscribe to the Australian values and pledge commitment to them.
2)Prepare Your Supporting Documents
Now that you are set, it is time to put your papers in order. There are just a few documents you should have at hand to start the process.
Identification documents
Look for any documents with your photograph and signature. The picture and signature are used to prove your identity. You can use your passport, driving license, or national identity.
Proof of residency
These are documents to prove you have been continuously living in Australia lawfully. The acceptable forms are utility bills (electricity, water, and gas), lease agreement or rental agreement, insurance letters, and bank statements. The purpose of these documents is to prove your home address.
A proof of your date of birth and birth name
You should provide your birth certificates to prove your death of birth. If you changed your name, provide the necessary documents to prove the name change.
A passport-sized photograph
You should provide a photograph taken within six months to the day of application.
Documents specific to your type of application
Every application has different merits. Find documents specific to the type of application you are making.
If you are a New Zealand citizen living in Australia before 2001, you will have to provide documents from Centrelink.
Those seeking citizens on the merit of a family member or spouse provide proof of their citizenship.
Make copies of all these documents and have a backup. Translate documents issued in a foreign language. You get an accredited translator from www.naati.com.au.
3)Complete Application form
The citizen application is made online. Go to the eLodgment system to complete your application.
The application you make is dependent on your application status. Typically, the application consists of at least eight sections. You will fill in your basic information. The basic information includes your country of origin, name, gender, among many.
4)Submit Application form
Submit your form once complete. You have to pay the application fee to complete the submission. The Application fee is between $180 to $285, according to the application you made.
You can also fill your application manually and send it by mail to the DHA.
5)Go for your Appointment & and complete the Citizenship Test
Don’t celebrate just yet. The DHA will schedule an interview to verify your identity. In the interview, carry the original documents. During the interview, the officer will verify the documents.
When you have been verified, you can do the Citizenship test. The test is to is on Australia’s culture and politics. You should pass 15 of the 20 questions to qualify.
6)Attend the Citizenship Ceremony
To receive your passport, you have to attend your citizenship ceremony. This step is crucial, and you must not skip this event.
Autobiography
Eric Reyes is a passionate thought leader having been featured in 50 distinguished online and offline platforms. His passion and knowledge in Finance and Business made him a sought after contributor providing valuable insights to his readers. You can find him reading a book and discussing current events in his spare time.
