AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP EXPLAINED

Australian Citizenship entitles you to the same rights that other Australian Citizens have such as:

• The right to vote.
• The right to apply for any public office or to nominate for election to Parliament.
• The right to apply for an Australian passport and to leave and re-enter the country without a resident return visa.
• The right to seek assistance from Australian diplomatic representatives while overseas.
• The right to apply to enlist in the Australian Defence Forces and for government jobs.
• The right to register your child as an Australian citizen by descent.

Australian citizenship also means you will be required to enrol on the Electoral Register and vote at elections, serve on a jury and defend Australia if required. Australian citizens re-entering Australia are also required to enter on an Australian passport issued by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Please see www.passports.gov.au  for further information.

IMPORTANT CHANGES FROM JULY 1, 2007

Australian Citizenship requirements changed as of the above date and this may affect you ability to obtain Citizenship. People who obtained Permanent Residency before this date are not affect but need to apply within 3 years of the legislative change i.e. July 1, 2010. Contact us for details

Australia does not require you to renounce your citizenship when you become an Australian citizen. Whether you lose your former citizenship when you become an Australian citizen does not depend upon Australian citizenship law, but upon the citizenship laws of your original country. A number of countries allow their citizens to keep their original citizenship, including Canada, Italy, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States of America and France.

Please contact our office for any additional information on applying for Australian citizenship.

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