Once you have successfully undertaken the process of immigration to Australia with a migration agent and have settled into one of our wonderful communities, you may want to take the next step and become an Australian citizen.

Applications for Australian citizenship are made through the Australian Government’s, Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

There will be different requirements for legal spouses of Australian citizens applying for Australian citizenship and for children born overseas to Australian citizens.

When you migrated to Australia, you will need to fulfil the following requirements to apply for Australian citizenship:

• be a permanent resident at time of application and time of decision
• meet the residence requirements
• be of good character
• have a basic knowledge of English
• intend to reside or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia
• have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship.

To support your application, you will need to provide several documents such as:

Three documents that all together show your:

• photograph and signature
• current residential address
• birth name, date of birth and gender
• any evidence that you have changed your name
• an Identity declaration and photograph signed by a person with the relevant authority

In addition, applicants may need to obtain an overseas penal clearance certificate, or an overseas police check from each country visited as evidence of good character.

Once your application for Australian citizenship has been assessed, if the outcome is favourable, you will be invited to a citizenship appointment where you will either sit the citizenship test or have an interview.

The citizenship test is held to determine the applicant has:

• a basic knowledge of the English language
• an adequate knowledge of Australia and of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship
• an understanding of the nature of their application.

Upon approval of your application and your citizenship test or interview, you will be required to attend a citizenship ceremony and make the Australian Citizenship Pledge within 12 months of your application being approved.

Your citizenship approval will be cancelled if you do not make the Pledge within 12 months.

Once you have made the Pledge, you will be an Australian citizen and receive your citizenship certificate.

Ready Migration, Gold Coast are a specialist Australian and New Zealand migration law practice, established in 1999 who have helped people from all around the world immigrate to Australia, many of whom go on to become Australian citizens.

We are suitably qualified and registered to practise Migration Law with the Australian Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority www.mara.gov.au Registration No. 0005207 and New Zealand Immigration Advisors Authority www.iaa.ewr.govt.nz Registration No. 201501151.

Ready Migration provides expert, professional and affordable visa advice and we offer support and assistance throughout the entire immigration process.

Call Ready Migration today on +61 (0) 421 913 404 or complete our free online assessment to find out if you qualify for one of the following visas to Australia:

• Student visa
• Work visa
• Family visa
• Work holiday visa
• Skilled visa
• Business investor visa