Australian Citizenship for Indians

Citizenship in Australia can be acquired in three ways. Here is a brief listing of the different methods to becoming Australian citizens.

- Citizenship By Birth - Individuals born in Australia will automatically become citizens of Australia if either of their parents is an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time of their birth.

- Citizenship By Descent - Individuals born in a different county can acquire Australian citizenship by descent if either of the parents held Australian citizenship at the time of their birth.

- Citizenship By Conferral - Acquiring citizenship by conferral is one of the most common methods. Indians who have been living as permanent residents in Australia can apply for citizenship by conferral method. The eligibility criteria differ based on the categories of people applying for Australian citizenship by conferral method. Here is a detail about Australian citizenship eligibility.

It is applicable to

• Permanent residents in Australia aged between 18 and 59

• Children aged 16 or 17 years old

• Children 15 years or younger applying for citizenship with the help of a responsible parent or guardian.

• Spouses of Australian citizens

The eligibility criteria are as follows:

- Permanent resident - The applicant must be a permanent resident. A person is a permanent resident if he or she holds a permanent visa and is present in Australia or has been in Australia and held a permanent visa. It is also applicable to persons who have held a special category visa.

Residence requirement

- The applicants must be lawful residents in Australia for 4 years immediately preceding the application process. Lawful residence does include the duration spent on temporary visas before the grant of permanent residency and for purposes such as student, tourist, working holiday, bridging visa, etc.,

- And, out of these 4 years, they should have been permanent residents for at least 12 months.

- In addition, there should be an absence from Australia of more than 1 year in the 4 years applicable and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months immediately preceding the application.

- For children aged 16 or 17 years old, if the above requirements cannot be met, they will have to provide valid proof.

- Children under 16 may not satisfy the above requirements. However, they should be permanent residents.

- Good Character - The applicants aged 18 years or older must be of good character. The relevant officials may consider any previous recorded criminal convictions, incidents of reported domestic violence, etc., to determine the enduring moral qualities of a person.

- Citizenship Test - The Australian Citizenship Test is organised to assess the applicant's knowledge about Australia, their beliefs and values, the democratic system, responsibilities, and privileges. The applicants need to read the resource book "Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond" to prepare for the test.
It is a computer-based examination. There are 20 randomly selected multiple-choice questions. It also includes 5 questions based on Australian values. The applicants must answer the 5 questions based on Australian values correctly and a percentage of 75% overall to pass the test.

- Long-term commitment - The applicant must have established a close or continuing association in Australia, such as having a property in Australia, paying income tax in Australia, extended family in Australia, etc.,

For persons aged 60 years, the above-mentioned eligibility criteria are the same. However, they will be exempted from the citizenship test. Furthermore, for specific scenarios, such as applicants born to a former Australian citizen, persons with incapacity or impairment, etc., applicants can read through the Australian citizenship requirements by referring to the official website of the Australian Government, Department of Home Affairs.

Becoming an Australian Citizen is a relatively simple process. Australian citizens get the privilege of experiencing a wide range of benefits:

Hassle-free re-entry from other countries - Permanent residents travelling overseas and returning to Australia will have to apply for the Resident Return Visa every 5 years. However, after becoming Australian citizens, they can re-enter the country indefinitely.

Consular support - The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade extends the best consular support to any Australian citizen affected due to a problematic situation, such as accidents, mishaps, etc., overseas at any time.

Visa-free Travel - With the Australian Passport, citizens can travel to 181 countries visa-free or with a visa on arrival.

The privileges of being an Australian citizen are:

• Vote in the federal and state or territory elections

• Apply for citizenship by descent for children born overseas.- Seek election to the parliament.

• Apply for a job in the Australian Defence Force or the Australian Public Service.

The application process for Australian citizenship is straightforward. Here is a detail explaining the steps:

Step 1: The applicants should first consider the Australian citizenship eligibility conditions. If they find themselves eligible, they can apply for the citizenship process online.

Step 2: Prepare the documents.

Step 3: Apply offline or online at the official website of the Australian Government, Department Of Home Affairs.

Step 4: The application form is either 1300t or 1290 based on the eligibility criteria. The Australian citizenship application form 1300t can be used by individuals between 18 and 59 years old who meet the eligibility criteria. On the other hand, Form 1290 should be used by individuals who are aged 17 years or younger, 60 years or older, or suffer from a physical disability.

Step 5: Understand the requirements and fill out the application carefully. Gather all the necessary documents and upload them as prompted by the system.

Step 6: Pay the applicable charges.

Step 7: The Department of Home Affairs will verify the Australian citizenship requirements based on residence and all the other factors, such as immigration history, security checks, etc., and confirm for taking the citizenship test and or interview. The applicants must have all the necessary supporting documents to proceed with the interview.

Step 8: The team will inform the applicants about the approval or the rejection of the application process. On approval, the applicants will have to attend the Australian Citizenship Ceremony. The applicants will receive the Certificate of Australian Citizenship and sing the national anthem, the ‘Advance Australia Fair’ at the ceremony.

Any Australian citizen can get Australian citizenship for their relatives if they are eligible. The eligible relatives are parents, children, siblings, adopted brother or sister, step-brother or step-sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, and grandparents.

One of the essential aspects of applying for the Australian citizenship card is having the required set of documents. It will help in going through the different processes successfully.

Here is a brief detail about the documents required for Australian citizenship.

• Valid identity proof documents such as passport, driving licence, etc.,

• Recent passport-size photographs

• The documents required to prove permanent residency in Australia for 4 years, such as utility bills, insurance, bank statements, etc.,

• Birth certificate

• Marriage certificate

• Original police certificates

The Australian Government is the sole authority to determine if the citizenship application can be approved or rejected. Here are a few possible reasons for the rejection of the application and the methods to avoid the same.

• Discrepancies in documents - The immigration officers are bound to validate the documents provided by the applicants. They conduct a background check and verify the authenticity. If any discrepancies are found with the application form, there is a high chance of the application getting rejected.

• Identity verification - The identity of the applicant will be assessed from birth. If there are any discrepancies concerning identity, the application will be rejected.

• Former citizen - Former citizens who ceased to be Australian citizens in the past 12 months will face rejection on their application.

• The motive behind the citizenship - There should be a valid reason for applying for Australian citizenship. The purpose should be convincing the officials in the interview to approve the same and proceed with the further processes.

• Character and conduct - The applicants should have exhibited morally good character and conduct while being in Australia. Applicants having criminal convictions or a history of any criminal activities will face rejections to the Australian citizenship application. Therefore, it is important to comply with Australian law and act accordingly to get the citizenship application approved later if required.

• Discrepancies in the application form - The application form for Australian citizenship has to be filled out carefully. If there is anything incomplete or any discrepancies found, the application can lead to a rejection.

• Failing in the citizenship test - Appearing for the citizenship test and qualifying with the pass percentile is crucial for approving the Australian citizenship application process. Therefore, preparing for the test and attempting it well on the test date is essential.

• Two applications within a short period- Applicants who faced rejections in the first application and applied for it the second time in a short interval might face rejections. Therefore, it is important to wait for a certain period and consider applying for the same to get the application accepted.

Applying for Australian citizenship and getting it approved can be a crucial process. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to every detail presented in the application form and the supporting documents to get the citizenship application approved. In addition, it is important to be present in Australia during the approval process unless there are any accepted specified circumstances.

After applying for Australian Citizenship, Indians can check the status of their application at the official website of the Department of Home Affairs, Australian Government.

Here are the necessary steps that need to be followed.

• Visit the official website of the Department of Home Affairs

• Login to ImmiAccount by providing the Username and Password

• Check the progress of the online application.

Australia is one of the most beautiful destinations with picturesque beaches and has some of the unique animals in the World. Here are a few interesting facts:

• The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest ecosystem in the World. It has about 2500 individual reefs and is found to be visible from space.

• While most people predominantly like experiencing the various beaches in Australia, it is significantly less known that the Australian Alps is one of the best places for skiing. Snowfall is found between the months of June and September.

• Australia has huge varieties of wine regions. It has over 60 separate wine regions found, especially in New South Wales and Victoria.

• The island of Tasmania has the cleanest atmosphere. One-third of the State is a National Park or World Heritage protected. Some unique animals, such as the Eastern Quoll, considered extinct, are found in Tasmania.

• Most of the Australian population, close to 90%, live on the shores. The large deserts are found in the central part of the country. The large cities of Australia, such as Sydney, Melbourne, etc., have the best beaches to explore.

Indians planning to apply for Australian citizenship should be aware of the do's and don'ts specific to the country to lead a comfortable life.

• Recognising the unique experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and showing sensitivity is a moral obligation.

• Australians are straightforward. They prefer to get into conversations where the language is self-respectful. Therefore, it is essential to be thoughtful while criticising any aspect related to an individual.

• Australians are found to have a humourous tendency in their approach while speaking. Consider it casually and indulge in their jokes.

• Avoid being argumentative in any scenarios and mentioning divisive topics related to Australian society.

• Drinking alcohol is very common in Australia. Individuals who prefer not to drink can stay away instead of distracting the general public.

• Smoking is illegal in public places, including bars and restaurants in Australia.

Travelling to Australia can be one of the most exciting experiences considering the beautiful beaches and the predominant outdoor lifestyle. However, it is important to consider the risks associated with any destination and take the appropriate precautions.

Having a travel insurance policy can help individuals planning to travel to Australia stay protected from financial inconsistencies related to any unexpected scenarios that are bound to happen. For example, the travel insurance plan will provide the required financial support to manage hospitalisation and medical expenses during a medical emergency.

**How long does it take for the application to be processed to become an Australian citizen?

After the application form is received, the Department of Home Affairs will take about 10 to 14 months to process the application.

What is the difference between the Australian citizenship form 1300t and 1290?

The Australian citizenship application form 1300t can be used by individuals between 18 and 59 years old who meet the eligibility criteria. On the other hand, Form 1290 should be used by individuals who are aged 17 years or younger, 60 years or older, or suffer from a physical disability.

How much does it cost to apply for Australian citizenship?

The Department Of Home Affairs charges a fee ranging between $300 and $490 for the Australian citizenship application and process. The fee is $490 for the application form 1300t and $300 for form 1290.

What is making a pledge referred to in the Australian Citizenship Ceremony?

If you are a new citizen, at the Australian Citizenship Ceremony, you will pledge:

• To obey and uphold the laws of Australia
• To share Australia's democratic beliefs
• To respect Australia's rights and liberties
• Your loyalty to the country and its people

Can Indian citizens apply for Australian citizenship if they are married to an Australian citizen?

Yes, an Indian citizen married to an Australian citizen can apply for citizenship, provided they meet the applicable eligibility criteria.

What is the Australian Citizenship Test?

The Australian Citizenship Test is a computer-based test that assesses the applicant's knowledge of Australia's laws, beliefs, values, etc. It is a test that consists of 20 multiple-choice questions. The applicants will have to secure 75% to qualify and answer all 5 questions related to Australia's values correctly.

Can Indian citizens employed in Australia based on a temporary visa apply for Australian citizenship?

No, the applicants will need a permanent visa and meet the required eligibility criteria to apply for Australian citizenship.

What are the responsibilities of being an Australian citizen?

The responsibilities of being an Australian citizen are

• Obey the laws prevalent in Australia
• Defend Australia whenever there is a need
• Serve on jury duty if there is a necessity
• Vote in state or territory and federal elections