Australia is a well-developed country where migrants from many other low-income countries arrive in search of work and later on, with the intention to settle down. The country has a better quality of life, a stable economy, and a diverse society of people living together.
When someone from another country arrives here, they first apply for permanent residency (PR) for a certain period. Once such people decide to settle here permanently, they need to fill Australian Citizenship Application.
If you are someone who is thinking of taking this step, this blog by migration doctors Australia is for you, where all details regarding becoming an Australian citizen are mentioned.
Check if You are Eligible for Australian Citizenship
To be able to apply for Australian Citizenship Application, one should have been a PR for a minimum of one (1) year. They must have lived in Australia for at least 9 out of 12 months. Another exception is that the person applying should have been a lawful resident of Australia for a minimum of four (4) years before filling application. In this case, one year of PR and three years of a temporary visa is acceptable.
Such an applicant should not have been absent from Australia for more than 12 months in the previous four years before applying for this application.
Keep Your Original Documents Ready
Before signing up for Australian Citizenship Application, you need a scan of all your documents while applying online. Ready up your
- Identity documents, such as a birth certificate, a photograph, a sign, and your current address of residence.
- Australian driving license
- Pages from your passport (personal details, issue & expiry details) for evidence of arriving in Australia
- National Identity Card
- Bank Statement
- Rental contract
- Electricity or gas bill
Fill Your ImmiAccount and Submit
The ‘ImmiAccount portal’ allows a person in Australia to apply for Australian Citizenship Application online. Click on the ‘New Application’ section to move forward with your citizenship application. Fill in all the relevant details as asked. Ensure that you do not make any mistakes. Otherwise, your application could get delayed.
Before you create an ImmiAccount, know that there are two types:
- Individual (for a single applicant, any family member applying on an applicant’s behalf, or a friend assisting with this process)
- Organisation (from any organisation, a registered migration agent, or on behalf of a sponsoring company)
While creating an account, enter your valid and official email address. You will receive a verification code in your email, please enter that, followed by asked details. Set up Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) once you are done with your account details. As you enable MFA, one needs six-digit code while you log in.
Ensure that you have noted your user ID and password for every time you log in. If you forget these credentials, use the ‘I have forgotten my ImmiAccount username or password’ links. Once you provide all the details online, the charge for this Australian Citizenship Application is $560.
Your application is considered valid only after you make the payment. You need to make the payments in Australian Dollars. You can use a credit or debit card, PayPal, UnionPay, or BPAY to make the payment. You receive a ‘Confirmation Message’ in your email ID once you make the payment. You are allowed to pay for multiple applications belonging to different individuals from a single payment option.
Once you submit this application, you get an acknowledgement letter, and the relevant authorities will start to verify your application. Inform these authorities immediately if there is any type of change in the document credentials from your side.
Prepare for Citizenship Test & Interview
Once you have lodged the Australian Citizenship Application online, there comes the citizenship test and interview. If an applicant is already an English speaker, the process is simple for them. This test is based on the “Our Common Bond” handbook, based on Australian society and its values. In this test, you must score 75% or more. It is compulsory to be in Australia to attend this interview if you apply for the Australian Citizenship Application online.
The Immigration authorities then generate your test tab and inform you about your test date, timings, and place. The date by which you need to wait from when you apply to your appointment date can be different. You can get such appointments by visiting department offices in the Australian capital cities or any of the Home Services Department offices in regional areas.
Citizenship Ceremony
This ceremony is the final process after you apply for the Australian Citizenship Application online. You receive an invitation letter four weeks before this ceremony takes place. In this ceremony, one has to take the Australian pledge. Once this event is done, you officially and legally become an Australian citizen.
Conclusion
When you have decided to apply online for Australian Citizenship Application, you need to be careful at every step. The process can be overwhelming at times, since the process is quite lengthy.
Hence, contact migration doctors Australia today so the process takes place smoothly.
