Citizenship for born in country (Citizenship by birth)Citizenship for born in country (Citizenship by birth)
Eligibility quiz
Were you born in Australia?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Australian passport
Australian citizens can get an Australian passport, which must be renewed when it expires.
Live in Australia for life
Australian citizens can live in Australia indefinitely and return without a visa.
Live and work in 2 countries
Study in Australia
Australian citizens can study in Australia indefinitely.
They can access domestic higher education arrangements, including HELP loans if they meet the loan rules.
Work in Australia
Australian citizens can work in Australia indefinitely.
They can also seek Australian Government jobs, including in the public service and defence force, if they meet the rules for the job.
Get help abroad
Australian citizens can ask for help from Australian officials overseas.
Help is not guaranteed, and citizens with another citizenship may get only limited help in the country of their other citizenship.
Vote and run for office
Australian citizens can vote from age 18 in federal elections and referendums.
They can also stand for Parliament if they meet the election rules.
Use public healthcare
Australian citizens living in Australia can enrol in Medicare and claim benefits for eligible care.
Medicare does not make every kind of treatment free.
How to apply
Applying in AustraliaApplying in Australia
Fill in your application
Citizenship by birth is automatic; this application is for a certificate that proves it. Create or sign in to your ImmiAccount and complete the evidence of Australian citizenship application online.
Start your applicationGather your documents
Prepare the documents required for your application.
See required documentsAttach your documents
Scan and attach your required documents to your application in ImmiAccount.
Attach your documentsSubmit your application
Pay the fee online when the application asks you to, then submit it through ImmiAccount. You can also apply by mail using Form 119.
Submit your applicationAttend your appointment
If the Department asks you to attend an appointment, go at the time and place in its message and bring the letter or text. Do not visit an office without an appointment.
Find appointment instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “What should I bring to an Australian evidence of citizenship appointment?”
Wait for the decision
Follow your application in ImmiAccount and upload any further documents the Department requests.
Follow your applicationReceive your certificate
If your application is approved, the Department issues your citizenship certificate. You can use it as evidence of your citizenship, including when applying for an Australian passport.
Find certificate informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I receive my evidence of Australian citizenship certificate after approval?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Get your full Australian birth certificate from the state or territory registry where your birth was registered. If you need to show your Australian parent's or grandparent's citizenship through their birth in Australia, include their Australian birth certificate too. For a paper application, send certified copies.
Parent's status records *
Show that your parent was an Australian citizen or permanent resident when you were born. You can use your parent's Australian citizenship certificate showing they became a citizen before your birth, or their Australian birth certificate if they were born in Australia before 20 August 1986. If your parent was born in Australia on or after that date, you can instead show that your grandparent was an Australian citizen when you were born, using their Australian citizenship certificate or Australian birth certificate; send certified copies with a paper application.
* Only if you rely on your parent's status at your birth and need to provide evidence of it.
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Things to think aboutThings to think about
Voting duties
Australian citizens aged 18 or over generally must enrol and vote in federal, state and territory elections, with some exceptions.
Voting is not compulsory just because a person is overseas on polling day.
To enrol while overseas, a person must meet conditions including an intended return within six years; someone leaving indefinitely can be removed from the roll.
Jury duty
Australian citizens, usually aged 18 or over, must serve on a jury if called, unless they are excused or exempt.
Citizenship can be lost
Giving up citizenship needs approval and usually another citizenship now or later; a visa is needed to return.
Citizenship can also be taken away in certain cases, including fraud.
A court can end it for a citizen aged 14 or over with another citizenship, convicted of certain very serious offences and jailed for at least three years in total, if their conduct rejects loyalty to Australia.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Australian Citizenship Applicants
English Facebook group for people interested in Australian citizenship
Request to joinr/AusVisa
English Reddit group for people interested in Australian citizenship and visas
Join on RedditAustralian citizenship and Pr discussion
English Facebook group for people interested in Australian citizenship and visas
Request to joinConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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