Eligibility Quiz
Application Process
You submit your application entirely online through ImmiAccount using Form 118 (Application for Australian Citizenship by Descent). You can apply from anywhere in the world — there is no requirement to be in Australia. The process is straightforward because you are registering citizenship rights you inherited at birth, not applying to become a new citizen. You will not need to take a citizenship test or attend a ceremony.
Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility
Before you begin, verify that you meet all core requirements:
- You were born outside Australia on or after 26 January 1949
- At least one parent was an Australian citizen at the exact moment of your birth (not before, not after — the timing is critical)
- If you are 18 years or older, you must be of good character (no serious criminal convictions or character concerns)
- If your Australian parent acquired citizenship by descent or through overseas adoption, that parent must have lawfully resided in Australia for at least two years at some point (this does not need to have occurred by the time of your birth, but must be completed before you lodge your application)
If you are 15 years or younger, a responsible parent or legal guardian will sign the application on your behalf.
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
Collect all required documents before starting your online application. Incomplete applications are the primary cause of delays. Organize documents into these categories:
Your Identity Documents — Provide three documents that together show your birth name, date of birth, gender, photograph, signature, and current residential address. Acceptable documents include an Australian driver licence, pages from a valid passport (showing photo, personal details, and issue/expiry dates), national identity card, UNHCR document, or military identity document.
Your Birth Certificate — Obtain a full birth certificate showing both parents' names. If this is unavailable, gather a family or household registration document or any other collection of documents issued before you arrived in Australia that collectively confirm your identity from birth.
Evidence of Your Parent's Australian Citizenship — This is the most critical component. You must provide strong evidence that your parent was an Australian citizen at the exact time of your birth. Acceptable documents include:
- Full Australian birth certificate (if your parent was born in Australia)
- Australian citizenship certificate or naturalisation certificate
- Australian passport issued before your birth and still valid at that time
- Evidence of naturalisation from the National Archives of Australia
Also provide proof of any other citizenships held by your Australian parent (such as a certificate or letter showing when and how they acquired citizenship).
Evidence of Your Parent's 2-Year Residency (if applicable) — If your parent acquired citizenship by descent or adoption, provide evidence they spent at least two years lawfully in Australia. Acceptable evidence includes school records, employment records, or documents issued by an Australian government agency. If you have no evidence, contact the National Archives of Australia early in the process.
Evidence of Name Changes — If your name has changed since birth (through marriage, divorce, or official change-of-name), provide official documents such as a marriage or divorce certificate or change-of-name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages or relevant overseas authority.
Form 1195 (Identity Declaration) — Complete this form and have it signed by someone with the correct authority (typically a passport issuer, notary public, or similar official). A passport-sized photograph must be glued to the form and signed by the authorised person.
Character Documents (if you are 18 or older) — The Department will request an Australian National Police Check on your behalf if you have spent any time in Australia since turning 18. If in the last 10 years you have lived or travelled outside Australia since turning 18 and spent a total of 12 months or more outside Australia (with 90 days or more in any one country), you must provide overseas penal clearance certificates from those countries. Exception: if you spent time in New Zealand, you do not need to obtain a New Zealand certificate; the Department will request it directly from the New Zealand Ministry of Justice. Penal clearance certificates are obtained from a country's government or law enforcement authority.
Responsible Parent Documents (if you are 15 or younger) — The responsible parent signing the application must provide proof of identity documents showing signature, photograph, and current address; any orders relating to custody, guardianship, or parental responsibility; and proof of adoption if applicable.
Translations — All documents not in English must be provided with an English translation. Translators in Australia should be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI); translators outside Australia do not need to be NAATI accredited. Every translation must include the translator's full name, address, telephone number, and qualifications and experience in the language being translated. You do not need to have documents certified; scan all original documents (English and non-English) in colour, ensuring scans are legible.
Step 3: Create or Access Your ImmiAccount
Go to https://online.immi.gov.au/elp/app?action=new&formId=CITZ-AP-118-1272 to start your application. If you do not have an ImmiAccount, you will create one. If you already have one, log in. You will need a valid email address and a password.
Step 4: Complete Form 118 Online
Work through the online form systematically. The form will ask you to:
- Provide your personal details (full name, date of birth, gender, current address)
- Provide details of your Australian parent (full name, date of birth, place of birth, citizenship status and how it was acquired)
- Confirm your eligibility (born outside Australia, parent was citizen at time of birth, good character if applicable)
- Declare any name changes
- Declare any criminal convictions or character concerns (be honest and complete; failing to disclose is viewed more seriously than the matter itself)
- Upload your documents in the order requested
As you upload each document, ensure the scan is clear, legible, and complete. Blurry, cropped, or incomplete uploads cause delays. If a document is very large, you may need to split it into multiple files.
Step 5: Review and Submit
Before submitting, review all information for accuracy and completeness. Confirm that:
- All required fields are completed
- All required documents are uploaded
- Your parent's citizenship status and the timing relative to your birth are correctly stated
- Any name changes are documented
- Character information is fully and honestly disclosed
Once you are satisfied, submit the application.
Step 6: Pay the Application Fee
Immediately after submission, you will be directed to pay the application fee online through ImmiAccount. The application cannot be processed without payment. The fee must be paid at the time of lodgement.
Step 7: Monitor Your Application
After payment, you will receive a confirmation email. Save this email and your application reference number. You can check progress at any time by logging into ImmiAccount. The Department will contact you by email if additional documents or information are needed. Check your inbox and junk mail regularly. Respond promptly to any requests; delays in responding extend processing time.
Step 8: Receive Your Citizenship Certificate
Upon approval, you become an Australian citizen on the day the Department approves your application. Your citizenship certificate will be sent by registered post to the address you provided. If you provided an Australian postal address, allow an extra two weeks for printing and postage. If you did not provide an Australian postal address, allow about six weeks for printing and international postage.
Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Application fee (first applicant) | AUD $370 |
| Application fee (each subsequent sibling applying at the same time) | AUD $150 |
Total estimate: AUD $370 for a single applicant; AUD $520 for two siblings applying together; AUD $670 for three siblings applying together.
This estimate does not include translation services for non-English documents, certified copies of documents, police clearance certificates (which may have fees depending on the country), or DNA testing (if requested by the Department; you bear all costs).
Processing Time
Official processing times (as of 28 February 2026) are measured as percentiles:
- 25% of applications are processed within 75 days
- 50% of applications are processed within 4 months
- 75% of applications are processed within 5 months
- 90% of applications are processed within 7 months
These figures are intended as a guide only and may vary.
Postage times: After approval, allow an extra two weeks for printing and postage if you provided an Australian postal address. If you did not provide an Australian postal address, allow about six weeks for printing and international postage.
Processing may take longer if:
- Your application is not completed correctly
- Required documents are not included or additional information is needed
- It takes time to verify information (particularly evidence of your parent's citizenship)
- You do not respond promptly to requests for additional documents
- The correct application fee is not paid
Current backlog: As of 28 February 2026, the Department had 5,997 citizenship by descent applications on hand, with 1,868 new applications received in February 2026 alone.