Have you misplaced or lost your Australian citizenship certificate? Are you looking for a replacement of the citizenship certificate so that you can have the certificate number for a passport application? Today, we will cover how you can apply for your Australian citizenship certificate.
The Australian citizenship certificate is an official document that identifies you as an Australia citizen. If you are born overseas and became an Australian citizen after holding a permanent residency visa, you will need to have an Australian citizenship certificate to obtain documents such as an Australian passport. You will need the citizenship certificate number to apply for the passport.
Who is eligible for an Australian citizenship certificate?
To be eligible, you must meet one of the following:
- Born in Australia between 26 January 1949 and 5 May 1966 (unless your father was not an Australian citizen and was a foreign diplomat)
- Born in Australia between 6 May 1966 and 21 November 1984 (unless your father was not an Australian citizen and was a foreign diplomat)
- Born in Australia between 22 November 1984 and 19 August 1986 (unless neither of your parents was Australian citizens)
- Born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, and at least one of your parents was an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- Born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986 and acquired Australian citizenship on your 10th You have to be ordinarily a resident in Australia for the first 10 years after you were born.
- Previously issued with a citizenship certificate.
- Born in the former Australian Territory PNG before 16 September 1975.
- Adopted in Australia on or after 22 November 1984
- Born in Australia to New Zealand parents. There are different requirements based on the year you are born. Generally, if you are born on or after 27 February 2001, one of your parents must have held a permanent residence visa or holds a Special Category Visa and meets the residency requirement.
- Born in Australia before 26 January 1949, and you were a British subject on 25 January 1949. On 26 January 1949, you became an Australian citizen.
- Born in New Guinea before 26 January 1949 and you were a British subject on 25 January 1949. You became an Australian citizen on 26 January 1949.
- British subject born outside of Australia before 26 January 1949
How much does it cost?
The cost to apply for an Australian citizenship certificate is $265. There is no application fee if you are replacing the certificate due to a natural disaster that is listed on the IMMI natural disaster list. You will have to apply for the certificate within 18 months of the date listed for the event (disaster).
How to apply?
In most cases, you can apply for the Australian citizenship certificate online. However, suppose you are applying to replace the certificate due to a disaster on the IMMI natural disaster list. In that case, you can apply visa paper using Form 119 – Application for evidence of Australian citizenship.
What is the processing time?
It takes approximately 7 days to 20 days for the Department to process the citizenship certificate application. Once it has been processed, the Department will print and mail the certificate to you. It may take up to 10 days for the certificate to arrive via post.
Related:
- Australian citizenship practice tests
- Australian Citizenship
- Australian Permanent Residency vs Australian Citizenship
- Benefits of becoming an Australian citizen
- Regaining your Australian Permanent Residence
- Renouncing Australian Citizenship
- Citizenship ceremony will be delivered online via video-link
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