Becoming an Australian citizen: What, like it’s hard?
G’day mates! (I think I can officially say that without it being weird)
After almost five years of calling Australia home, the day has finally come. As of January 26, 2024, I am now an Australia citizen! It’s been quite the journey – with the pandemic playing a huge role – but we did it, folks! Blue passport (and visa-free entry to most countries), here I come!
I think by now everyone knows about why I moved to Australia (and most importantly, how). While I already had some perks as a permanent resident, like the right to live and work in Australia indefinitely and access to free healthcare, I also wanted the ability to vote and travel freely and equally as my husband. (It was really annoying how we had to factor in visas when planning trips – we couldn’t just book and fly!)
Like most things in Australia – applying for citizenship was fairly simple as the application itself can be submitted online. Here’s a brief overview of how I did it:
1. Check Eligibility: Before I could even think about applying for citizenship, I had to ensure that I met the eligibility criteria. This included meeting residency requirements (living in Australia for a minimum of 4 years and not away for more than 12 months total) and demonstrating my commitment to Australia’s values by passing a citizenship test that assessed my knowledge of Australian history, culture, and laws.
It’s funny cause I was actually eligible for citizenship in August 2022. It just completely slipped my mind cause Andrew and I just got engaged and I was too excited to plan our first wedding 🙂
2. Submit Application: Once I confirmed my eligibility, it was time to prepare and submit my citizenship application. This involved completing a series of forms, gathering supporting documents (such as proof of identity and residency), and paying the fee. At the time, I paid AU$490, but that cost has now increased to AU$540.
Not going to lie – accomplishing the forms was a bit of a nightmare. I needed to submit an Identity Declaration form and it had to be signed by an Australian that I’ve known for more than 2 years that wasn’t related to me. (My dentist signed it, thank god)
3. Take the Citizenship Test: To prepare for the test, I simply read the ‘Our Common Bond’ booklet every night for about a week. I also downloaded an app recommended by a colleague (there’s a few of them available) where you can take practice tests.
While you only need to score 75% to pass the test, you can retake it up to 3 times if you fail. I honestly thought the citizenship test was fairly easy (I scored 100% #humblebrag).
4. Attend a Citizenship Ceremony: After my application was approved, all that was left was to attend a citizenship ceremony in my local council to make it official. I pledged my allegiance to Australia alongside other new citizens, received my citizenship certificate and “sang” the national anthem (It was actually the first time I’ve ever heard it so I didn’t sing it well)
And yes, to anyone wondering: In true Australian fashion, they chanted “Aussie, aussie, aussie, oi, oi, oi” at the end of the ceremony!
So, how long did it take for me to become an Australian citizen? Apart from the 5+ years I’ve spent living in Sydney, the actual citizenship process only took about 7 months in total.
- I submitted my application on June 27, 2023
- The Department of Home Affairs invited me to take my interview and citizenship test on July 17. I took the test on August 1st (had to reschedule due to work)
- I received my approval letter on October 9
- In December, I received my invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony in January at Lane Cove
Now that I’ve got my citizenship certificate, the next things I need to do are apply for my Australian passport and register to vote, (also, maybe dual citizenship?) but that’s another post for another time!
Until next time, mates (still weird?) – Cheers to new beginnings and endless adventures (thanks to my upcoming passport)!