Refugee & Citizenship
13. Citizenship: When to Apply
Authors: Staff Legal Eagle
Firm / Chambers:
Last updated: 04 Sep 2015
- If you are 18 or older you can apply for citizenship once you have lived in Australia for 4 years.
- During those four years you must have:
- had a permanent residency visa; and
- not have left Australia for periods that total more than one year.
- In the year before you apply for citizenship you must have been in Australia for at least 9 months.
- The residency requirements may be altered in certain circumstances such as for a person applying for citizenship due to their spouse being Australian.
- You must also be considered to be ‘of good character’. This means that a conviction for a more serious criminal offence might prevent your application for citizenship being approved.
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