How to obtain Australian citizenship - all available methods in 2021

There are several ways to obtain Australian citizenship. Moreover, in some cases it is awarded automatically, but in others you also need to earn it, since the country makes its own demands on emigrants, which must be strictly fulfilled if you want to finally settle here.

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Having an Australian passport gives its holder the right to travel and stay in all countries of the European Union, the USA, Canada, and the UK without a visa. The island's legislation allows its nationals to have dual Australian citizenship, and in 2021 people will also be given this right. Therefore, it is possible and convenient for Russians or Ukrainians to have two passports. However, becoming an Australian citizen is not so easy: you must fulfill all the conditions dictated by this country.

Responsibilities of an Australian Citizen

If you decide to obtain Australian citizenship, then first you need to consider what obligations a citizen of this country must strictly fulfill:

Honor and comply with the laws of this state;
If someone breaks into the state for aggressive purposes, then the citizen must defend him;
If the appropriate authorities ask a subject to serve as a juror, he should not refuse them;
A person must vote in elections. If he does not do this without valid reasons for refusing to vote, he will have to pay a fine of $100.

Obtaining Australian citizenship is actually possible if you respect this country and are ready to comply with all its laws.

Citizenship of the green continent, what is the advantage

For several decades now, the Australian continent has been explored by visitors from different countries. The number of immigrants in the state is huge, about a quarter of the total population. Obtaining Australian citizenship has only become possible since the mid-20th century. Before this, all residents were considered subjects of the British kingdom.

Benefits of Australian Citizenship:

An Australian passport guarantees legitimate residence in the country. Stay in the country cannot be canceled due to various circumstances;
Opportunity to be elected and take part in elections;
Privileges in job search, including positions in government departments;
Benefits for education, access to student benefits;
Social protection of the population, various benefits and disability benefits and unemployment subsidies are provided;
Australia cooperates with most developed countries on a visa-free regime;
Opportunity to obtain Australian citizenship if a child is born in another country.

Having received Australian citizenship, a person acquires responsibilities: during military conflicts, a citizen is subject to conscription for military service, participation in elections is considered a mandatory procedure, if necessary, play the role of a juror in a judicial institution, and comply with state legislation.

A foreign subject who has become the owner of Australian citizenship has identical rights to citizens born on the territory of this country.

If a citizen does not show up for elections for an unexcused reason at the polling station at his place of residence, he may be fined.

In Australia, it is not prohibited by law to have a second citizenship. Before obtaining Australian citizenship, you need to check whether your home country prohibits such actions. A citizen of Russia has nothing to fear, since such a ban is not provided for by the state.

Privileges from the state

Citizenship in Australia gives citizens of the country considerable preferential rights. Its authorities help their citizens and give them the following permissions:

The ability to vote (although these are the rights of subjects, but at the same time their privileges);
Possibility of election to parliament;
Intent to serve in a government agency;
Eligibility to serve in the Australian Armed Forces;
The country's authorities can and do help their citizens outside the state;
The Power helps its subjects in every possible way to obtain an Australian passport abroad;
Sample Australian Citizen Passport
The country's authorities help those Australian citizens whose children were born outside the state. Officials are facilitating the acquisition of Australian citizenship for the children of such people.

Who automatically becomes an Australian citizen

There are four ways to become a full-fledged citizen of this large country:

Australian citizenship by birth;
By adoption;
At birth on the territory of this state;
After being assigned the status of an indigenous person.

A child born to a mother or father who was an Australian citizen at the time of his birth automatically acquires Australian citizenship.

If parents live in this great country illegally, then their child can obtain Australian citizenship when he turns 10 years old.

A child who is adopted becomes an Australian subject if the last stage of paperwork takes place in the country.

Thus, if you have a valid visa to Australia and gave birth to a child, that is, you were in the country legally at that time, then he can legally obtain its citizenship.

Caribbean citizenship or EU passport

The most popular citizenship by investment programs exist in the European Union and the Caribbean. In short, the main difference between these programs is one:

an EU passport is more expensive, but offers enormous benefits of “European citizen” status;
A Caribbean passport is much cheaper, but it also has slightly fewer bonuses.

Let's compare EU and Caribbean citizenship using the example of investment programs provided by Malta and Saint Kitts and Nevis . Key points are types of investments, their prices, time to obtain a passport, nuances of tax regimes and boundaries of visa-free entry.

Types of investments

The Saint Kitts and Nevis program offers two options: a contribution to the country's government development fund or the purchase of real estate. Malta has only one option - a combined investment, which includes a contribution to a government fund, a donation to one of the non-governmental organizations and the purchase/rent of real estate.

Price

The minimum price in the case of St. Kitts is $150,000 with a contribution to the fund. In Malta, €600 thousand is the contribution, plus €10 thousand is the donation and another €700 thousand is the minimum investment in the property. Processing time St. Kitts can issue citizenship by investment in three months, and under the accelerated procedure - in just 45 days. In Malta, this process takes twelve months.

Taxes

St. Kitts and Nevis is a tax haven. Income tax rates, property taxes, inheritance taxes and capital gains taxes there are 0%. In Malta, income tax is 35%, but VAT is below 20%. There is no taxation of gifts, inheritances, and in some cases property is not subject to taxes.

Visa-free regime

A St. Kitts passport gives you visa-free access to 156 states and territories around the world. As well as the opportunity to obtain long-term visas to the USA and Canada. Citizens of Malta can visit 184 countries without a visa, including the United States, Australia and Canada, and live as long as they wish in all member states of the Schengen area, the European Union, and in Britain. You can compare all countries that offer citizenship by investment by their main characteristics in the table.

Applicants for citizenship

Not everyone will be able to obtain Australian citizenship in 2021, as this is a rather labor-intensive and slow process. The following citizens will be able to achieve its acquisition:

People who permanently reside in this country or are immigrants.
Spouse of an Australian citizen.
New Zealand citizens living in Australia.
Children of subjects who are Australian subjects.
Persons who came to this country through a special government program.
Refugees.
Members of humanitarian operations.
People born in Papua before 1975.

Requirements for immigrants

To become an Australian citizen in 2021 under the first category, that is, immigrants, you need to meet these requirements.

You must live legally and permanently in Australia for four consecutive years.
The total time spent outside Australia (over a four-year period) is 12 months.
In the last, fourth, year, a person must live in the state on a permanent basis, and his absence from the country should not exceed three months.

Prohibitions on Australian citizenship

The legislation establishes a list of people who simply do not have the opportunity to become a citizen of the country.

These categories include:

Persons under 18 years of age who wish to submit an application on their own;
Those who have not passed the English language exam;
Have not resided permanently in Australia for the last 4 years;
Convicted on various charges.

Among other things, everyone must be adapted to local conditions, that is:

Have a place to live, a permanent job and income;
Excellent knowledge of the English language and culture, traditions of the state;
Honor and comply with local laws.

Testing

Obtaining Australian citizenship also requires knowledge of the language, which is verified by passing a test. The nationality test is designed to evaluate a person's knowledge of the country, as well as his responsibilities and rights. It also shows how much a person knows English. Testing is carried out using a computer and is, of course, in English.

A person is asked 20 different questions, he needs to answer 17 correctly, and this is 75% of correct answers.

Testing is carried out in departments of the Department of Immigration and Nationality, as well as throughout Australia.

After testing, an additional interview may be scheduled, during which your knowledge of the English language, understanding of the benefits, and responsibilities of being an Australian citizen will be tested. Testing is carried out for people aged 18 to 60 years.

Stages of obtaining Australian citizenship

The Australian citizenship process consists of the following steps.

Preparation of documents and identification of grounds for acquiring citizenship.
Filling out the application form.
Transfer of documents. If everything is in order, the applicant will be notified of the date and location of an interview with an Immigration Department employee.
Passing the interview. You need to take originals and photocopies of all documents with you, since during the procedure their authenticity and correctness will be checked. A booklet is also provided to help you prepare for the citizenship test. It can be downloaded in Russian from the link.
Testing. It is necessary not only to identify the level of English language proficiency, but also knowledge of the history, culture and laws of Australia, the rights and responsibilities of Australian citizens. The test must be taken on a computer at the territorial office of the Immigration Department. It contains 20 questions, the answers to which are allowed no more than 3 errors. After testing, an additional interview may be scheduled. The following are exempt from the test:

Persons under 18 and over 60 years of age;
Immigrants with problems with speech, hearing, vision, as well as mental disorders;
Children of former Australian citizens;
Stateless persons (persons without citizenship of any country).

Waiting for a positive decision and notifying the applicant about it.
Ceremony of becoming a citizen. The date and place of the ceremony are announced within 90 days after a positive decision is made.
Obtaining an Australian passport.

The period for obtaining citizenship usually ranges from 3 to 6 months, but it may vary in each specific case.

The cost of obtaining Australian citizenship consists of the following payments:

Testing fee – 350 AUD;
Medical examination – 330 AUD;
State fee for document review – 285 AUD;
Additional costs for translation and certification of documentation.

Who is exempt from taking the exam?

The following categories of population are not tested:

Persons who have not yet turned 18 years of age;
Persons who have reached the age of 60;
People who have problems with vision, hearing or speech;
Candidates with noticeable mental disabilities;
Persons born outside Australia to parents who have lost Australian citizenship;
People who have no citizenship at all and were born on Australian lands.

Applying for citizenship by birth. Terms of consideration

There are several ways to apply for citizenship in Australia:

Come in person and hand it over to the embassy.
Use the services of a courier.
Send the paper through a trusted person.
Apply online. To use this method of sending, you need to fill out a special form 1300t (for people from 18 to 60 years old) or form 1290 (for people under 18 or after 60 years old).
This is what the 1300t form looks like

A person must be over 18 years of age to apply. If this is a minor child, then one of the parents can submit an application on his behalf. Moreover, mom or dad must be Australian citizens.

The period for consideration of an application for registration of citizenship by birth submitted in Moscow is 10 working days from the date of registration of the application.

Basic package of documents

Australian citizenship can be obtained if the applicant correctly, on time and in full prepares and submits a package of the following documents:

Internal passport and its photocopy;
Foreign identification document;
Certificate from the hospital confirming the absence of dangerous diseases;
A document from the police stating that the person was not involved in proceedings or criminal cases;
Completed questionnaire;
The child’s birth certificate, his photo, passport (if you plan to move with the children);
Identity declaration is a special document developed by the Australian government;
Form 1300t for people ages 18 to 60, or Form 1290 for people under 16 or over 60.

Important! All papers must be translated into English. Moreover, the translation must be performed by a professional translator. The translated papers must bear the stamp of the notary certifying them.

Useful video

This video explains which is easier to obtain: a visa to enter Australia or citizenship:

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Dual citizenship

Australian citizenship does not exclude the possibility that the state recognizes dual and even triple citizenship. And the fact that Ukraine and Russia do not recognize dual citizenship is not an obstacle to acquiring a second citizenship in Australia. That is, if a person wants to become an Australian indigenous, then he does not need to renounce Ukrainian or Russian citizenship.

Sample passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation

If a person is a citizen of the Russian Federation and acquires a second Australian citizenship, then she must report this to the Main Directorate for Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs within 60 days after acquiring the document.

This requirement came into force in 2015 and will also apply in 2021.

This procedure must be followed without fail, otherwise a criminal case may even be initiated against the person, a substantial fine imposed, or about 400 hours of correctional labor assigned.