Australia is a dream country for many of us. The culture, education, society, and numerous facilities of work make this country desirable. The liberty of Australian society makes life easy and enjoyable. That’s why every year lots of people want to become citizens of this country. However, the process of becoming an Australian citizen is not an easy way but with proper guidelines, you can cut to the chase. The process is easy for those who are already enjoying permanent residence in this country. Anyway, in this guide, we will walk you through the process of becoming Australian citizens in 2024. 

The procedure of becoming an Australian Citizen in 2024

In 2021, the Australians made some changes in the process of citizenship due to the Pandemic of Covid19. So there will be some changes in the process that you didn’t know before. But this guide will solve every confusion regarding the citizenship process. 

Eligibility 

The Australian citizenship process has a list of eligibility items. Basically, the eligibility requirements are the basics of becoming an Australian citizen. Eligibility requirements are given below:

  • You must have a Permanent Residence (PR) visa
  • You must be at least 18 years old
  • You must be a permanent residence for at least four years
  • You must not leave or be absent from Australia at least 12 months before applying
  • You must have completed residence requirements
  • You will have to assure living permanently in Australia
  • You must have good English language skills
  • You must have no criminal record
  • You have to be a good person

All those general eligibility ensure that you are capable of becoming a citizen. After assuring your eligibility, you can go for the next step. On the other hand, if you can’t meet the eligibility requirement then your application will be declined. So before applying, check everything related to the eligibility requirement.

Essential Documents

We know that documents ensure the priority of our existence in society. In that case, you will need to provide plenty of essential documents for applying for citizenship in any country. That is why you will need to collect essential documents before applying to the Australian citizenship program. The essential documents include:

  • Identity documents 
  • Document of travel
  • Commonwealth Child Migration Scheme
  • Identity Declaration Form
  • Photograph
  • Australian National Police Check
  • Eligibility Evidence

Those documents are important to become a valid Australian citizen. 

Residence Status

The Australian government declared that you have to be a permanent resident for at least 12 months to be eligible. That is why you will need to provide your current residence status. This part includes how much time you spend inside and outside of Australia. You have to pass this status in case of getting your application approved. In addition, you must not stay away for at least one year in the four years period. And you have to ensure that you are in Australia for 90 days from the application for a PR visa. When you get a green signal in all these requirements, you are now good to go for the next citizenship task.

Citizenship Test and Interview

The next step is the citizenship test and interview. The interview is taken before the test. So, you have to be prepared for the interview and test. You can take an Australian citizenship course so that you can pass the test. However, the citizenship test is only for those who are between the age of 18 to 60 years old. On the other hand, the test is not mandatory for those who are outside of the age limit.  

Fee

As we know the citizenship application is expensive. You must have a proper budget planned before applying for citizenship. However, the basic fee for immigrant service is $185. This money gives you access to immigration software services. After that, the cost is different from one to another for the application form. The 1300t form cost a $490 government fee. The 1290 form cost a $300 government fee. And the 118 forms cost a $315 government fee.

Submit Application

After completing every step that is explained above, you are ready to submit the application. So here you can submit your application in two ways. One way is applying online and the other way is to go to the nearest department office. Assemble all the required documents with your application form and remember don’t submit your original documents. Because original documents will be needed in the appointment room. 

Citizenship Appointment

After submitting the application form you will get an appointment invitation. Bring all the original documents with you to attend the appointment. The interview will be taken by an authorized immigrant officer. The officer will identify you with your documents and approve your application. If every document fee you have submitted is right then your application will be approved.

Citizenship Ceremony

If everything goes as it should be then you have to attend the Australian citizenship pledge. It is a six months duration for application approval.

Final Thoughts

Generally, the Australian citizenship application approval takes between 19-25 months. But the excitement of becoming a valid citizen of Australia this time and cost is nothing. However, this guide has explained everything regarding the Australian citizenship procedure in 2024.