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Permanent residents who meet the residency and other requirements can apply for Australian citizenship. Once granted, they have the same rights (voting, working in government or defence, using an Australian passport) and responsibilities (jury duty, defending Australia) as other citizens.
If you are born in Australia and one or both of your parents is an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia.
If you are the child of an Australian citizen but you are born overseas, you will generally be granted Australian citizenship.
If you are a non-citizen of Australia you can apply to become an Australian citizen (by conferral) after having held your Permanent Visa. Criteria apply.
The first step is to lodge your citizenship application, along with any supporting documents required to demonstrate that you satisfy the relevant requirements.
If eligible, you’ll meet a case officer to sit the citizenship test (18-60 years old only). The test, based on the official resource book, covers Australian rights, responsibilities, and life in Australia. All adult applicants must take it.
Once your test is passed and your application approved, you must attend a citizenship ceremony, usually within three months, where you take the Australian Citizenship Pledge. All eligible adults are required to attend, with very few exceptions.
Apply for an Australian passport, leave and re-enter Australia without applying for a resident return visa.
If you’re not an Australian citizen you cannot apply nor work for public or government jobs.
Register as Australian citizens by descent any of your children born overseas after you become an Australian citizen
By becoming an Australian Citizen, you get the right and obligation of vote and to elect members of Parliament.