What Does Citizenship by Conferral Mean?

What Does Citizenship by Conferral Mean?

Becoming an Australian citizen is an exciting milestone for many migrants and permanent residents. It signifies your commitment to fully integrate into Australian society.

One of the most common pathways to Australian citizenship is through citizenship by conferral. But what exactly does “citizenship by conferral” mean, and what does the process involve?

What Is Involved in Achieving Australian Citizenship by Conferral?

One of the main pathways to citizenship is what we call ‘conferral’. This basically means you can apply after meeting certain requirements as a permanent resident.

A lot of our clients come to us wondering if they qualify through conferral. The first thing we always check is that they hold a permanent visa – that’s a mandatory starting point.

Permanent residents can then apply to the Department of Home Affairs to be “conferred” or granted Australian citizenship once they fulfil residency, language, character, and other requirements.  

When your citizenship by conferral application is approved, you become a formal citizen of Australia. This grants you additional rights and privileges not available to permanent residents, like the ability to vote, run for parliament and receive an Australian passport.

Citizenship by conferral is the most common pathway used by permanent residents to naturalise and become full Australian citizens. It allows permanent residents who have demonstrated a commitment to making Australia their home to formalise their membership in Australian society.

Citizenship by Conferral Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Australian citizenship by conferral, you must meet certain residency, language, character and other requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs. The main requirements are:

Residency Requirement

To qualify for citizenship by conferral, you must have been living in Australia as a permanent resident for at least 12 months immediately before applying. 

You must also have been a permanent resident for the last 4 years, with no single departure from Australia lasting more than 12 months. 

So you must have been present in Australia with permanent residency for at least 4 out of the last 5 years as this demonstrates your ongoing commitment to residing in Australia and integrating into the community.

There are some exceptions to the 4 year residency rule, such as for permanent residents working overseas, children adopted outside of Australia, and those whose partners are Australian citizens.

But in most cases, fulfilling the 4-year residency requirement based on your circumstances as a permanent resident is essential for citizenship by conferral eligibility.

Citizenship Test and Language Requirement

Applicants for Australian citizenship by conferral must pass the citizenship test, which assesses your knowledge of Australia, basic English, and commitment to Australian values.

The citizenship test is composed of 20 multiple choice questions drawn at random from a larger pool. You must answer 75% of questions correctly to pass.

In addition, you must correctly answer all 5 questions relating to Australian values. These values questions assess your understanding of concepts like freedom, respect, equality and democracy. 

There are some exceptions where you may not need to take the citizenship test, such as if you have a permanent and/or enduring physical or mental incapacity.

You can also meet the language requirement by providing proof you are a passport holder from the UK, US, Canada, NZ or Republic of Ireland. This demonstrates your English abilities sufficiently without needing to take the test.

Overall, the citizenship test ensures applicants have a basic grasp of English and knowledge of Australia’s political system, history and values.

Character Requirement

To be of good character for citizenship by conferral, you cannot have any serious criminal convictions or have been involved in any activity against Australia’s interests. Factors like past and present criminal conduct will be taken into account.

The Department of Home Affairs looks at your police history from all countries you have lived in to determine if you are of good character. Things like violence, drug offences, immigration fraud, and national security issues are particularly concerning.

However, only relevant offences in the last 10 years are generally considered. Having minor convictions like traffic infringements from more than 10 years ago does not automatically make you of bad character.

If you have any concerns about character issues impacting your citizenship conferral application, it’s best to consult an experienced immigration lawyer for specific advice. They can assess your police records and provide guidance on any character concerns.

Australian Citizenship by Conferral Application Process

Becoming an Australian citizen through conferral involves a multi-step application process. Application process include:

Need an Australian Citizenship Specialist?

We get it, Australia’s citizenship laws and requirements can be complex, with eligibility criteria and processes changing frequently. This is why working with an experienced Australian immigration lawyer is highly recommended when applying for citizenship by conferral.

For years, the team at Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers has helped so many permanent residents, just like you, secure their Australian citizenship. It’s always been our mission to guide people through the ins and outs of the process with compassion and expertise.

It’s so important to us that we’re always giving you the most current information. The rules and regulations around immigration can change pretty frequently, so we make sure to keep ourselves informed.

This starts from the moment you sign on as a client. We thoroughly assess your personal circumstances to determine your eligibility for citizenship by conferral. 

If eligible, we will then help you gather all the required supporting documentation and complete the application forms correctly. 

We’ll also fully prepare you for the citizenship test, going through practice questions and topics to expect – this gives you the best chance of passing the test smoothly. Finally, we provide assistance up to your citizenship ceremony, the last step to becoming an official Australian citizen.

Our main focus is getting you the best possible outcome in the quickest achievable timeframe. We draw on our extensive experience to identify any potential issues early and develop solutions to overcome them.

Conclusion

We hope this detailed breakdown has helped explain what Australian citizenship by conferral involves and the process permanent residents must follow to naturalise.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like expert assistance with your citizenship application. Our friendly team is here to support you every step of the way to success.