The government wants to implement new and tougher Australian citizenship requirements. These reforms were presented in Bill 2017 and were defeated in the Senate. However, the Government has been working on a revised version, but there is no date yet as to when the revised Bill would be brought again for a debate in Parliament.
If approved by the Parliament, Australian citizenship will be more difficult to get.
Australian values are now at the core of the citizenship application process. The government states that Australian citizenship is a privilege and will be granted only to applicants who embrace Australian values, respect the laws, work hard, and integrate into Australian society.
Here are the new proposed rules (subject to the passage of legislation):
New Australian citizenship: residency requirement
If approved by the Parliament, applicants for Australian citizenship will need to have a minimum of four years of permanent residency immediately prior to their application for citizenship (as opposed to 1 year right now) with no more than one year spent outside Australia during that period.
New Australian citizenship: English language test
If approved by the Parliament, all applicants will have to demonstrate their proficiency in the English language by passing a stand-alone English test which will include speaking, listening, reading and writing components. Applicants must pass this English language test before taking the citizenship test. Applicants must pass this English language test at the modest level before applying for citizenship by conferral.
New Australian citizenship: citizenship test
If approved by the Parliament, the new citizenship test will still have questions from the study guide, “Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond”, but will also include new questions about the applicant’s understanding of and commitment to Australian values.
The new potential questions will test migrants for example on their views about gender equality and religious freedom. The new questions will include issues such as violence against women and children, female genital mutilation and forced marriage.
Also, under the current system, citizenship applications are rejected if the applicant was convicted of a serious offence. The government now views this as insufficient. The new test will look deeper into the applicant’s history for all offences, including minor ones, which are not acceptable by the standard Australian values, such as welfare abuse.
Here are some of the “Australian values” questions under consideration:
“Under what circumstances is it appropriate to prohibit girls from education?”
“Does Australia’s principle of freedom of religion mean that it is permissible to force children to marry?”
“In Australia’s multicultural society, under which circumstances is it permissible to cut female genitals?”
“While it is illegal to use violence in public, under what circumstances can you strike your spouse in the privacy of your own home?”
New Australian citizenship: demonstration of integration
If approved by the Parliament, applicants will have to prove that they have integrated into Australian society. They will be required to produce evidence of integration, such as proof of tax payments, school enrolment for children, employment, and club memberships.
For example, the government wants to see proof that applicants who are of working age have actually worked and that every applicant’s child of school age has been taking advantage of the great Australian education system and attended school (instead of, for example, being involved in gang violence).
New Australian citizenship: citizenship test attempts limited
If approved by the Parliament, the new rules stipulate that after 3 citizenship test failures, the applicant must wait 2 years before retaking the test (the current system allowed applicants to retake the test as many times as they wanted).
As well, applicants who cheat during their test will be denied citizenship.
Are you preparing for your Australian Citizenship Test? Our Australian Citizenship Test Training Program is up-to-date and will help you pass your test first time.
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Hi,
My mother in law and father in law heat Australia but they are waiting to apply for citizenship. They don’t have to do a test because of age over 70 no test required.
I think if they heat this country they shouldn’t be getting citizenship in this country.
Happy to provide more information
they shouldn’t Heat Australia, its already too hot….lol.
If they break the law at any time while waiting for citizenship or within the first two years of citizenship they must be deported
Hi,
My parents are Australian citizens (all siblings Australians by birth) and I have permanent residency living in Australia since 1996. Do I still need to do the test once I applied for citizenship?
if I failed the test 3 times but before 1 july 2018 then I can apply for the est again without waiting for another 2 years as the new rule apply
Hi,,, I already applied for our citizenship last January 2018. Ans still waiting for the test. My wife are eligible now for applying citizenship. Can I include my wife to my application or she will apply for new application? Thank you
i have been a permanent resident for over 20 years i am now 72 and want to become an australian citizen ,i have been told by people that i am too old ?is this true?
I got my residency on June22 2018 do I wait for 1 year or 4 years before I apply for citizenship.
Am also a kiwi citizen been in this country for 7 plus years
I am in the same position, I got my residency in July 2018, but cannot tell if I need to wait 1 year or 4 years to apply for citizenship
I was born in Canberra at December 13, 1971, when my parents was working at the ANU, Canberra. Am I eligible to be an Australian citizen?
My husband is 67 year,,,he’s been in Australian for 20 years he has permanent resident….does he have to do the english test…in order to become a Australian citizenship.
what he need Australian citizenship for. get him funearl insurance….
My citizenship file is opened and I am overseas staying from 3 months. Does it matter ??
HI SIR
I AM FROM AFGHANISTAN HOW TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP
MY LIFE SO HARD IN AFGHANISTAN PLEASE REPLY TO ME
What are the criteria for the New Zealanders to gain Australian Citizenship. I am talking about people who have been in Australia after 26/02/2001. I do have basic idea only; such as working for several years, studied a course, however but not exactly sure how all that work
Take it easy brother, i’m a citizen here it is so hard here too
Hi I’ve been in Australia since I was 6 years old I’m 50 now do I have to do the tests thx
What if i haven’t have stayed or travel to Australia but want to become a citizen
Citizenship test
My in-laws are permanent resident and are not very educated do they require to do a citizenship test.
Hi
I have been lived in Australia for about 6 years, then I went back to my country for 2 years, now I am moved to Australia .
Can I apply for citizenship test?
Hi there wondering if you have lived in the country longer than 10years through new sponsorship rules (2year & renew visa, theb other partner gets sponcered etc) can PR or citizenship be applied for/granted.
They will be in effect soon, so regardless if you are a resident for 100years, you have to comply with English requirement.
It’s plain common sense: do you imagine an Australian who can’t speak English properly?
Then we should take too. No questions asked.
A fair move by the government. Kudos!