Australian Citizenship Law Changes (effective April 20 2017)

appledeuce · April 2017

Major changes:

1. Need to be a Permanent Resident for at least 4 years before applying (originally 1 year)
2. Harder English test component (reading writing speaking)

Nakakalungkot. I'm affected. Eligible na dapat ako next year, but given the changes, I will have to wait for 2.5 more years.

http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Citi/am-i-eligible

The Australian Government is strengthening the requirements to become an Australian citizen. This includes:

Increasing the general residence requirement, which means an applicant for Australian citizenship will need to demonstrate a minimum of four years permanent residence immediately prior to their application for citizenship
Introducing an English language test, which means applicants will need to demonstrate competent English language listening, speaking, reading and writing skills before being able to sit the citizenship test
Strengthening the Australian Values Statement to include reference to allegiance to Australia and require applicants to make an undertaking to integrate into and contribute to the Australian community
Strengthening the test for Australian citizenship through the addition of new test questions about Australian values, and the privileges and responsibilities of Australian citizenship
Introducing a requirement for applicants to demonstrate their integration into the Australian community
Strengthening the Pledge of commitment as a citizen of the Commonwealth of Australia in the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 to refer to allegiance to Australia; and extending the requirement for individuals aged 16 years and over to make the Pledge to all streams of citizenship by application, including citizenship by descent, adoption and resumption.

snooky · May 2017

As far as I know, and I'm right because when I arrive in oz in 2011 as PR , the immigration policy is already 4 years before you can apply for citizenship. Why and where did you get this 1 year changes just lately.

Cassey · May 2017

@snooky The recent proposal (Apr 20, 2017) for citizenship eligibility is that the applicant needs to hold a PR VISA FOR 4YRS before one can apply while the old requirement for citizenship application is to hold a minimum of 1 YR PR VISA plus 3yrs on other visas.

snooky · May 2017

@Cassey I understand what you mean now that the changes affects those who came to the country not on a PR visa. I can see also that having PR on the first place is now an advantage against other visa with respect to citizenship timeline. To be fair as Australia way of saying it , it is harder to get a PR visa than a working visa so its only fare that the game has changed.I apologise Kung may tinamaan ako but I didn't change the rules it's just because life here in oz is getting harder and I guess it's the government way of controlling the no. of applicants who wish to become citizen.Again I sympathise those who are affected but in the end you will realise it's for the benefit of every Australian citizen.

MissOZdreamer · May 2017

@snooky hello. Bakit mo po nasabi na life there in OZ now is getting harder? Ano po mga factors ang naging mahirap now? Thanks po

snooky · May 2017

@MissOZdreamer, Factors are different on everyone of us but is related to your stability of employment, age and health, cost of living and cost of your house mortgage, how many are working in the family, ano paba, cost of education, transportation cost pa cguro at isama mona insurance kasi almost all needs to be insured kung gusto mo peace of mind. After all the cost and you are able to save at least 20 percent of your pay salary, medyo life is easy but if less than that then life is getting harder. Again overall, look at the news and it will also give you an idea what is happening around you, i mean locally not around the world.

bagong_salta · July 2017

@MissOZdreamer

tumataas yung cost of living at yung sahod di naman masyado nagbabago. yung real estate pa masyadong nagtataas na. kaya madaming nahihirapan din. di porket asa abroad maginhawa na buhay.

http://www.auscitizenshiptest.com - mock exams

MissOZdreamer · July 2017

@snooky @bagong_salta thanks sa info. Very helpful po ito esp sa min na nangangarap makapunta sa aus. God bless

appledeuce · August 2017

snooky said:
@Cassey I understand what you mean now that the changes affects those who came to the country not on a PR visa. I can see also that having PR on the first place is now an advantage against other visa with respect to citizenship timeline. To be fair as Australia way of saying it , it is harder to get a PR visa than a working visa so its only fare that the game has changed.I apologise Kung may tinamaan ako but I didn't change the rules it's just because life here in oz is getting harder and I guess it's the government way of controlling the no. of applicants who wish to become citizen.Again I sympathise those who are affected but in the end you will realise it's for the benefit of every Australian citizen.

No it doesn't only affect those who came to the country not on a PR visa. It affects everyone.

fgs · August 2017

To those who are also applying for PR visa, be very quick because there is an ongoing consultation paper released by DIBP on visa simplication. One recommendation is no more direct PR visa grant. All will go through temporary/provisional visa for a minimum of 2 years to be eligible to apply a PR visa.

appledeuce · January 2018

Fortunately, the legislation won't be in effect until 1 July 2018. Makakahabol pa! Haha. To everyone who's eligible and wants to apply for citizenship, do it before July 1!

marimari · January 2018

Hello i thought these changes were blocked already?..

Cassey · January 2018

@fgs Any updates with this non-direct PR grants? Pahirap ng pahirap.

Cassey · January 2018

@marimari May mga amendments dun sa Bill which will take into place by July of this year pero it’s still subject to the passage of legislation. Most likely, parang last year lang siguro yung mangyayari na frozen lahat ng citizenship applications na pumasok ng April 20.

marimari · January 2018

Aaaah.. thanks po! Akala ko totally nang blocked.. hehe! Sana di na ituloy yung ammendment. Affected kasi ako sa no. Of years ng permanent resident visa.. i’ve been in au for almost 3 years and hopefully ma-grant ung PR visa namin this year..

Cassey · January 2018

@marimari Unfortunately, hindi pa totally naabolish. Anyway, there’s still something good to look forward to, yung PR Visa niyo. I hope you get it this year. All the best!

mhej · March 2018

Hello PinoyAU folks - Eligible na kami ni partner mag apply for AU Citizenship this month. We were looking at the requirements, and sa unang requirement pa lang, medyo alanganin na, UNLESS mali pagkakaintindi ko. Which is why I'm seeking your advise and comments.

Ito po ang requirement:

•Three documents that all together show your:
◦photograph and signature
◦current residential address
◦birth name, date of birth and gender.

My understanding is that this means one of 2 things:

1. 3 IDs that show ALL the details required per ID.
2. 3 IDs that show AT LEAST 1 of the details required per ID.

If #1, anong klaseng ID po kaya yun? My NSW Driver's Licence does not show my gender, so hindi na pwede yun. Also, wala na akong alam na ID na available that shows all of those requirements.

If #2, other than Driver's Licence and Passport, ano pa pong ID ang acceptable? Pwede po ba yung RSA card or yung NSW photo ID lang?

Thanks sa mga sasagot po!

appledeuce · March 2018

mhej said:
Hello PinoyAU folks - Eligible na kami ni partner mag apply for AU Citizenship this month. We were looking at the requirements, and sa unang requirement pa lang, medyo alanganin na, UNLESS mali pagkakaintindi ko. Which is why I'm seeking your advise and comments.

Ito po ang requirement:

•Three documents that all together show your:
◦photograph and signature
◦current residential address
◦birth name, date of birth and gender.

My understanding is that this means one of 2 things:

1. 3 IDs that show ALL the details required per ID.
2. 3 IDs that show AT LEAST 1 of the details required per ID.

If #1, anong klaseng ID po kaya yun? My NSW Driver's Licence does not show my gender, so hindi na pwede yun. Also, wala na akong alam na ID na available that shows all of those requirements.

If #2, other than Driver's Licence and Passport, ano pa pong ID ang acceptable? Pwede po ba yung RSA card or yung NSW photo ID lang?

Thanks sa mga sasagot po!

My understanding is (2) - three docs that collectively show all 3 details required. Your passport should take care of "photograph and signature". Your NSW driver's lincense should take care of "current residential address" (well, hopefully). Your birth certificate should take care of "birth name, date of birth and gender". Hope this helps. Good luck!