Citizenship

Gaining Australian citizenship is a significant milestone, symbolising a permanent bond with Australia. Longton Migration’s citizenship service is designed to navigate the complexities of the application process, offering personalised support to meet the unique needs of each client. We understand the importance of this step and are committed to making your transition to citizenship as seamless as possible.

There are several pathways to citizenship, depending on your circumstances, to name a few:

• Citizenship by Conferral.
• Citizenship by Descent (including by way of surrogacy).
• Citizenship by Adoption (including Domestic and International adoptions).
• Citizenship for Stateless Persons born in Australia.
• Resumption of Citizenship for former citizens.

As each and every pathway comes with its own set of requirements and criteria, our team of citizenship law experts at Longton Migration can help you identify the most suitable pathway, guide you throughout the process, review your documents meticulously, and help you throughout the process till the acquisition of citizenship.

Our service includes a detailed eligibility assessment, assistance in gathering necessary documentation, and preparation for the citizenship test. We provide:

• Eligibility Assessment: A thorough review to ensure you meet all criteria for citizenship, including residency requirements and character checks.
• Application Assistance: Expert guidance on completing and submitting your citizenship application, ensuring all information is accurate and comprehensive.

Test Preparation: For pathways that require passing a Citizenship test, Resources and support to prepare for the Australian Citizenship Test are provided, including study materials and practice questions.

For Citizenship by Conferral:

Applicants must:

• Have been a permanent resident at the time of application and decision.
• Meet the general residence requirement, having lived in Australia for four years, including one year as a permanent resident. Generally, absences totalling up to one year in the four years, and up to 90 days in the fourth year are acceptable.
• Be of good character, demonstrating a commitment to Australia’s values and laws.
• Have a basic knowledge of the English language.
• Intend to reside in or maintain a close and continuous association with Australia.
• Attend a Citizenship ceremony and pledge your commitment to Australia (limited exemptions apply).

For Citizenship by Descent:

Applicants must:

• Be born outside Australia to at least one parent who was an Australian Citizen at the time of birth.
• Australian Citizen Parents who are citizens by descent themselves have additional requirements to be able to pass down citizenship by descent.  
• Applicants Aged 16 or older need to be of good character, demonstrating a commitment to Australia’s values and laws.
• If the child is born by way of surrogacy (whether altruistic or commercial), additional requirements and evidentiary documents may apply. 

For Citizenship by Adoption:
Applicants must:

• Either adopted under an Australian State or Territory law and have an adoption order in force, or adopted in a country that is a signatory to a bilateral or multilateral treaty with Australia (The Hague Convention).
• Applicants Aged 16 or older need to be of good character, demonstrating a commitment to Australia’s values and laws.
• For International Adoptions:
• At least one Adoptive Parent must be an Australian Citizen who has lived in Australia for at least 2 years.
• Adoption Compliance Certificate issued in the country of adoption must be in force.
• For Australian Adoptions:
• At least one Adoptive Parent must be an Australian Citizen.
• The child must be present in Australia as a Permanent Resident.
• For Citizenship for Stateless Persons born in Australia

This pathway allows children born in Australia who are not, have never been, and cannot become citizens or nationals of any country. It requires extensive evidence as such, as well as being of good character if the applicant is 16 years or older. 

For Resumption of Citizenship

Some Australian Citizens may voluntarily renounce Australian Citizenship for varying reasons. In addition to that, many Australian Citizens have unknowingly lost their Australian Citizenship due to holding, applying for, or utilising another citizenship during the period where dual citizenship was prohibited. 

Sadly, many only discover they lost their citizenship after a long time, and it can have repercussions on their ability to travel to Australia, sponsor family members, and other matters.

Adult applicants need to prove they are of good character, additionally, there is scope for children born overseas to those who lost their citizenship due to the dual citizenship prohibition to become citizens as well. 

Our team at Longton Migration is all across the historical citizenship loss provisions and can navigate the maze of such changes and the applicant’s actions that may have triggered the loss, and work towards restoring their status.

The cost of applying for Australian citizenship varies based on individual circumstances. Longton Migration offers a transparent fee structure for our services, in addition to the government’s application fees. We ensure you have a clear understanding of all costs involved from the outset.

The processing times for citizenship applications can vary. Longton Migration stays abreast of the latest processing times and keeps clients informed throughout the process. Our goal is to facilitate a timely and successful application, allowing you to embrace the rights and responsibilities of Australian citizenship.