citizenship...• new citizenship test questions on australian values • revised australian values...

Citizenship

Department of Immigration and Border Protection

Australian citizenship is an extraordinary privilege which provides full

and formal membership of Australian society.

It was first defined in Australian law in the Nationality and Citizenship Act

1948 and came into force on Australia Day 1949.

Since 26 January 1949, more than 5 million people have chosen to

become citizens.

The Australian community expects that aspiring citizens demonstrate

their allegiance to Australia, their commitment to live in accordance with

Australian values, and their willingness and ability to integrate into and

become contributing members of the Australian community.

What is citizenship


Statistics

• Applications for citizenship by conferral lodged by primary and

secondary applicants has increased by 127% from 2010-11 to

the 2015-16 programme year.

• For the same period, 2010-11 to 2015-16, the number of

applications for citizenship by conferral lodged by humanitarian

entrants (primary and secondary applicants) increased by

397% to more than 21,000 per year.

• In 2015-16, 7392 humanitarian entrants acquired Australian

citizenship by conferral.


Statistics 2016-17 (to 30 April 2017)

• 105,336 acquired citizenship via conferral

• 34,755 evidence

• 15,812 citizenship by descent

• 149 resumption

• 44 adoptions

• At the end of April 2017, there were 73,375

conferral applications on-hand.

Statistics

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Service Standards / Processing Times

• From 13 March 2017, the Department began to publish citizenship processing times on its website. The processing times are updated monthly providing clients with an up-to-date, indicative timeframe of the time taken to process applications, at a point in time.

• The service standards previously published on the Department’s website were often mistaken for actual processing times, rather than as a performance target.

• The new processing times will improve client information, and provide a current indication of how long it takes to process a citizenship application, reflective of the current processing environment, risk measures, caseload pressures or improvements faced by the Department.


Australian Citizenship

application type

75% of applications

processed in

90% of applications

processed in

Conferral (lodgement to

ceremony**)10 months 12 months

Descent (lodgement to decision) 69 days 4 months

Evidence (lodgement to

decision)6 days 26 days

Service Standards / Processing Timesas at end April 2017

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Legislation and policy

• Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (the Act)

• Australian Citizenship Regulation 2016 (the Regs)

• Citizenship Policy

• Section 24 (3) Identity – The Minister must not approve the person

becoming an Australian citizen unless the Minister is satisfied of the

identity of the person.

• Section 21 (2) (h) Eligibility – A person is eligible to become an

Australian citizen if the Minister is satisfied that the person is of

good character at the time of the Minister’s decision on the

application.


• In 2015 the Government commissioned a National Consultation

on Citizenship with a view to consult with a broad range of

stakeholders to improve understanding of the privileges and

responsibilities of Australian citizenship.

• Senator the Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and the Hon Philip

Ruddock MP led the National Consultation in 2016.

• The Final Report, (2 May 2016) entitled Australian Citizenship –

Your Right, Your Responsibility, made key findings and

recommendations in relation to:

– Promoting community understanding of Australian citizenship;

and

– Strengthening the pathway to citizenship.

National Consultation on Citizenship

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On 20 April 2017 the Prime Minister and the Minister announced

changes to strengthen the requirements for Australian citizenship:

• General residence requirement – 4 years as permanent resident

• English language testing – ‘competent’ level

• New requirement to demonstrate integration

• New citizenship test questions on Australian values

• Revised Australian Values Statement

• Revised Pledge of commitment to reference allegiance

– all applicants over 16 years of age in all streams (excluding

evidence) required to make the pledge

• Integrity measures – bar on reapplying after being refused

Legislation amendments

9


Comparison

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Measure New Previous No change

General

Residence

4 years PR in Australia immediately

prior to applying. No more than 12

months outside Australia in the 4

years

4 years residence in Australia, 12

months PR in Australia immediately

prior to applying

Special

residence or

Defence

Service

requirements

English

Language

Evidence of English language at

‘competent’ level in reading, writing,

speaking and listening

‘Basic’ English not defined in

legislation. Tested via citizenship

multiple choice test

Exemptions

will apply

Australian

Values

Statement

Applicants to make an undertaking

to integrate into and contribute to

the Australian community

Applicants agree to values

statement when signing the form.

Citizenship

test

New multiple choice questions.

After failing the test 3 times,

applicants are barred from

reapplying for 2 years

Multiple choice test no specific

values questions. Applicants sit the

test unlimited number of times

Exemptions,

under 18’s,

incapacity,

over 60’s.

Demonstrate

integration

Applicants to demonstrate their

integration into the Australian

community

Not assessed (only character)

Pledge of

commitment

Pledge to reference ‘allegiance’ by

all applicants over 16 in all streams

Pledge references ‘loyalty’ by

applicants over 16 in conferral

stream only


Residency Eligibility Requirements –International Comparison

Country Who is assessed? Years of residence required for citizenship

United Kingdom Anyone seeking United Kingdom citizenship through

naturalisation

5 years permanent residence*

Canada Anyone seeking Canadian citizenship through

naturalisation

4 out of 6 years continuous residence*

France Anyone seeking French citizenship through

naturalisation

5 years continuous residence*

Germany Anyone seeking German citizenship through

naturalisation

8 years, habitual legal residence*

The Netherlands Anyone seeking Dutch citizenship through

naturalisation


United States Anyone seeking United States citizenship through

naturalisation

5 years permanent residence *

Denmark Anyone seeking Danish citizenship through

naturalisation


New Zealand Anyone seeking New Zealand citizenship through

grant

5 years permanent residence*

Australia

(pre-20 April)

Anyone seeking Australian citizenship by conferral 4 years continuous residence including the last year

as a permanent resident*

Australia

(post-20 April –

subject to passage

of legislation)

Anyone seeking Australian citizenship by conferral 4 years permanent residence*


Country Who is assessed? Language requirement IELTS equivalent

United Kingdom Anyone seeking citizenship through naturalisation At least CEFR* B1 English assessed via a standalone English test or evidence of

completion of higher education (degree)/ language qualification.

IELTS 4-5

Canada Anyone seeking Canadian citizenship through

naturalisation

‘Adequate’ knowledge of English or French/ Level 4 Canadian Language Benchmark

assessed via an English test or evidence of completion of education/ language training.

IELTS average 4

France Anyone seeking French citizenship through

naturalisation

At least ‘CEFR Level B1’ French assessed via a standalone French test or evidence of

completion of higher education

IELTS 4-5

Germany Anyone seeking German citizenship through

naturalisation

At least ‘CEFR Level B1’ German assessed via a language examination (written and oral)

or evidence of completion of education/ language training

IELTS 4-5

The Netherlands Anyone seeking citizenship through naturalisation At least CEFR Level A2 - Ability to read, speak and understand Dutch assessed via a

language test

Approx. IELTS 4 (max)

United States Anyone seeking United States citizenship through

naturalisation

‘Basic’ English assessed via:

English test where reading, speaking and writing is assessed at interview


Denmark Anyone seeking Danish citizenship through

naturalisation

At least ‘CEFR Level B2’ Danish assessed via integration exam a standalone language

test (written and oral)

IELTS 6-6.5

New Zealand Anyone seeking New Zealand citizenship through grant ‘Basic’ English assessed

via: interview if applying in person, or

provide evidence of ability to speak English


Australia

(Pre 20 April 2017)

Anyone seeking Australian citizenship by conferral ‘Basic’ English

Assessed via the citizenship test


Australia

(Post 20 April 2017)

Anyone seeking Australian citizenship by conferral ‘Competent’ English

Standalone English language testIELTS 6

Language Requirements – International Comparison

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