New Changes to Australian Citizenship Residence Requirements from July 2018.
Subject to the passage of legislation in 2018:
THIS LAW WAS NOT PASSED in 2018, but may be considered again in 2020
New requirements for Australian citizenship will come into effect on 1 July 2018, and applicants may be affected, depending on their date of application.
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- If you apply before 1 July 2018 (subject to the passage of legislation), your application will be assessed against the current eligibility criteria.
- If you apply on or after 1 July 2018 (subject to the passage of legislation), your application will be assessed against the new requirements.
The Changes Include:
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- Applicants for Australian citizenship will need to have a minimum of four years permanent residence immediately prior to their application for citizenship with no more than one year spent outside Australia during that period.
This makes no real difference to someone arriving on a PR, such as a skilled visa holder and their spouse, who do those 4 years on a PR anyway.
But it is a big difference to the spouse of an Australian who may have to wait 7 years or so. (ie: all the time on the 1st Stage Partner visa (820/309) and 4 years after the final stage of that visa (801/100) has been granted. - Applicants will need to demonstrate modest level English language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) before applying for citizenship.
- Applicants will need to demonstrate their integration into the Australian community.
- Applicants will need to agree to a stronger pledge of allegiance to Australia.
- Applicants for Australian citizenship will need to have a minimum of four years permanent residence immediately prior to their application for citizenship with no more than one year spent outside Australia during that period.
Example Citizenship timelines of a person committed to being a partner to an Australian:.
Prospective Marriage visa Route:
June 2015: Apply for Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)
Feb 2016: Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) Granted
Feb 2016: Arrive in Australia on Prospective Marriage visa
May 2016: Apply for Partner Visa (subclass 820 and 801)
Aug 2016: Partner Visa 1st stage (subclass 820) Granted
… Must now wait 2 years from application date…
May 2018: Submit confirmation of ongoing relationship.
May 2019: Partner Visa 2nd Stage (subclass 801) Grant
May 2023: Allowed to apply for Citizenship, after living with Australian partner, for just over 8 years, with 7 years in Australia, and having applied for Permanent Residency 7 years earlier.
Direct Partner Visa Route:
May 2016: Apply for Partner Visa (subclass 820 and 801)
May 2017: Partner Visa 1st stage (subclass 820) Granted
… Must now wait 2 years from application date…
May 2018: Submit confirmation of ongoing relationship.
May 2019: Partner Visa 2nd Stage (subclass 801) Grant
May 2023: Allowed to apply for Citizenship, after living with Australian partner, in Australia for just over 7 years, and having applied for Permanent Residency 7 years earlier.
Example Citizenship timelines of an Immigrant with no ties to Australia:.
May 2016: Apply for Permanent Residency as a partner of a Skilled Visa Applicant
Dec 2016: Skilled Visa Granted (189 skilled visa grants are estimated at between 5 and 8 months)
Dec 2016: Move to Australia
Dec 2020: Allowed to apply for Citizenship, after living in Australia for 4 years.
Sources: www.homeaffairs.gov.au
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