G’day! Getting your Australian Citizenship can be the happiest life-changing moment of your life and what better way to celebrate this than by acknowledging you and your family at the Australian Citizenship Ceremony! Did you know that you will not become an Australian citizen until you have attended your ceremony and made the pledge?
So what should you expect?
Firstly, you will be invited to attend your ceremony about 4 weeks before the event. You will receive a letter of invitation from either your local council or from the Department. The invitation will show the date, time and place of the ceremony. Unfortunately, you cannot choose where and when to attend your ceremony. And usually, your Local councils arrange the ceremonies.
Who should attend
You need to attend a citizenship ceremony if you:
- were 16 years or more when you applied
- do not have a permanent and enduring incapacity
If you do not attend a ceremony within 12 months of your approval, the Department can review and cancel your approval. The Department might also make an exception if you have an acceptable reason for not attending within that time.
Not required to attend
You may not be required to attend a citizenship ceremony and make the pledge if you:
- are a child under 16 years
- are granted Australian citizenship by descent or adoption
- are resuming your Australian citizenship
- have a permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity
- were born in Papua before 16 September 1975 to an Australian citizen
- were born to a former Australian citizen
- were stateless when born in Australia
Any child under 16 who is included on your application will become a citizen at the same time as you. Children under 16 do not have to attend the ceremony and make the pledge, but they are welcome to do so.
Unable to attend
If you cannot attend your citizenship ceremony, follow the instructions in your invitation letter. If you miss your ceremony, you will receive another invitation from the Department.
Guests
The invitation will tell you how many guests you can invite. Your guests might have to sit apart from you during the ceremony. And make sure any children are well supervised.
What happens on the day
Make sure that you allow at least 2 hours for a citizenship ceremony. You should arrive about 30 minutes before the ceremony so you can register and find your seat. The ceremony itself may take about 1 hour. Most ceremonies follow a similar order of proceedings. After you are seated, there will be:
- a formal introduction
- speeches
- an address to participants
- the pledge
- National Anthem
The presiding officer will then ask you to repeat the Australian citizenship pledge out loud. You will become an Australian citizen after you make the pledge. Congratulations!
Citizenship certificate
After you have made the pledge, you should receive your citizenship certificate. If your certificate is not ready at the ceremony, don’t fret, the Department will post it to you! You will still become a citizen when you make the pledge. But remember, your citizenship certificate is an important legal document! You will need it when you apply for an Australian passport. You may need it to apply for a job or join the Australian Defence Force. Keep it safe!
Enrolling to vote in elections
At the ceremony, you can enroll to vote in our compulsory elections. You may:
- complete an enrollment form at the ceremony, or
- take it home to complete later
What to bring to the ceremony
You need to bring your invitation to the ceremony and one form of photo identification:
- driver’s license
- passport, or
- an official document with a photograph
If you do not have photo identification, then bring at least 3 documents showing your name, address and signature:
- bank statements
- utility bills, or
- credit card statements
If you are under 16, you do not need to bring photo identification. If you want to make the Australian citizenship pledge on a holy book, bring the book with you to the ceremony.
Our Registered Migration Agents at Migration Centre of Australia have been in the migration industry for many years and have helped thousands of clients onshore and offshore. We are trained professionals in Australian Migration Law and we are trusted providers in the industry for our services. If you want to know more about applying for Australian Citizenship, whether you are in Australia or overseas, if you have applied and you have been affected by the current pandemic, or if you have any questions about your upcoming Citizenship ceremony, contact us today on (02) 4626 1002 or send us an email at info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au and one of my registered migration agents will be ready to help you.