Changes to Australia’s Citizenship Act
 

 

New Citizenship legislation came into effect on 1 July 2007. Amongst changes to the Act are the following:

Resumption Provisions
 

For persons who lost their Australian Citizenship under the old Section 17 prior to 4 April 2002, or renounced under Section 18 of the current Act.

The only requirement for former Australian citizens who ceased to be citizens in order to acquire or retain another citizenship or to avoid significant hardship or disadvantage will be that they be of good character.

Citizenship By Descent Provisions

The age and time limitations for registration of citizenship by descent will be removed. The only requirements that will apply to a person applying to become an Australian citizen by descent will be that:

• at least one (1) of their parents was an Australian citizen at the time of the person's birth; and
• the person is of good character, if 18 years or over (Police Clearances are required for all persons over 16 years of age).

General information on the amendments is available from the Department’s citizenship website at: http://www.citizenship.gov.au