What does Australian Citizenship by Conferral Mean?

Anybody from around the world can apply for a visa to live in Australia. Applicants who are young and intelligent, with a fair degree of qualification and skill and a good level of proficiency in the English language are usually invited and preferred as they are the ones who can help in the nation building process. Though the maximum age limit for applicants is 45 years, and the points support the highly to medium skilled professionals, there are about 130 various visas from which the applicants can choose to suit their eligibility. The most probable applicants who have the highest chances of reaching their points for eligibility to be invited to lodge their application for a visa to Australia. Moreover, those citizens who have are Permanent Residents are usually conferred with the Australian Citizenship. All the specifications must be satisfied, before the Australian Citizenship is conferred on the individual.

A citizen acquires Australian Citizenship by Conferral method when:

• The citizen is aged 18 years of age or above.
• The citizen has been a permanent of Australia for a minimum of one year.
• The citizen has lived in Australia for the last four years at least.
• The Citizen has not lived outside of Australia for a year in the last four years.
• The Citizen has not lived outside of Australia for more than 90 days in the last 12 months.
• The citizen may have the number of years waived in case the spouse is already an Australian citizen.
• Knowledge of both spoken and written English is mandatory for the visa application to be considered.
• The citizen has exhibit a good character.
• The citizen is likely to continue maintaining cordial connection with Australia.
• The citizen must make the application for Australian Citizenship by Conferral in its specific application form.

Implications of Australian Citizenship by Conferral

• The individuals who have been conferred the Australian Citizenship enjoy the same privileges and rights as any other citizen of Australia.
• They are conferred with the right to vote and enjoy the privileges that the Australian Passport offers.
• They also have the right to serve in the judicial system and the defense of the country.
• The individuals who have been conferred the Australian Citizenship have the same duties and responsibilities towards the country as other citizens of Australia.

When Does Australian Citizenship by Conferral Take Place?

The conferral takes place after a long process of verification and validation of the applicant’s documents and other certificates. The Department of Immigration & Citizenship processes the application and is satisfied that all the requirements for citizenship are met. The applicant is then asked to undertake a Citizenship Test at a pre-determined date for the Citizenship Appointment The test evaluates the applicant knowledge of Australia, its people, its customs and beliefs and its democracy. The rights and duties of an Australian Citizen is tested to gauge the knowledge of the applicant on the same. The questions also relate to the life in Australia, and the implications of being an Australian Citizen. Once the applicant successfully passes the Citizenship test, the application is then approved and a date is then informed to the applicant by the members of the local council, to attend the citizenship ceremony for the Australian Citizenship by Conferral. The date for the conferral is usually within three months of the approval coming through. The applicant will then have to make the Australian Citizenship Pledge and thereby, accept the richness and high quality life that Australia offers to its citizens.