Australian Immigration Daily News

As many would be aware, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Department is delivering online citizenship ceremonies via secure video-link to enable those applicants who are already approved to continue to become Australian citizens.

Online ceremonies will be with the presiding officer and generally a single conferee, or a household group if they reside at the same location, and are shorter than traditional in-person ceremonies while still ensuring legal requirements are met. Ceremonies performed online continue to include integrity measures, such as identity checks.

Following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions across a number of jurisdictions, small in-person citizenship ceremonies are also being reintroduced from June 2020. These ceremonies must comply with current state or territory directives on the limits on small gatherings, and meet COVIDSafe requirements.

Individuals will be contacted directly and invited to attend an online citizenship ceremony or a small in-person ceremony. There is no need to contact the Department or your local council about your ceremony.

Generally, conferees have 12 months from their notice of approval to attend a ceremony and make the pledge of commitment, however, during the COVID-19 period, citizenship approval will not be cancelled if a conferee cannot attend a ceremony within this 12 month period. 

An individual can submit a request for a travel exemption under this category or a business can submit a request on their behalf. The applications of multiple travellers within the same group/business can be linked, so that the requests are considered together.

Please request an exemption using the form below and provide appropriate evidence to support the claims. Requests may be finalised without further consideration if insufficient evidence is provided. All documents need to be officially translated into English.

New applications for Australian citizenship are being accepted.

Processing continues on all applications for Australian citizenship that have already been lodged with the Department.

In-person citizenship appointments and tests are resuming across states and territories in accordance with health guidelines.

Eligible individuals will be contacted and invited to attend a citizenship appointment or test. There is no need to contact the Department about your citizenship appointment or test.

In-person citizenship appointments and tests normally conducted by Services Australia in regional locations remain on hold. Details for the resumption of these services will be updated as information becomes available.

Further information can be found here: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/coming-australia