Designated Area Migration Agreements.

Ways to become an Australian citizen

You can attain Australian citizenship in various ways. However, you must meet all the outlined criteria before you apply. Speak to ACET’s MARA-registered agents in Darwin to learn about the benefits of becoming a citizen of the country. Education aspirants immediately become eligible for financial assistance. Besides, you also get to apply for public service jobs or the defence force and receive consular assistance from diplomatic representatives.

Conferral

This applies to all permanent residents, including special category visa holders from New Zealand. Individuals must be between 18 and 59 years old, and children 15 years and younger must apply along with a responsible parent. Refugees or humanitarian migrants and Commonwealth Child Migration Scheme migrants may be eligible for this category. Conferral can also be used by people over 60 and fall under the above brackets.

Descent

If you were born overseas to parents who are Australian citizens, then you obtain citizenship by descent.

Benefits and privileges

• As a citizen, you are meant to obey the laws of the country and get to vote in federal and state elections.
• You can apply for an Australian passport, enter the country freely, and stay indefinitely.
• Long queues at the immigration counter can be eliminated.
• The Consular Emergency Centre also supports you when you are overseas in case of an accident, hospitalisation or if you have been involved in a serious crime.
• You get visa-free travel to around 181 countries with an Australian passport. This means you have the freedom to travel wherever you want around the world. Furthermore, you don’t face any risks of deportation, nor do you have to renew your documents every five years, which is common for permanent residency holders.
• Avail of the HECS-HELP loan scheme, where students can postpone the payment of their fees.