Changes to the Australian citizenship residence requirement

From 1 July 2010, all citizenship applicants will need to meet this requirement at the time of application:

• You must have been living in Australia on a valid Australian visa for 4 years immediately before applying, including 1 year as a permanent resident; AND
• You must not have been absent from Australia for more than 1 year during the 4 year period, including no more than 90 days in the year immediately before applying.

Australian Immigration  has had transitional arrangements in place since 1 July 2007, which will end on 30 June 2010. The following transitional arrangements and current residence requirements will continue until 1 July 2010.

If you became a permanent resident before 1 July 2007, and apply on or before 30 June 2010, the residence requirement is:

• You must have been living in Australia for 2 years as a permanent resident in the 5 years immediately before applying, including 1 year in the 2 years immediately before applying.

If you became a permanent resident on or after 1 July 2007 the residence requirement is:

• You must have been living in Australia on a valid Australian visa for 4 years immediately before applying, including 1 year as a permanent resident; AND
• You must not have been absent from Australia for more than 1 year during the 4 year period, including no more than 90 days in the year immediately before applying.

  ---

The Australian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people lodge their Australian Immigration applications with the Australian High Commission.