Changes to Australian Citizenship as of 1st July 2018

There are to be some changes to Australian Citizen requirements put in place by The Department of Home Affairs that will come into effect from 1st July 2018.
The proposed changes to Australian Citizen requirements are as follows:

English Language Test

Applicants applying for Australian Citizenship will need to face rigorous testing on their English Language. This will include being tested on their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in English.

Resident Requirement

Australian Citizen Applicants will need to have been an Australian Permanent Resident for 4 years before they can submit an application for Australian Citizenship. During these 4 years the applicant can not have spent over 12 months outside of Australia.

Australian Values Statement

The Australian Values Statement will be updated to include an allegiance to Australia and that all Australian Citizenship applicants must completely integrate and contribute to the community in which they live. They will also be quizzed on how they will prove they have integrated into the surrounding community.

Pledge of Allegiance

All applicants over the age of 16 will be required to pledge allegiance to Australia.

Citizenship Test

The current Australian Citizenship test will be updated to include new questions regarding the responsibilities and privileges that applicants gain from becoming an Australian Citizen.
The above are only proposed changes and are still to be confirmed by Parliament, however they may come into effect as of 1st July 2018 which is fast approaching. Therefore, you may want to apply for Australian Citizenship before these changes come into effect. Should you require help with applying for Australian Citizenship contact one of our Registered Migration Agents who will be able to guide you through the process.