Citizenship Ceremony Australia: All you need to know

The Australian Citizenship Ceremony is a meaningful event for those that want to call Australia home and take on the responsibilities and privileges of an Australian citizen.

But what is the ceremony like and how do you get there? Read on to learn more about the Australian Citizenship Ceremony and what you can expect when you are ready to become an Australian citizen.

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How do you get an urgent citizenship ceremony in Australia?

There are only certain genuinely pressing and unplanned situations in which the Department of Home Affairs will be able to provide an urgent citizenship ceremony.

You will have to request an urgent citizenship ceremony through this form (Click to download) and mail it to your relevant state’s email address. In the form you will need to provide a reasoning for the need for an urgent citizenship ceremony and documentary evidence to support your claim.

Here are the following situations which would not be granted an urgent citizenship ceremony

• Overseas holidays
• Visiting sick relatives
• Business Trips
• Working abroad
• Employment issues in general

Generally, applicants are strongly urged to attend the public ceremonies outlined in your ceremony invitation letter.¹

🙋 How long do I have to wait for the citizenship ceremony?

Citizenship ceremonies are held at regular intervals at least every 2-3 months by your local council.² Once your citizenship application is approved, you will be sent an invitation letter 4 weeks in advance to your ceremony date.

The letter will be sent either from your local council or the Department of Home Affairs. It will also outline the time, dresscode, number of guests and location of the ceremony.³

🚦 How to track progress of application?

You can track the progress of your application on the Home Affairs website at ImmiAccount. Through the portal, you can check the status, for any additional information needed in your application, or even to withdraw your application if need be.

Check the “My Applications Summary” to see the progress of your application. Once submitted, it will fall into one of the following buckets:

• Incomplete
• Ready to submit
• Submitted
• Received
• Initial assessment
• Further assessment
• Finalised

Once it is at ‘Finalised’ it means that the Department of Home Affairs has reached a decision, which you will be notified about by email or physical mail.⁴

How long does Australian citizenship ceremony take?

The Australian citizenship ceremony in total can take at least 2 hours.

You should arrive 30 minutes before the ceremony starts to register and get your seat, and then the ceremony can then take an hour.

Here is what to expect in the citizenship ceremony schedule:

1. A formal introduction
2. A welcome message from the Minister and speeches
3. An address to participants
4. The pledge
5. National Anthem
6. Repeating of the Australian citizenship pledge

Once you have made the citizenship pledge, you will be an Australian citizen and be presented a certificate. The ceremony may then be wrapped up with refreshments and tokens of appreciation.⁵

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Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to common questions about the Australian Citizenship Ceremony.

Can I attend the citizenship ceremony without an invitation letter?

No, you are required to have an invitation letter to attend your citizenship ceremony. Only those whose applications were approved to attend by the Department of Home Affairs will be invited to take part in the pledge.

The invitation letter will provide the date, time and place of the ceremony for your locality. Attendees for the ceremony will be cross checked with the Pledge Verification List provided by the Department of Home Affairs.⁶

What can I wear to an oath ceremony?

A dress code will be provided by your local council in your invitation letter, but formal or smart casual are suggested.⁷

Is the oath ceremony the same day?

The oath ceremony is held at the day and time prescribed in your invitation letter. Used interchangeably the citizenship, pledge or oath ceremony all describe the process to obtain Australian citizenship.

Once you have repeated the Australian pledge or oath at your specific citizenship ceremony, Australian citizenship will be conferred on you.

What is the pledge or oath I have to make?

You get two options for your pledge. The first is with God included, while the second is not.

Pledge 1

From this time forward, under God,
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
whose democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect,
and whose laws I will uphold and obey.

Pledge 2

From this time forward,
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
whose democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect,
and whose laws I will uphold and obey.

You may choose either one of these for your ceremony. You may also bring a holy book for during your ceremony if you so choose.

What do I bring to the ceremony?

In addition to your invitation to the citizenship ceremony, also bring one of the following forms of photo id⁸:

• Driver’s license
• Passport
• Official document with a photograph

If you don't have any of the above documents, you can bring instead 3 documents that show your name, address and signature. This can include:

• Bank statements
• Utility bills
• Credit card statements

Can I bring guests to the oath ceremony?

Yes you can bring guests to the ceremony. They can be friends or family members, but the number of guests you are allowed to bring will be outlined in your citizenship ceremony invitation letter. The local council will determine the number of guests allowed. ⁹