What documents do I need to Become a Citizen?

Do not mail original documents to us, except penal clearance certificates, unless we ask you to.

Copies of original documents must be certified by a person from the designated list of occupations.

If you are invited to attend a citizenship appointment, you must bring your original documents with you.

Online applications

Scan all of your original documents, including translations and attach them electronically to your application. Read about how to correctly scan your documents.

Paper applications

Copies of original documents must be certified by a person currently employed in a position from the designated list of occupations. That person must be an Australian citizen and not related to you by birth, marriage or de facto relationship. If you apply from outside Australia and do not know an Australian citizen, this can be a citizen of your country of residence who works in one of the occupations listed.

Only a person currently employed in a position from the designated list of occupations can certify copies of your original documents. That person must be an Australian citizen and not related to you by birth, marriage or de facto relationship. If you apply from outside Australia and do not know an Australian citizen, this can be a citizen of your country of residence who works in one of the occupations listed.

The certifier should write:

The certifier should include the following information on the copy of the document:

• signature
• name in full
• occupation
• telephone number
• date
• address (optional).

If your documents are not in English, you will need to obtain official translations of them.

In Australia, use translators accredited by the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).

If you are outside Australia when you apply, contact or check the website of Australian mission in the country that issued the documents for advice on acceptable translators.

You must provide certified copies of both of the following with your application:

• the official translation of the document
• the document that is not in English.

Generally, you need to provide the same documents for children under the age of 16 years as you do for adults. This includes a full birth certificate with the names of both parents and, if available, their passport.

Children under 6 years of age

If your application includes, or is for a child under 6 years of age, you might have difficulty getting their Identity declaration form and photograph signed by a person who has known the child for 12 months.

Further information on identity requirements for children is available.

If you are a long-term resident who arrived before 1 January 1973 and you have not travelled outside Australia since that time, you will need to provide evidence of your arrival in Australia. Contact the National Archives of Australia for help with your migration records. If the National Archives  cannot help you, provide evidence that you lived in Australia, for example, employment, taxation or school records.

If you are outside Australia and applying for Australian citizenship by descent or adoption, your application needs to be lodged at an Immigration office or with a service delivery partner outside Australia.

Before you lodge your application, you need to confirm:

• whether you need an appointment to show original documents as part of the application process
• whether copies must be certified by an Australian citizen in your country of residence or whether they can be certified by a citizen of your country of residence if no Australian citizen is known to you
• whether there is a preferred third party for document certification
• how to obtain official translations for documents not in English
• where to lodge your application
• what currency is accepted for the application fee.

More information is available about the specific documents you need to provide:

• good character documents, including penal clearance certificates
• identity documents
• supporting documents.