REASONS FOR REFUSAL OF CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION

Following the grant of permanent residency, the usual course of action is to begin viewing your eligibility for citizenship. The grant of an Australian citizenship is significant and for most people, it will be one of the most important applications of their life. Therefore, it is imperative that the application is completed with the utmost quality, in order to mitigate any questionable factors or unnecessary mistakes. The best form of mitigation is to hire a qualified migration agent or lawyer to handle the application and the subsequent correspondence with the Department of Home Affairs. Some of the rights that will be afforded to you if your citizenship application is approved, include, but are not limited to, applying for an Australian passport, re-entering Australia without applying for a resident return visa, seeking assistance from Australian diplomatic representatives while overseas, working in the public services, serving in the armed forces and voting to elect members of parliament. There are two avenues in which you can apply for an Australian citizenship, these are, by conferral or by descent. Outlined below, are common reasons for application refusal for both avenues.



By Conferral

1. Failing the Citizenship test

A large number of citizenship applications are refused due to failing the citizenship test. You need 75% to past this test, therefore, it is highly recommended that you study for the test.

2. Failing to meet the General Residency Requirements

The residency requirements that you must fulfill at the time of application are; living in Australia on a valid visa for the past 4 years, being a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen for the past 12 months, and not being away from Australia for no more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years, including no more than 90 days in total in the past 12 months.

If you apply without meeting one of the above requirements, your application will almost always get rejected.



By Conferral or by Descent

1. Failing to meet Character Requirements

If you are over 18 years old, you must meet the character requirements set forth by the Australian government. Factors that may affect your standing of good character include, but are not limited to, ongoing court cases, previous convictions and your associations. Not disclosing all information to the Department of Home Affairs, will result in a refusal of your application, and any misleading statements may even result in the revocation of your permanent residency.

By Descent

1. Failing to show you were the Child of an Australian Citizen at Birth

Not only must you be able to prove that at least one of your parents was an Australian citizen on the day you were born, but you must also show the link between you and your parent.

Again, as the application for your citizenship is such a significant process, it is important you get the best possible assistance available.

If you would like assistance in dealing with your citizenship application, or any migration matters in general, Straits Lawyers are here to help. We are now offering online services in both English and Chinese.



Straits Lawyers is evolving! With our recent growth and development, we have expanded and are excited to announce the launch of our new name HandO Lawyers. Stand by for the new age of legal representation brought to you by HandO!

Please note that this article does not constitute legal advice and Straits Lawyers will not be legally responsible for any actions you take based on this article.