Australian citizenship ceremony

Applying for Australian citizenship

Initial enquiries regarding Australian citizenship, applications and approval should be directed to the Department of Home Affairs.

Citizenship ceremonies

Council hosts citizenship ceremonies for the Department of Home Affairs. To become an Australian citizen you must attend your ceremony and make a pledge.

The ceremony includes:

  • an official welcome
  • the Welcome to Country
  • the Minister's message
  • the Citizenship Pledge
  • a congratulations and welcome
  • the Australian National Anthem.

Allow approximately two hours for your ceremony to conclude.

When will the citizenship ceremony occur?

Generally, your ceremony will occur within six months from the approval date of your application.

The Department of Home Affairs determines the date of your ceremony.

You will receive an invitation by email or post from Council approximately 4 weeks before your ceremony date.

Upcoming ceremonies

Citizenship ceremonies will be held on the following dates in 2024:

  • Friday 26 January
  • Friday 24 May
  • Friday 19 July
  • Friday 20 September
  • Friday 1 November.

Who attends the citizenship ceremony?

If you included your children in your citizenship application, they will become citizens at the same ceremony as you. By law, children aged 16 years and over must attend their citizenship ceremony. They must take the citizenship pledge to become an Australian citizen.

Children under 16 years can attend and take the citizenship pledge, but they are not required to.

Your invitation will tell you how many guests you can bring.

You and your guests should dress suitably, in formal or smart casual attire, or in your national or cultural dress.

What to bring to the citizenship ceremony

You must bring photographic identification to the ceremony. Photographic identification can be a driver's licence or passport. If you do not have photographic identification, you must bring three documents that include your name, address and signature.

Children under 16 years of age do not need to bring photo identification. 

Your Citizenship Certificate

Your Citizenship Certificate is an important legal document. You will need it to apply for an Australian passport.

It is an offence to deface or alter this document. This includes writing on it, laminating it or changing any details on it.

You should notify the Department of Home Affairs if your certificate is lost or stolen.

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