Australian Citizenship Changes – Effective Immediately from 20 April 2017!

On the 20 April 2017 the Australian Government made a significant announcement in relation to Strengthening the Integrity of Australian Citizenship.
 
These new Australian Citizenship reforms will be effective from 20 April 2017, and will immediately influence the criteria for applying for Australian Citizenship. These changes include:

• A new Permanent Residency requirement
• A new Competent English requirement
• New Australian Citizenship test requirements; and
• A new process for determining an applicant’s integration into the community.

 
These new changes will only affect Australian Citizenship applications made on or after 20 April 2017. DIBP assures that applications made before 20 April 2017 will still be assessed according to the old rules and regulations made before 20 April 2017 (and will not be affected by the new reforms).
 
Change #1 – New Permanent Residency Requirement
 
Prior to the changes, applicants applying for Australian Citizenship needed to demonstrate they had resided in Australia for four (4) years (on any visa) including one (1) year as a permanent resident. However, under these new changes, all applicants will need to hold Permanent Residency status for four (4) years to be eligible to apply for Australian Citizenship.
 
Essentially, this means that non-citizens who are currently waiting to apply for Australian Citizenship will NOT be able to use their time as Temporary Residents as part of their four (4) year requirement. These new changes will only accept four (4) years of Permanent Residence.
 
Please see below for a diagram as to how the new time frames would apply to a typical international Student who comes to Australia to complete a tertiary qualification:

Change #2 – New Competent English Requirement
 
The new reforms will also require that applicants pass a stand-alone English test, involving reading, writing, listening and speaking. All applicants will need to demonstrate competent English. For example, applicants must achieve at least a 6 in each of four test components in an IELTS test (International English Language Testing System).
 
Importantly however, there are some exemptions available in relation to this English requirement, such as those who have a permanent or enduring incapacity and for those under 16 years of age or over 60 years of age.
 
Change #3 – New Australian Citizenship Test Requirements
 
Currently, there is NO limit to the number of times an applicant can fail the test. The new changes implemented on 20 April 2017, will enforce a maximum limit on the number of times an applicant can fail the Australian Citizenship test to three (3). 
 
Furthermore, there will be new rules to automatically fail applicants who cheat during the Australian Citizenship test. The test questions will also contain new and more meaningful questions that assess an applicant’s understanding of, and commitment to, the Australian shared values and responsibilities.
 
Change #4 – Determining an applicant’s integration into the community
 
As part of the new reforms, all applicants will need to demonstrate the steps they have taken to integrate into and contribute to the Australian community. For example, applicants will need to include evidence of employment, membership of community organisations and school enrolment for eligible children.
 
In addition to the integration requirement, any conduct that is inconsistent with Australian community values will be also be considered as part of this process. For example, evidence of criminal activity, involvement in gangs or organised crime, violence against women and children, will be deemed as thoroughly inconsistent with Australian values.
 
FAQ
 
With the recent changes, Salvo Migration has received many questions from the public concerning the new rules surrounding Australian Citizenship. For this reason, we have complied a short FAQ based on the information currently released by the Australian Government.
 
1.        I have already applied for Citizenship prior to 20 April 2017 – am I still affected?
 
No – you will not be affected by the new changes. DIBP has assured that these new reforms will affect Australian Citizenship applications made after 20 April 2017.
 
However, keep in mind, that DIBP may contact you for further information and you must comply with all requests made by DIBP.
         
2.       I have been a permanent resident for 12 months already, do the new rules apply to me?
         
Yes – unfortunately all the new rules, including the 4 years as a permanent resident requirement and increased IELTS of 6 in each band (i.e. competent English).
 
3.       I have previously failed the test 3 times; will I be able to apply again?
 
At this stage, the full details of these new rules have NOT been released, however, assuming that all these changes are being enforced from 20 April 2017, we can only speculate that you will be able to undertake the ‘new’ test and will be assessed under the ‘new’ Australian Citizenship rules. Your previous failed test results will relate to the old test. Make sure to check back here again – as we will update this blog when we receive further information.

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