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| Citizenship by birth |
Australian citizenship can only be acquired automatically by birth if you are born in Australia and one of your parents is either an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Otherwise children born in Australia take on the nationality and immigration status of their parents.
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| Citizenship by descent |
| Children born to Australian citizens living overseas may obtain Australian citizenship by descent but this is not automatically conferred; rather it must be applied for. |
| Citizenship by conferral |
| Non-citizens living in Australia as permanent residents can apply for citizenship if they meet certain criteria, including the 'residence requirement'. There are two different schemes covering the residence requirement, however after 30 June 2010 there will only be one scheme (Scheme A). The two schemes are: |
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| Scheme A – for people who obtained permanent residence status on or after 1 July 2007. You need to have been present in Australia as a permanent resident for at least 12 months before applying, and present in Australia for a total of 4 years (including the 1 year permanent residence) holding a valid visa immediately before applying. You are permitted to have travelled overseas during the 4 year period but your total period of absence must not exceed 12 months, and in the 1 year immediately before applying your total period of absence must not exceed 3 months. Note there are some exceptions to this. |
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| Scheme B – a 'transitional' scheme for people who obtained permanent residence status before 1 July 2007. You have to have been present in Australia for at least 2 out of the 5 preceeding years as a permanent resident, including a total of at least 1 year in the 2 years immediately before applying. This scheme will cease on 1 July 2010. |
