Visa Enquiries Telephone: Mon - Thu 1pm to 5pm, Fri 1pm to 4pm - Telephone: +49 (0)30 700 129 129 - Fax: +49(0)30 22 48 92 93
Counter Hours Visa Section: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9am and 11am
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Australian Citizenship
Australian Citizenship can be acquired in three ways - by birth, by descent or by conferral.
Detailed information on Australian Citizenship is available at:
See: www.citizenship.gov.au
1. Australian Citizenship by Birth
For details about how Australian Citizenship is acquired by birth in Australia see the following website:
See: www.citizenship.gov.au
Form 975i - DIAC Website (PDF)
2. Australian Citizenship by Descent
A child born overseas can be registered as an Australian citizen by descent if at least one of the natural parents was an Australian citizen at the time of the child's birth.
A parent can apply for registration of Australian citizenship by descent on behalf of the child before the child reaches 18 years of age. Applicants over 18 may apply in their own right.
Important notes for lodgement:
Please ensure that all documents submitted are in original form. Copies of documents, however, which have been certified as true copies of an original by an Australian Embassy, or an Australian Consulate-General will be accepted.
See: www.dfat.gov.au/missions/index.html
Please note that charges apply for having documents certified.
Please provide all the information requested on form 118 when applying for citizenship by descent. This includes: Completed form 118, signed by the Australian citizen parent;
Download Form 118 - DIAC Website (PDF)
Your child's/children's birth certificate/s, (if born in Sweden, the long version of
a, "personbevis" from the tax authorities);
A passport size photograph of the child, endorsed on the back [explained in form 118] - please note that if you live outside Australia the person who endorses the photo does not need to be an Australian citizen;
Your valid Australian passport, birth certificate or certificate of Australian
citizenship; Legal evidence of change of name if applicable, eg. Marriage Certificate;
If the applicant is sixteen years of age or older the applicant must provide a
police certificate from any country in which he/she has resided for more than 12
months as an adult. If you are applying to register your child as an Australian citizen by descent, and
you gained your citizenship by descent please provide evidence that you have
resided in Australia for at least 2 years as an Australian Citizen. Your child
cannot become registered by descent if you have not resided in Australia for
at least two years an an Australian Citizen. Fee payment by credit card:
See: Visa Application Charges
Important points to note:
VERY IMPORTANT: Australian citizenship details are registered using the English alphabet only unless you specifically request a different form of the name. For example, the name Müller or Sørensen will be shown as Muller or Sorensen on the Australian citizenship certificate.
Registration cannot be undertaken without including the city in which the birth took place. (Applicants in Denmark or Sweden should advise in writing the town or city where the child was born, so that it may be recorded on the certificate.)
You may be required to provide your Australian birth certificate if you have acquired citizenship of another country by descent (eg. if one of your parents was British and you now hold dual citizenship of Great Britain and Australia).
Once you have received your child's notice of registration you may wish to apply for an Australian passport using the form "Application for an Australian Passport, Overseas" available by contacting your Australian Embassy or Consulate.
See: www.dfat.gov.au/missions/index.html - DIAC Website
Once a child has been registered as an Australian citizen, the child must not enter Australia on any travel document other than his/her own Australian passport.
Applications should be mailed to:
Australian Embassy
Visa Office
Wallstrasse 76 - 79
D-10179 Berlin
Germany
3. Australian Citizenship by Conferral
If you have lived for two out of the last five years in Australia as a permanent resident, and one of those two years was within the last two years then you may be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship by conferral. Such applications are always processed in Australia and you should contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for further information. To apply for Australian Citizenship by conferral you must be resident in Australia.
See: www.citizenship.gov.au
Loss and Resumption of Australian Citizenship
If you are unsure whether you lost your Australian citizenship prior to 4 April 2002 by taking up citizenship of another country, please read form 1114i. Form 1114i - DIAC Website (PDF)
If you previously lost your Australian citizenship you may be eligible to resume citizenship. Requirements for resumption of citizenship are listed on form 132. This includes the documentation you are required to submit with your application. Form 132 - DIAC Website (PDF)
Please note: All documents submitted with your application must be originals or copies certified at an Australian Embassy or Australian Consulate General (see: www.dfat.gov.au/missions/index.html for your nearest mission). You will also need to provide certified translations of original documents that are not in English.
See: Visa Application Charges
Renunciation of Australian citizenship
People can renounce Australian citizenship for a number of reasons: to acquire the citizenship of another country;
to retain the citizenship of another country; or
no longer wish to remain an Australian citizen.
If you are considering renouncing your Australian citizenship, please read the information on form 128 for further information. Form 128 - DIAC Website (PDF)
Please note: All documents submitted with your application must be originals or copies certified at an Australian Embassy or Australian Consulate General (see www.dfat.gov.au/missions/index.html for your nearest mission). You will also need to provide certified translations of original documents that are not in English.
See: Visa Application Charges
Important Notice
We are not liable for any financial loss incurred by applicants whose applications are late or unsuccessful. You can do the following to help us process your case quickly:
ensure that your application is complete;
telephone enquiries should be limited to urgent matters.
See: How to contact the department?
Under the terms of the Australian Privacy Act, we cannot provide information about applications in progress to third parties.