How to arrive and

Permanent residency

You are a permanent resident of Australia if you have been granted a permanent visa. Being a permanent resident of Australia affords you certain rights:

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  You have the freedom to remain in Australia for as long as you want.
  
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  You have the same work rights as Australian citizens.
  
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  You have the same educational rights as Australian citizens. You will qualify for lower tuition rates (meaning you will pay much less than if you were an overseas student) and Austudy.
  
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  You qualify for Medicare.
  
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  You may vote in Australia’s elections.(Australians are required to vote by law.)
  

As a permanent resident, you will eventually be eligible for social security benefits. However, you will not be able to receive social security benefits until you have been in Australia for a minimum of two years. An important note regarding Permanent Residency (PR) is that a permanent resident can lose his or her permanent residency they are absent from Australia for extended periods. Once you have been granted permanent residence, immigration will add a label to your passport. This visa label will be proof of your permanent residence in Australia. However, if you need to obtain further proof, you may request a ‘certificate of Evidence of Resident Status in Australia.’

If you are a permanent resident and wish to travel outside of Australia, you may travel for the first 5 years without a RRV (Resident Return Visa) after being granted a PR Visa. After the 5 year period, you will need a RRV. The Resident Return Visa may be valid for anywhere between three months and five years. As a permanent resident with an RRV, you have the freedom to travel to and from Australia as you wish (for as long as the visa is valid, of course), and you will still keep your permanent resident status.
Why do you need an RRV? Anyone who is not an Australian citizen but who resides in Australia needs a Return Resident Visa. Should you decide to apply for citizenship once you become eligible, then you will be able to travel to and from Australia without a visa once you are a citizen of Australia and have the passport to prove it. Please note that in order to keep your permanent resident status, you must hold Resident Return Visa in your passport, even if you are only going to be travelling outside of Australia for a day or two. Failure to obtain an RRV may result in your loss of permanent residence. At the very least, it will cause you unneeded trouble and stress at the airport and afterward. When you file your RRV application, you’ll need to attach a certified copy of your passport, proof of name change if you’ve married or legally changed your name since entering Australia and a A$120 application fee.

Becoming an Australian citizen

In order to apply for citizenship, you must fulfil certain requirements. First and foremost, you must be a permanent resident and have resided in Australia as a permanent resident for at least two of the last five years and at least 12 months during the last two years. Other conditions you must meet in order to apply for Australian citizenship include:

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  Are you a permanent resident?
  
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  Have you been present in Australia as a permanent resident for two years in the previous five years, including for twelve months in the past two years?
  
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  Are you of good character?
  
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  Do you have a basic knowledge of English? (This requirement won't apply if you are aged 50 or over)
  
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  Do you have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of being an Australian citizen? (This requirement won't apply if you are aged 60 or over)
  
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  Do you intend to live in, or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia?
  

Applying
The application kit contains all of the forms you need to prepare your application. To get your application, simply visit http://www.citizenship.gov.au/applying/index.htm where you can download an application, or you can email your application from there. Some post offices in Australia also have application kits available. For more information within Australia call 131 880.
The above Australian citizenship link is an excellent resource and can answer all your questions about the citizenship process. Read and fill out the application forms carefully when you receive them. It is important to ensure everything is filled out accurately since you don’t want to sabotage the process with errors. You’ll also need to have the documents required to attach to your application. These include: your birth certificate, all passport and travel documents in your possession (these include the documents that you had when you arrived in Australia), proof of your permanent residence and, if you have changed your name, you’ll need evidence of the name change.
You also need a passport-sized photo taken to be included with your application. A non-relative who has known you for a year or more must sign the back of the photo. Among those who are considered acceptable signatories are your employer (your manager or supervisor) as well as employees with certain occupations. For a full listing of acceptable signatories, read the application carefully. After you’ve completed the application and gathered all the necessary documents, you’ll need to pay the fee of A$120. You are exempt from this citizenship fee if you meet either of the following criteria:

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   You have been a member of the Australian Defence Force for at least three months, or
   
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   You migrated to Australia as a part of the British Child Migrant Act between September 22, 1947 and December 31, 1967.
   

The interview
Anyone who is applying for Australian citizenship is required to attend an interview. The interview is short and will only take a few minutes. If you apply for citizenship in person, you may have your interview right then and there, or you may be asked to return at a later date. Those applying for citizenship who don’t live in a major city, generally have their interviews at an Australian Post Office. You can expect a straightforward interview where the official in charge will ensure that your application is complete. You will also be required to demonstrate that you know what your rights and responsibilities will be as an Australian citizen. The interviewing person will also determine whether or not you can both understand and speak English. Expect to receive the decision in the mail approximately after about a month.

Rights and responsibilities as an Australian citizen
As a citizen, you’ll be able to vote in Australian elections, and you can also run for public office. Other benefits you’ll enjoy as an Australian citizen are:

- You can apply for an Australian passport, which means you’ll no longer need a visa when you leave and enter Australia.

- You are protected when you’re overseas. You can approach staff at the embassy of the country you’re in if you need help.

- You’ll now be eligible to apply for government jobs.

- You can enlist in the military.

- Your children—under 25 years old—can automatically be registered as Australian citizens.

Just as you will now enjoy the benefits of all other Australian citizens, you will also need to fulfil your obligations which include obeying all of Australia’s laws, voting and serving on a jury if selected. Lastly, it is your duty as an Australian citizen to defend your country, should you be asked to do so.

The Australian government website that deals with citizenship is at: http://www.citizenship.gov.au