Australian citizenship ceremony

Applying for citizenship

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

Citizenship ceremonies

Council hosts citizenship ceremonies on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs. To become an Australian citizen you must attend your citizenship 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.

Council does not determine the date of your ceremony. The date is determined by the Department of Home Affairs.

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

To change your ceremony date contact ceremony.qld@homeaffairs.gov.au or 131 880 as soon as possible.

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.

While children under the age of 16 are not required to, they can attend and take the citizenship pledge.

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.

Where is the citizenship ceremony held

Council conducts citizenship ceremonies at the following venues:

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.