You want to work and live in Australia freely, but you are unsure of how to do that. There are 2 ways to achieve your dream life in Australia. You can either apply for a permanent resident visa or be an Australian citizen. While Australian citizenship is not available to everyone, you can live freely in Australia with a PR visa provided you are eligible to apply for the same.
The main difference between citizenship and a PR visa is the right to vote which is not available for those who are living in Australia with a PR visa and also as a PR visa holder, you also need travel authority to return after an international trip. However, applying for citizenship is not easy as you have to stay in Australia before you become eligible to sit for the Australian Citizenship test.
You can take this preparation course at the Citizenship Australian website to know about the rights and duties of an Australian Citizen and to get the good practice before the actual test. The theory in this course is specially prepared to help everyone who wants to apply for permanent citizenship in Australia and the final test is the exact simulation of the main Australian citizenship test.
Eligibility criteria for Citizenship
- You have to be over 18 years of age and you have to pass the mandatory citizenship test.
- You have to meet the requirements stated for your residence in Australia.
- You have to produce a certificate of good moral character.
- You must have lived in Australia for 4 years as a permanent resident and you should be living in Australia when you apply for citizenship.
The citizenship test is the most crucial aspect of getting Australian citizenship. If you fail at the test, you get another chance, but your application will not be processed unless you pass the test.
Tips to easily pass the Citizenship test
Citizenship checks your knowledge regarding facts and values that an Australian citizen must possess. A short 20-question test needs to be completed within 45 minutes at the allocated center. There are no charges to be paid to sit for the test and multiple attempts are allowed if you fail one.
Some tips to help you get through the test on the first attempt are:
- “Our Common Bond” booklet is available in 2 parts. Read both of them thoroughly, especially Book 1.
- Listen to the podcast of Book 1 as many times as possible and get clear on all the concepts given in the book.
- Take practice tests on the website of the Home Affairs Department and keep retaking the test unless you are 100% confident about attending the final test.
- Although 75% is the passing mark in the test, all your value questions have to be correct.
- It is a good idea to completely grasp the value section in Book 1 to get all the answers correct.
- You can also take courses available on the internet to help you learn the theoretical aspects of the test.
Once you get Australian citizenship, you can live freely in Australia and work in government facilities including armed forces. You also get the right to vote or stand for Parliament of Australia.
