Do this first. To receive an income in
In Australia, you can telephone the
Australian Tax Office (ATO) on 13 2861, for the cost of a local
call (higher charges on a mobile telephone) and have a TFN application form
sent to you. Alternatively, you can apply for a TFN over the internet.
The Australian Government provides help
with basic medical expenses through a scheme called Medicare. You may be
eligible to join Medicare and gain immediate access to health care services and
programs. These include free public hospital care; help with the cost of
out-of-hospital care, and subsidized medicines.
To enroll in Medicare, you should go
into a Medicare office 7 to 10 days after your arrival in
Examples: Medicare does not cover dental care, optical
care or ambulance services.
Medicare Offices
Phone: 13 2011
Open a bank account
In
You should open a bank account within
six weeks of your arrival, as you usually need only your passport as
identification. After six weeks you will need extra identification to open an
account.
Centrelink is a government agency which
pays social security benefits and provides other forms of assistance.
As a newly arrived migrant, you are not
immediately eligible for social security (unless you are a refugee or
humanitarian entrant). You do not have access to the full range of government
employment services. If you are a permanent resident, you may be eligible to
access some services.
Centrelink can help you find a job,
arrange for recognition of your skills and qualifications, and to access
certain courses.
Centrelink can also help you with
family assistance payments to help with the cost of raising children.
Communicating in English is very
important and the key to your successful settlement.
English languages courses for new
arrivals in
Under Australian law, children between
the ages of 6 to 15 must attend school. You should enroll your children in a
school as soon as possible.
If you are a permanent resident visa
holder and have a current driver's license from another country, in English or
with an official translation, you are allowed to drive for your first three
months after arrival.
After the three months, if you want to
drive, you will need to have the appropriate driver's license. This will
usually require you to pass a knowledge test, a practical driving test, and an
eyesight test. In
(NT)
There are strict
traffic and drink driving laws in
Q. What should I do in an emergency?
A.
In an emergency situation where life is threatened, telephone 000 (or if
calling from a mobile phone dial 112). The operator will connect you to the
police, ambulance or fire brigade through a translating and interpreting
service.
Employment
Job vacancies are advertised in the Positions Vacant part of the
Classifieds section of newspapers (especially on Saturday and Wednesday). The
job advertisement usually tells you how to apply, and the name of a person to
contact for further information.
See: Australian Newspapers Online
(National Library of
Private employment agencies are listed in the Yellow Pages
telephone directory - look under 'Employment Services' and 'Employment - Labour
Hire Contractors'. Many of these agencies have websites which advertise vacancies.
You can register with more than one agency which can increase your chances of
finding work.
See:
Yellow Pages
If you know of a particular company or organization you would like
to work for, you can contact that employer directly by telephone, letter or a
personal visit. You can also ask friends and relatives if they know of any jobs
available where they work. Many jobs are found this way, as many employers find
new workers through people they already know. This is common in small or family
businesses.
Job vacancies can also be found on the internet. The listings will
usually tell you how to apply, and the name of a person to contact for further
information. Some sites may also allow you to apply for the vacancy online. The
Australian Government provides the following service
See: Australian JobSearch
Australian residents can register with a Job Network member, or
with Centrelink (see below) who will refer you to a Job Network member. This is
a free service. Job Network is a network of private, community and government
organizations, contracted by the Commonwealth Government to help people find
employment. Offices are located in many city suburbs and major country areas.
See: Job Network
Phone:
13 62 68
(Job Seeker Hotline)
Job Network can immediately help newly-arrived migrants, including
those who are subject to the two-year waiting period for receipt of Centrelink
benefits, to find a job through Job Search Support.
See:
Job
Search Support
Income support
and other government benefits (Life in
Job Network can help those who do not have a two-year waiting
period such as refugees and humanitarian entrants, who have registered with
Centrelink as looking for work through Intensive Support
See: Intensive
Support
Centrelink registers job seekers for either Job Search Support or
for full Job Network services. All job seekers can use the free Job Network
Access self-help facilities in Centrelink offices, which include telephones,
photocopiers, fax machines, computers and daily newspapers. Centrelink offices
are located in many city suburbs and major country centers.
Centrelink (Appointments)
Phone: 13
1021
Website: Contact
us
Centrelink (Help in languages other than English)
Phone: 13
1202
Website: We
speak your language
Your nearest MRC or MSA can provide advice on finding work and
they may also have specialist placement officers to help you find work.
See: How to contact Migrant Resource
Centres and Migrant Service Agencies
Specialized assistance is available to help young people find
work.
See: Youth information
(Life in
Researching labour market information will give you some idea of
the occupations and industries available where you live or intend to live.
See:
Labour
market information (myfuture)
Industry
information (myfuture)
Occupation
information (myfuture)
Migrants
and the labour market (Australian WorkPlace)
When you find a job vacancy that is suitable, the advertisement
will usually tell you how to apply for the position and the name of a person to
contact for more details of the position. Your application will usually
require:
For help with writing job applications and interview techniques
See:
Job
Applications
Australian JobSearch
Australian cities offer a wide range of
housing options. Traditionally Australians have preferred detached or
semi-detached houses, with common styles based on the English Cottage and
Californian Bungalow. These days apartments/flats and town houses/villa units
(ground level brick dwellings built in clusters) are becoming more popular,
especially in inner suburbs.
Some high-rise apartment blocks were
built in the 1960s for public housing, but not to the same extent as in
European cities. Today modern tower blocks are being built in fashionable inner
city locations, and are popular with professionals.
Generally Australians aspire to own
their own house and land. Newly arrived migrants often rent a home at first
while they become established.
The majority of Australians live in the
suburbs of the state capitals. Living in the suburbs can be quite comfortable -
one can live less than an hour's travel from the city centre and yet enjoy
ready access to the countryside and national parks. The suburbs usually have a
combination of timber and brick homes, providing character and individuality.
There are also playing fields, parks, shopping centres and schools, providing a
lifestyle envied by many people overseas.
Country towns and regional cities are
smaller and more widely separated than in many other countries. Living in
country towns offers a more relaxed and less expensive way of life than the big
cities, and many areas offer migrants good work opportunities.
Life in Australia - Homepage
Health care in
If you want to migrate to
See:
Health
requirements for migration
State and
Territory health information
Responsibility for education is divided
between State and Territory governments and the Australian Government. State
and Territory governments are responsible for school education, provide and
manage government schools, and support non-government schools.
The Australian Government, through the
Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) provides supplementary
funding to support certain strategies and priorities such as literacy and
numeracy programs, and is responsible for higher education. Vocational
education and training is shared between the State and Territory and Australian
governments.
See:
Department of Education, Science and Training
(DEST)
The Australian education system is
divided broadly into five areas:
You may find the system of teaching and
school discipline very different in
Schools encourage parent involvement
and wish to help newcomers. Most schools have parent and teacher associations
which play an active part in school life, raising funds for many school needs
but also helping to decide what is taught and done at the school. Parent skills
are valued and your involvement is welcome.
Schooling is compulsory for students in
most states and territories until the age of fifteen. Although students are
able to leave at that time, most students do not leave until they complete
their Year 10 qualification, with many students continuing on to complete their
Year 12 studies.
You can choose to have your children
educated in public (state government) or private (independent) schools
throughout the country. Education at public schools is free in most states,
although most schools do have a small voluntary annual fee to cover extra
activities. Parents may also have to purchase such items as books and uniforms
and pay for outings, camps etc. Most public schools are co-educational, with
girls and boys encouraged to participate equally in
class.
See:
Organizations
and contacts - government schools
Most Private schools fall into one of
two categories, schools administered by the Catholic Education Office, and
independent schools of other religious persuasions administered by their own
boards. Private or independent schools have their own fee structure and receive
a subsidy from both Federal and State governments. Many private schools are
either exclusively all boy or all girl schools.
See:
Organizations
and contacts - non-government schools
Q. What is the climate like in
A. See:
Bureau of Meteorology climate
information
Q. Are we able to freely practice our religion
in
A.
Yes,
Below
you will find some of the most frequently asked questions about Australian
citizenship and useful answers.
1. How
do I apply for Australian citizenship? Isn't the process complicated and time
consuming?
Becoming
an Australian citizen involves a serious commitment but the process is
relatively simple. All you have to do is get the form, fill it in and lodge it
with the processing fee. There's also a short interview. The Department will
write to you to let you know whether your application has been successful. You
will then need to attend a citizenship ceremony.
Processing
time can vary, if all documentation is provided at the time of lodgment or at
interview, it may take up to 30 days for a decision to be made on your
application. Once your application has been approved, arrangements will be made
for you to attend a citizenship ceremony. Most ceremonies are held by local
government councils.
It can
take a few months from the date of approval until you are invited to attend a
citizenship ceremony. If you need to attend a citizenship ceremony by a
particular date, please discuss your circumstances at your citizenship
interview.
Citizenship
ceremonies are memorable events. You are most welcome to share this memorable
occasion with relatives and friends. You will receive details about your
citizenship ceremony well in advance so that you can invite them.
2. Isn't
citizenship just a legal formality?
It is
much more than that; Australian citizenship formalizes your membership of the
Australian community. It entitles you to the same rights as other Australian
citizens.
It is an
important way to formalize your commitment to
Citizenship
also entitles you to hold an Australian passport, which can make it easier to
re-enter the country if you leave to travel overseas. You also have the right
to register your children as Australian citizens by descent if they're born
overseas.
3. How
much is the fee to apply for Australian citizenship?
A fee
must be paid before a citizenship application can be considered, and there is
no scope to waive this fee. The current fee is $120 and it has been in place
since January 1998. However, a concession fee of $20 is available to applicants
who have a permanent financial disadvantage and are recipients of certain
pensions from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
There
are two categories of applicants who are exempt from paying the fee.
These
are:
More Information? Please contact the Citizenship Information
Line on 131 880.
4. I
would like to become an Australian citizen but I haven't been in
To apply
for Australian citizenship you would need to have been in
There
are some exceptions to the residence requirements:
Please
click here to read Form
1027i How to Apply for Australian Citizenship and find out if any of the
exceptions apply to you.
5. Will
I lose my current citizenship if I become an Australian citizen?
6. Is it
true that I can acquire the citizenship of another country without losing my
Australian citizenship?
Yes. On
4 April 2002, the repeal of section 17 of the Australian Citizenship Act meant
that Australians retain their citizenship if they acquire the citizenship of
another country after that date.
See:
Changes to Citizenship
Laws
Before 4
April 2002, Australians over 18 who applied for and were granted the
citizenship of another country generally lost their Australian citizenship, as
did their children under 18, unless their other parent was an Australian
citizen.
Australians
did not lose their Australian citizenship if they acquired another citizenship
automatically or simply obtained a passport of a country of which they were
already a citizen. Read Form
1114i for more information.
7. I
have just become an Australian citizen. Is my re-entry visa still valid?
No. All
previously held visas expire upon the grant of Australian citizenship. As an
Australian citizen you have the unrestricted right to stay in
As an
Australian citizen, you should use an Australian passport to pass through
Immigration/Customs clearance on leaving and returning to
8. I
have just become an Australian citizen. Why should I use my Australian passport
to leave and re-enter
Only
Australian citizens have an unrestricted right to travel freely in and out of
the country. All other people must have an authority, in the form of a visa, to
enter and stay in
An
Australian passport is the only definitive evidence that proves the traveler is
an Australian citizen. Without an Australian passport delays may be experienced
while the traveler’s Australian citizenship is verified. Delays may occur when
clearing Immigration/Customs in and out of
9. My
child is an Australian citizen. Can he or she travel on my foreign passport or
their own foreign passport?
An
Australian citizen under the 18 years of age may be issued with an Australian
Declaratory visa (ADV) in either their own foreign passport of in one of their
parents' passports. ADVs are administrative documents valid for 5 years from
the date of grant.
10. if I
adopt a child in
If the
child is adopted in
Since 22
November 1984, Section 10A of the Australian Citizenship Act 1948
automatically confers citizenship upon a non citizen child adopted in
Persons
adopted prior to 22 November 1984 may apply for the grant of Australian
citizenship.
11. If I
adopt a child overseas, will the child become an Australian citizen?
No, a
child adopted overseas will not automatically become an Australian citizen.
Where an
adoption is completed overseas an application may be made for the grant of
Australian citizenship. Section 13(9) (a) of the Australian Citizenship Act 1948
(the Act) provides a discretion to grant Australian citizenship upon application
to any child. To be eligible for the grant of citizenship under 13(9) (a) of
the Act, policy provides that at least one adoptive parent must be an
Australian citizen and the adopted child must hold an adoption visa or any
other permanent visa.
12. I
need evidence of my Australian citizenship to get a passport. What do I do?
You need
to apply for a Certificate of Evidence of Australian Citizenship at your
nearest office of the Department. This certificate is official evidence that
the person named acquired Australian citizenship on the date shown and was an
Australian citizen on the date the certificate was issued.
In cases
where an employer asks for evidence of citizenship, they may be satisfied if
you can show them your Australian passport or, if you were born in
Please
click here to read Form
119 on evidence of Australian citizenship. You may download the form and
lodge it at your nearest office of the Department of Immigration and
Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs in
13. I
lost my Australian citizenship a long time ago. Can I get it back?
Yes. The
requirements are that you:
The
declaration of intention to reside in
If you
had children under 18 years at the time you lost your Australian citizenship
they will have lost their Australian citizenship, unless their other parent was
still an Australian citizen. Children under 18 can be included in your
resumption application. Children over 18 must apply for resumption in their own
right.
Form 132 has
comprehensive information and the application form. Applications can be lodged
at any of the Department’s
offices overseas. In
14. Can
I apply for dual citizenship?
People
do not apply for dual citizenship. You have dual or multiple
citizenship when more than one country recognizes you as its citizen.
Every country has legislation to determine who its citizens are.
Australian
citizens can become dual citizens in a number of ways. For example, by
More
information on dual citizens, passports and consular assistance is available
from the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
15. Do I
have to use my Australian passport if I also have a passport from another
country?
Many
dual/plural citizens hold passports of more than one country. Australians
re-entering
16. I was born overseas to an
Australian parent. Am I an Australian citizen?
You are
eligible for registration as an Australian citizen by descent if you were born
overseas and:
You are
also eligible for registration if you were born overseas between 26 January
1949 and 15 January 1974 and:
Was your parent also born overseas to an Australian parent?
If your
parent was registered as an Australian citizen by descent, he/she must have
been present in
Form 118 has
comprehensive information and the application form. Applications can be lodged
at one of the Department’s
offices overseas. In
Once you
have been registered, you will be given a certificate of Australian
citizenship. Processing can take several weeks. There is a fee for descent
applications, check page 8 of the Department’s fees and charges.
17. My
grandmother doesn't speak English well. Won't her application be rejected if
she doesn't pass the English test?
Applicants
for citizenship are assessed for their understanding of Basic English. However,
this requirement does not apply to people aged 50 years and over, so some
people who may have limited English language skills can still become Citizens.
Also, the requirement to understand the responsibilities and privileges is not
tested for people aged 60 years and over.
18. I have lost my Australian
citizenship certificate. How can I get another?
If you
have lost or misplaced your certificate, you will need to visit your nearest
office of the Department and request a Certificate of Evidence of Australian
Citizenship. This certificate is official evidence that the person named on the
certificate acquired Australian citizenship on the date shown and was an
Australian citizen on the date the certificate was issued.
Replacement
certificates of Australian citizenship cannot be issued to replace lost or
stolen certificates. Replacement certificates are only issued in limited
circumstances, for example, if an error was made by the Department when the
original certificate was issued.
Please
click here to read Form
119 on evidence of Australian citizenship.
19. Can
I talk to someone about citizenship if I need more information or
clarification?
In
·
Visit your nearest office of the Department of Immigration and
Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. For a list of our offices in
·
Phone the Citizenship Information Line on 131 880.
·
Visit our website www.citizenship.gov.au
OR www.immi.gov.au