When You Should Not Apply for Australian Citizenship?

Are you residing in Australia and considering becoming a citizen? Becoming a citizen of this country is usually the final step for people who want to live here and have a future for a long time. However, according to top immigration lawyers Perth, many individuals make mistakes when applying for Australian Citizenship of rushing their application before determining their eligibility first. In this blog, we will talk about when you should not apply for citizenship in Australia, because if you apply early, it can slow down your application by months or even years.

You Have Not Met the Residency Requirement Yet

The most prevalent mistake is filing an application before having completed the required residency period in Australia. The Department of Home Affairs follows this policy strictly. Even if you are short of a few days, they will cancel your application. You need to fulfil certain residency requirements before applying. This policy does not have any flexibility.

Some key residency requirements you must satisfy include:

• You must have lived lawfully in Australia for at least four years
• At least 12 months of that time must be as a permanent resident
• During those four years, you should not have stayed out of Australia for more than 12 months in total
• You should not have been away from Australia for more than 90 days in the last year

You Do Not Hold Permanent Residency

Citizenship by conferral can only be acquired by permanent residents and some eligible New Zealand citizens. You are ineligible to apply for citizenship if you have a temporary visa.

Many people misunderstand this requirement, especially those on long-term skilled or partner visas. Nevertheless, it should be noted that being a temporary resident disqualifies one from being eligible for citizenship.

For such cases, it becomes necessary for one to concentrate on attaining permanent residency first. You should not apply for citizenship if:

• You are on a student visa or graduate visa
• You hold a temporary skilled visa such as subclass 482 or 491
• Your permanent residency application is still pending
• You are unsure about your current visa status

You Have Character or Legal Issues

The requirement for good character is treated quite seriously in Australia. Even minor breaches of the law might become an issue in your application process if they cast any doubts on your behaviour.

You might wish to put off your application if:

• You have a criminal conviction, especially with a sentence of 12 months or more
• You have pending court matters or ongoing investigations
• You have been involved in immigration fraud or provided false information
• You have associations with criminal organisations
• You have unpaid debts to the Australian government

Your Travel History Is Complicated

Travel outside Australia can directly affect your eligibility. Many applicants do not realise how strictly absence limits are calculated.

Travel history that cannot be clarified or is near the maximum can lead to a visa application being refused. You should take extra care before knowing how to apply for Australian Citizenship, if:

• You have spent long periods outside Australia in the last four years
• You are unsure about your exact travel dates
• You frequently travel for work or family reasons
• Your total absences are close to the maximum allowed limits

You Have Outstanding Government Debts

Another often overlooked factor is financial obligations to the Australian government. These must be resolved before applying for citizenship.

Even relatively small debts can raise concerns during the assessment process.

It is usually better to wait and resolve these issues first if:

• You have unpaid tax liabilities
• You owe money to Medicare or Centrelink
• You have any outstanding government fines or repayments
• You are currently in a dispute regarding a financial obligation

You Do Not Intend to Stay in Australia

Citizenship is more than fulfilling the criteria. You also need to show that you intend to reside in Australia or have strong connections to the country.

In case you are unsure about the future, this could possibly not be the ideal time to file for citizenship.

You may want to hold back on filing an application in case:

• You are planning to move overseas for an extended period
• You are unsure about your long-term plans in Australia
• Your work requires you to relocate frequently
• You do not currently have strong ties to Australia

Conclusion

Getting Australian citizenship is like a dream come true, but it is not something you should rush. A rejected application costs you money and results in unnecessary stress. If you are someone who isn’t aware of whether you are eligible or not, consult with a professional before submitting an application.

It can be the difference between getting Australian citizenship approved easily and getting your application rejected, which can be really frustrating.