A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that migrants who have already put in applications for citizenship, and those who still plan to, will be assessed under current requirements rather than the tougher measures that were announced by the Australian government earlier this year.

It is also clear that those who have already applied can expect a long wait for their applications to be processed as there is a significant backlog of applications in the system.

It was also confirmed that the Australian government has plans to introduce the changes to citizenship and will continue to work with senators to secure the support of the bill. The government plans to introduce new changes on 1st July 2018. If you apply for Australian citizenship on or after this date, your application will be assessed against the new requirements.

Our advice is to apply as soon as possible (if you qualify now) before the government makes amendments to the bill and starts re-negotiations in the Senate. Delaying a citizenship application may result in your application being assessed under new rules with higher standards.

If you would like advice on your eligibility for citizenship, please book a consultation with one of our Registered Migration Agents and we can discuss the requirements with you.