How long do I have to wait before I am allocated to a Ceremony?
The current wait time is between 3-6 months. This is managed by the Department of Home Affairs and will be allocated accordingly. Blacktown City Council is unable to advise when you are likely to be appointed to a ceremony. Should you wish to know the status of your application, please contact the Department of Home Affairs and Immigration on 131 881.
I have been allocated to a Ceremony, but I cannot attend, what do I do?
If you are unable to attend your ceremony, please notify the Department of Home Affairs via the instructions in the invitation letter. You will then be allocated to the next appropriate ceremony.
If you have to travel before you receive your Citizenship you must maintain your permanent resident status in Australia and confirm if any travel bans are currently in place.
I need my Citizenship urgently. What do I do?
Ceremony allocations are performed by order of approval date only and there is no way to 'fast-track' your application, therefore urgent ceremonies are only approved in exceptional and limited circumstances.
One or more of the below criteria would need to be met before any consideration can be made:
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Visiting a close family member who is terminally ill (with evidence)
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Attend a funeral of a close family member
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Receive urgent medical treatment that cannot be received in Australia
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Attend legal proceedings in person
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Accompany a sick/elderly relative for one of the reasons above
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Defence force personnel
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Clients who will work for the Australian Government who need to be an Australian citizen to be employed
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Clients who need to be an Australian citizen to be employed for a job they have been offered who have been waiting more than six months for a ceremony. This does not apply to applicants who are currently employed with a company and require citizenship for additional duties
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Eligibility for HECS-Help study loans when it has been more than six months since date of approval.
You must contact the Department of Home Affairs directly if any of these circumstances apply to you.
What should I expect at the Ceremony?
You will be checked in by staff and the front door and you will proceed up the stairs into the venue. The formal proceedings will begin at 7.30 pm with a traditional Welcome to Country and corrobboree, followed by speeches from the Mayor and other dignitaries. You must read the Pledge in order to complete your Citizenship. If you do not, you will not receive Citizenship. After the Pledge, recipients will be invited to take a photo with Mayor of Blacktown and other guests. This is when the formal proceedings will end and you are allowed to leave.
How many guests can I invite?
Due to the number of recipients invited to each ceremony and venue capacity, recipients are only permitted one guest each.
Voting is compulsory in Australia How do I enrol to vote?
On the day of your Ceremony you will receive a form from the Australian Electoral Commission which provides you with a QR code and instructions on how to enrol to vote. You are encouraged to scan the QR code and complete the process using your Citizenship Certificate while you wait for the Ceremony to start. Alternatively, you can complete this after the Ceremony but it must be completed before the next election. For more information, please visit the Australian Electoral Commission website.