Documentation requirements for people born overseas to a former Australian citizen

Original documents must be provided.

Certified copies of the documents must also be provided with the application. The people who can certify documents are the same as those that can endorse photographs - see below. The person that certifies the documents does not have to be the same person who endorses the photograph and completes the proof of identity declaration on the application form. The original documents will be returned.

Note: If you are applying overseas and you provide copies of identity documents certified by an Australian consular officer or Australian Diplomatic officer you do not need to provide original documents with your application.

If documents are not in English, an official translation also must be provided. In Australia translations should be done by translators accredited by the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).
See: NAATI

The following documents will be required to support an application for Australian citizenship by conferral:

• an endorsed passport size photograph – for full details on photograph requirement
  See: Endorsed photographs

• originals of the full birth certificate of the applicant, showing the details of your parents

• evidence that at least one parent was an Australian citizen before their birth

• evidence that the Australian citizen parent lost their Australian citizenship under section 17 of the Australian Citizenship Act 1948 before their birth (such as citizenship certificate of another country, statement from the authorities of the other country stating how and when the parent acquired the citizenship of that country)

• other identification documents of the applicant which include a signature, photograph and correct address (such as driving licence and credit card/utilities bill)

• Applicants will need to provide penal clearance certificates from overseas countries if, in the last 10 years:

  • they lived or travelled overseas since the age of 18 years or over; and
  • the total time spent overseas added up to 12 months or more; and
  • the time spent in any one country was more than 3 months; or
  • requested to do so by the department.

If the applicant is applying outside Australia, then Australia should be considered an overseas country.

Information about how and where to obtain penal clearance certificates is available.
See: Character and Penal Clearance Requirements

You can also call the Citizenship Information Line.
Telephone: 131 880 (Australia only)

• if applicable, official Australian evidence of any name change (such as an official change of name certificate issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths or Marriages (RBDM) or a marriage certificate issued by an Australian RBDM. Overseas marriage certificates are not acceptable evidence of a change of name).

  Copies of birth certificates may be obtained from the relevant Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
  See: Births, Deaths & Marriages Registries