Giving up your citizenship

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The following steps are a guide to the application process to give up or renounce Australian citizenship.

Click on Step 1 below to begin.

Step 1. Determine that you are eligible

Australian citizens aged 18 or over can apply to renounce their Australian citizenship.

Australia is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. No application to renounce Australian citizenship will be approved unless there is evidence that the applicant is a citizen of another country, or on renunciation will acquire the citizenship of another country.

If the applicant is the parent or guardian of a child, consideration may be given to revoking the citizenship of any children under the age of 18 years unless:

  • another responsible parent is still an Australian citizen, or
  • this would render the child stateless.

Children

Children can apply to renounce Australian citizenship, only if they were born or are ordinarily resident in a foreign country and are not entitled, under the law of that country, to acquire the nationality or citizenship of that country because they are Australian citizens.

Applications for children under 16 years of age must be made by a parent or legal guardian.

Step 2. Gather your original documents

Use this checklist as a guide to the original documents usually required.

Step 3. Copy and certify your documents

Have your documents copied and certified and your proof of identity declaration and photograph signed.

You must copy your original documents and have them certified by an Australian citizen from the designated list of occupations.

Applicants outside Australia

If you are overseas when applying, you can have your original documents certified by a citizen of your country of residence who is employed in one of the designated list of occupations.

Step 4. Complete and lodge your application

Complete and lodge your application together with your certified documents, photograph and fee.

Once you have had your documents copied and certified you will need to complete all parts of the application form.

More information on how to complete and lodge your application form is available.