Australia Citizenship fee: 3 foreign groups of applicants get waiver

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- Australia's Department of Home Affairs outlined three categories of foreigners who qualify for a full citizenship fee exemption

- Applicants under the fee waiver must submit a paper application rather than using the online portal, a key condition many may overlook

- Holders of a valid Pensioner Concession Card issued by the Australian Government can access reduced citizenship fees under separate concession rules

Australia's Department of Home Affairs has identified three distinct groups of foreigners who are not required to pay the standard citizenship application fee, alongside separate concession rules that benefit other categories of applicants.

The details, published on the Australian Government's official immigration website, apply to those seeking citizenship by conferral as permanent residents. One critical condition applies across all exemption categories: eligible applicants must submit a paper application. Those who apply through the online portal will not be able to claim the waiver.

Who Qualifies for the Full Fee Exemption

The first group covers British and Maltese former child migrants who arrived in Australia without their parents between September 22, 1947, and December 31, 1967, under the Commonwealth Child Migration Scheme.

Applicants in this category must include a letter from the Child Migrants Trust confirming their arrival and sponsorship details.

The second category applies to individuals who served for at least 90 days in the permanent forces of the Commonwealth of Australia.

These applicants are required to submit a letter or discharge papers from the Australian Defence Force clearly showing their service dates.

The third group consists of people applying under the Statelessness provision, specifically section 21(8) of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007.

Reduced Fees and Concessions Available

For applicants who do not fall into any of the three exempt categories, the Australian Government offers a discounted fee under specific circumstances.

A person holding a current Pensioner Concession Card issued by either Services Australia or the Department of Veterans' Affairs can apply at a reduced rate, provided they are listed as the primary cardholder and the card remains valid.

Dependents aged 17 or younger who appear on a valid Pensioner Concession Card may also access the reduced fee.

Furthermore, children aged 15 or younger who apply on the same form as a parent are not charged any fee at all.

It is important to note that Health Care Cards, Student Cards, and Senior Health Cards do not qualify an applicant for any fee reduction under the current rules.

Australia Sets 4-Year Residency Rule for Citizenship

TUKO.co.ke previously reported that foreigners seeking Australian citizenship must have lived in Australia on a valid visa for four continuous years immediately before applying.

Applicants must also have held a permanent visa or Special Category Visa for at least the final 12 months, while their total time outside Australia must not exceed 12 months over the four-year period.

In the final 12 months before applying, applicants are generally allowed to spend no more than 90 days outside Australia.

Source: Legit.ng

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.