| Effective 21 September, the Australian Department of | | | | There is a reduced residence requirement in this case |
| Immigration has introduced the ability for certain people | | | | – the person needs to be present in Australia for at |
| to apply for Australian citizenship, even if they do not | | | | least: |
| meet the usual residence requirement. | | | | - 4 of the last 24 months; and |
| The new requirement is referred to as the Special | | | | - 3 of the last 12 months |
| Residence Requirement, and may affect people who | | | | The person also needs to have been a permanent |
| either: | | | | resident who is ordinarily resident in Australia for the |
| 1. Intend to engage in activities of benefit to Australia, | | | | past 2 years. |
| and who are supported by certain organisations; or | | | | Work in Certain Occupations |
| 2. Are employed in certain occupations which require | | | | This exemption applies to people who work only in |
| travel outside Australia | | | | certain areas, for instance: |
| The usual residence requirement for citizenship is very | | | | - Crew members of aircraft or ships; |
| strict – you would in general need to be present in | | | | - Workers on resources installations or sea installations. |
| Australia for at least: | | | | The person needs to have been working in the |
| 1. The last 4 years on any temporary or permanent | | | | occupation for at least 2 of the last 4 years, and to |
| visa, with a maximum of 12 months overseas in this | | | | have regularly travelled because of that work. |
| period; and | | | | Again, there is a reduced residence requirement – |
| 2. The last 12 months on a permanent visa, with a | | | | the person needs to be present in Australia for at |
| maximum of 3 months overseas. | | | | least: |
| The usual residence for 4 years in Australia is now | | | | - 16 of the last 48 months; and |
| referred to as the “General Residence | | | | - 4 of the last 12 months |
| Requirement” | | | | The person also needs to have ordinarily resident in |
| Activities of Benefit to Australia | | | | Australia for the past 4 years, and to have held their |
| Only certain activities are covered by this exception | | | | permanent visa for the last 12 months. |
| – activities include: | | | | Conclusion |
| - Government work which requires a high level | | | | The General Residence Requirements for Australian |
| security clearance; or | | | | citizenship are very strict and do disadvantage people |
| - Participation in sporting events (for example the | | | | who are unable to reside in Australia due to work |
| Olympics, Paralympics, Davis Cup or Fed Cup) | | | | commitments. Previously, the only exemptions to the |
| The application for citizenship will need to be supported | | | | residence requirements were situations where: |
| by the head of an approved organisation – this | | | | - The person has served in the Australian military; or |
| would need to be one of the following: | | | | - The person has an Australian citizen spouse. |
| - A government Department; | | | | The new changes are quite beneficial to people who |
| - The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC); | | | | need to travel due to work commitments, but only |
| - The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC); or | | | | cover very specific occupations – namely people |
| - Tennis Australia. | | | | working in the oil & gas industry or transport |
| The application must be on the basis that the person | | | | industry. The changes are also beneficial to elite |
| requires Australian citizenship to participate in the | | | | athletes and people who need security clearance to |
| relevant event. | | | | work in certain government jobs. |