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Original poster

Australian citizenship by descent

19 replies

sherbert · 09/07/2007 18:03

I am finally getting around to applying for this for my two DS's. I am bit confused over the documentation. Firstly, who can sign my Ds's photos, Obvioulsy I dont know any australian citizens over here who qualify so a British citizen that falls into the catergories is ok?
Under the documents required section , it asks

Birth certificate
Parents birth certificate

Passport held , if any. Is this my (australian passport) the boys british passport or what.

any other info you can give me would be great. How long does it usually take.?

OP posts:
winestein · 09/07/2007 18:05

I'm a bit confused..
Are you applying for Australian passports for your DS's?

winestein · 09/07/2007 18:06

Oh, yes, I see now - it is isn;t it as you are wondering about their British passports

winestein · 09/07/2007 18:08

I had a few issues with getting my and my DS's passports sorted - is there a helpline number? I found that incredibly helpful

tegan · 09/07/2007 18:14

I have duel nationality (uk/australia)and get really confused by all this stuff.

My parents are british but I was born in oz.
Can I get duel citizenship for my kids then?

Original poster
sherbert · 09/07/2007 21:08

Yes I want to know ifi have to send in my DS british passports with the application. Seems an odd thing to do really, I can understand why they would want to see mine though. I will try the helpline number in the morning.

Tegan , where do you live? Where were your kids born?

OP posts:
Califrau · 09/07/2007 21:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tegan · 09/07/2007 21:37

I live in the uk and both of my kids were born here too but because I have duel nationality can they get it too.

eidsvold · 09/07/2007 23:03

tegan was your husband born in the UK??

I think it is now if your parents were born in the UK - so I have british citizenship as my dad is english and my dd2 and 3 are entitled as their dad is english. I know the rules changed that it could be either parent born in the UK but not sure if it works if you got your citizenship by descent.

Sherbert - it was a long time ago and I will try to remember. I am sure I got an english friend who fell into the categories to sign the photos etc - I am sure it was just someone who had known us and the dd1.

I am sure it was dd1's british passport. But my memory is hazy - could you not check on the Aussie immigration website - that might have the info you need.

Califrau · 09/07/2007 23:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eidsvold · 10/07/2007 04:01

tegan - if you are aussie cause you were born here in Aus then you children would get citizenship by descent.

Sidonie · 10/07/2007 05:51

A phone call to the nearest Australian embassy may help to make the paper work clearer. I can't remember all the details that made our children Australian by Descent.

With "The Australian Citizenship Act 2007" there are new changes that make it easier for people to become Australian by descent. www.citizenship.gov.au/law-and-policy/history/overview/descent.htm

superloopy · 10/07/2007 06:47

My DD has citizenship by descent, as I am Aust and she was born in the UK. I remember it being quite easy to do but found that if I had any questions it was best to email the embassy. If you call them the charge is about £1/min, email is free and you can exactly describe your situation and not leave anything out. Plus it is less embarrassing to ask dumb questions in an email rather than to an actual person!
Good luck!!

Harrogatemum · 10/07/2007 08:17

I got Aussie citizenship for my children as DH is an Aussie. All you have to do is fill in the form on the immigration website and send it off with their birth certificates and proof of the Australian parent's citizenship - for us that was DH's cert of Aussie citizenship. With the photos we have an australian friend here who did it for us but I understand if you dont know any Aussies here then you can get a British citizen to do it. The certs came back a week later!

Applying for the Aussie passports here is slightly harder - you have to go in person to Australia House, so my DH did it, but again, the passports were back with us within a week so the service is very impressive! Hope this helps.

tegan · 10/07/2007 10:12

dh british
me duel
my parents british
my kids who knows

Harrogatemum · 10/07/2007 14:26

Tegan if you were born in Aus you can get dual citizenship for your kids. Go to www.immi.gov.au and type in "Citizenship by descent" in the search box and it will direct you to the relevant application form (form 118).

katelyle · 10/07/2007 14:33

Does this mean that you can get dual nationallity if your parents were born in Australia, or do you have to choose British or australian?

Original poster
sherbert · 10/07/2007 16:20

You can have dual citizenship. You dont have to chose one or the other.

OP posts:
katelyle · 10/07/2007 22:53

5 remember there was a window of opportunity to do this about 20 years ago and I didn't get round to it. Excited that the door might not actually be closed!

Harrogatemum · 11/07/2007 13:15

I think if you are over 18 you have to prove that you have lived in Australia for at least two years.

Check out www.immi.gov.au for all the latest!

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