Leaflet 1: Becoming an Australian Citizen

This is an information leaflet. It should be helpful to a person who wants to become a citizen or who is in favour of making a change in citizenship laws.

• Who can become an Australian citizen?
• What are the steps for becoming an Australian citizen if you are not born a citizen?
• Is becoming an Australian citizen easier or harder than becoming a citizen in Japan and in the United States? Make a chart comparing the three countries.
• What rights does citizenship guarantee for Australians?
• Should any of the requirements for citizenship be changed?

Resources you can use

Books

Discovering Democracy Primary and Secondary Units: these books contain units on citizenship and public life. There is also a CD-ROM and a video.

Internet sites

About Citizenship, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs

http://www.citizenship.gov.au/

American Immigration Center

http://www.us-immigration.com/citizens.htm
Information about requirements for United States citizenship.

Australian Electoral Commission

http://www.aec.gov.au/Enrolling_to_vote/Eligibility.htm
This site gives information on the eligibility of citizens to vote.

Citizenship Status in the US and Japan

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html ( Japan)
http://www.insservice.org/ ( USA)
Compares the processes for becoming a citizen in Japan and in the United States.

Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs

http://www.immi.gov.au/facts/index.htm
Fact Sheet 90 is useful for this leaflet.