Citizenship ceremonies

When your application for Australian citizenship is approved, you will receive a letter from the Department of Home Affairs with the date and location of your citizenship ceremony.

Your citizenship ceremony is usually held at your local council within 6 months from the time your application is approved, but sometimes waiting times can vary.

You must attend the citizenship ceremony. This is the final phase of being granted Australian citizenship.

At the citizenship ceremony you are required to make apledge of commitmentto Australia and its laws. The pledge you say will be the one you chose on your application form. You are then presented with a Certificate of Australian Citizenship. This formally represents your Australian citizenship.

Each citizenship ceremony will start with a traditional Welcome to Country performed by a Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder. The order of proceedings will include an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander speaker who will share their personal story and reflections. A plant native to the area will be gifted to each new citizen by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder in attendance on the day.

You will not be able to participate in the ceremony and obtain citizenship on the day if you are not able to produce the appropriate identification as follows:

• Your letter of invitation sent to you by the Department of Home Affairs
• Photographic identification (such as your passport or driver's licence)

If you are unable to provide your passport or driver's licence you will need to bring at least 3 different documents which contain your name, address, and signature. These can be credit card statements, bills for utilities, or bank statements.

All your documents must be officially translated into English.

The Mayor of Darebin presides over citizenship ceremonies. Politicians who represent Darebin, both federal and state, are also invited.

Candidates will receive their invitation to attend from the Department of Home Affairs. Due to capacity of the venue and to minimise COVID-19 risk to our community, currently only 1 guest per candidate may attend the ceremonies. Children and dependants of candidates are welcome to attend and do not count as guests.

If any of your family members under 16 years old are also receiving their citizenship on the same day as you, they aren’t required to attend. You will be able to take their certificate on their behalf.

If you have any COVID-19 symptoms we ask that you do not attend the ceremony. You need to inform the Department of Home Affairs so they can arrange an alternate date. You can find the contact details for this on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Ceremonies take about 90 minutes. Doors open for registration 45 minutes before the ceremony starts.

We recommend smart casual dress code for citizenship ceremonies. You’re also welcome to wear clothing that celebrates your culture and heritage.

All new citizens over the age of 18 are eligible to enrol to vote. Enrolment allows new citizens to vote at Commonwealth, state and local council elections.

Voting at Commonwealth, state and local council elections is compulsory and there are fines for not voting without a valid excuse. You can find out more information about how to enrol and vote on the Australian Electoral Commission website.

No. In 2017, Darebin resolved to no longer hold citizenship ceremonies on 26 January. This is an acknowledgment that this day marks the beginning of the British invasion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands and the oppression of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Local councils are not required to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26. We will hold a ceremony either three days before, or three days after January 26, as is mandated by the Federal Government. The dates of our January 2024 Citizenship ceremonies will be published on our website once they are confirmed.

Find out more about our decision on 26 January.