Dual Citizenship Australia is a gateway that offers a world of opportunities for you if you are someone who is seeking to hold multiple citizenship of Australia and any other eligible country. As there are numerous individuals that are trying to get the status of a dual citizenship in Australia in 2026, the competition has peeked. As of April 4,2002, the Australian Government has implemented a model that allows its citizens to maintain the dual citizenship Australia status.
With more than 13 years of experience in migration services, BJay Education & Visa Services have meticulously drafted this guide against the latest data given by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). This guide has been drafted to help you with the difficulties that you may encounter in the dual citizenship Australia process in 2026.
Dual Citizenship Australia
The dual citizenship Australia is a status that is given to the citizens of Australia who want to have citizenships of more than one country at the same time. This status of dual citizenship Australia is a fully legalized framework that is primarily governed by the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. With 2026 intact, this status remains a highly desired status for international workers and migrants who want to fully integrate into the Australian community while preserving their native history.
Does Australia Allow Dual Citizenship?
If we look at the history before April 4,2002, the law of Australia didn’t allow its citizens to have a dual citizenship. However, with the change in law of Australia in April 4,2002, the Australian government has provided the facility of having the status of Dual Citizenship Australia. If you are a lawful citizen of Australia, then you are eligible to have Dual Citizenship Australia and are able to be an Australian citizen while being a citizen of another country without one affecting the legal standing of the other.
Countries that allow Dual Citizenship Australia
In the current migration scene of Australia, there are certain countries that permit the status of a Dual Citizenship Australia. While the Australian government allows its eligible citizens to hold the status, you must ensure the other country that you are trying to get citizenship of does not require you to renounce your Australian status upon arrival or acquisition.
Countries According to the Regions
Europe
| Region | Country |
|---|---|
| Europe | UK |
| Europe | Ireland |
| Europe | France |
| Europe | Italy |
| Europe | Germany |
| Europe | Greece |
| Europe | Portugal |
| Europe | Spain |
| Europe | Sweden |
| Europe | Denmark |
| Europe | Finland |
| Europe | Norway |
| Europe | Switzerland |
| Europe | Belgium |
| Europe | Malta |
| Europe | Cyprus |
| Europe | Hungary |
| Europe | Poland |
| Europe | Romania |
| Europe | Bulgaria |
Americas
| Region | Country |
|---|---|
| Americas | USA |
| Americas | Canada |
| Americas | Brazil |
| Americas | Colombia |
| Americas | Argentina |
| Americas | Mexico |
| Americas | Chile |
| Americas | Peru |
| Americas | Uruguay |
| Americas | Panama |
| Americas | Costa Rica |
Oceania
| Region | Country |
|---|---|
| Oceania | New Zealand |
| Oceania | Fiji |
| Oceania | Tonga |
| Oceania | Western Samoa |
| Oceania | Vanuatu |
Middle East & Africa
| Region | Country |
|---|---|
| Middle East & Africa | Israel |
| Middle East & Africa | Turkey |
| Middle East & Africa | Egypt |
| Middle East & Africa | South Africa |
| Middle East & Africa | Lebanon |
| Middle East & Africa | Jordan |
| Middle East & Africa | Syria |
| Middle East & Africa | Morocco |
| Middle East & Africa | Nigeria |
| Middle East & Africa | Kenya |
Caribbean
| Region | Country |
|---|---|
| Caribbean | St Kitts and Nevis |
| Caribbean | St Lucia |
| Caribbean | Antigua and Barbuda |
| Caribbean | Dominica |
| Caribbean | Grenada |
| Caribbean | Barbados |
| Caribbean | Jamaica |
Asia
| Region | Country |
|---|---|
| Asia | Philippines (via RA 9225) |
| Asia | Thailand |
| Asia | Vietnam (specific cases) |
| Asia | Cambodia |
| Asia | South Korea (specific age/military cases) |
Countries Prohibiting Dual Citizenship Australia
There are certain nations that forbid dual citizenship with Australia, whereas other nations permit it. Obtaining Australian citizenship may result in the immediate revocation of your previous nationality because many countries across the world forbid its citizens from having the status.
Asia
| Region | Country |
|---|---|
| Asia | China |
| Asia | Japan |
| Asia | Singapore |
| Asia | Malaysia |
| Asia | Indonesia |
| Asia | Nepal |
| Asia | India |
| Asia | South Korea |
| Asia | Laos |
| Asia | Myanmar |
Middle East
| Region | Country |
|---|---|
| Middle East | Saudi Arabia |
| Middle East | Kuwait |
| Middle East | UAE |
| Middle East | Oman |
| Middle East | Qatar |
| Middle East | Iran |
Europe
| Region | Country |
|---|---|
| Europe | Austria |
| Europe | Estonia |
| Europe | Monaco |
| Europe | Andorra |
| Europe | Ukraine |
Africa
| Region | Country |
|---|---|
| Africa | Ethiopia |
| Africa | Botswana |
| Africa | Tanzania |
| Africa | Cameroon |
| Africa | DR Congo |
Rights of Dual Citizenship Australia
After you are successfully secured your Dual Citizenship Australia you are able to enjoy the following rights:
Unrestricted Residency: Once you have acquired the dual citizenship, you now have absolute right to live, work and study in the turf of Australia indefinitely. Unlike Permanent Residence of Australia, your status in Australia can not be cancelled due to character concerns or long absences.
Federal Benefits: Once you have secured your dual citizenship Australia, you will gain full rights to Medicare, HECS-HELP student loan scheme, and the right to apply for the certain restricted government roles within the Australian Defense Force (ADF) or Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO).
Passports & Travel: After successfully securing dual citizenship, you are not able to hold and travel on 2 different passports. With this facility in 2026, it is a facility that provides you with the ability to travel with both passports.
Responsibilities of Dual Citizenship Australia
Even though you are a dual citizen of two countries, there are a set of responsibilities that you are required to be accountable for. The responsibilities that you need to be accountable as a dual citizen are as follows:
Mandatory Voting: Even though you are a dual citizen of different countries, as an Australian citizen who is above the age of 18, you are obliged to enroll and vote in federal and state elections (and referendums). If you fail to vote in any elections, it can result in you having to pay fines.
Passport Integrity: You are mandated legally to use your Australian passport to enter and depart from the turf of Australia. If you attempt to use your foreign passport at the Australian gateway, your profile can be flagged for the cause of visa mismatch and cause certain delays.
Jury Duty: If in any case scenarios you are summoned to serve by the jury then you are required to be present. While you are allowed to request an exemption if you are living offshore, dual citizenship does not give you an excuse from the civic duty that is required to be fulfilled.
Foreign Obligations: Even though Dual nationality is allowed by Australian government, it might not always be allowed by your home country. It is your responsibility to make sure that accepting the Australian commitment does not unintentionally result in an obligatory military service requirement or the loss of your original citizenship.
Advantages of Dual Citizenship Australia
The Dual Citizenship Australia status provides you with a powerful array of benefits that can more extensible than just being able to hold two passports of 2 different countries. By securing the status of Dual Citizenship Australia, you are able to unlock various benefits which are as follows:
Global Mobility & Two Passports: After achieving the status of dual citizenship Australia, you will gain the right and authority to carry 2 passports at the same time. For a greater number of nations, this frequently removes the need for a visa. An Australian-UK dual nationality, for instance, has visa-free access to more than 185 countries and can live and work anywhere in Australia and the UK.
The Safety Net Effect: With the Dual Citizenship Status in effect, you will then gain full access to social services provided to you by both nations. This includes services like Medicare and HECS-HELP in Australia plus the services like healthcare, pensions, or subsidized education are offered by your second country.
Political & Property Rights: With this status you are now an eligible candidate who can vote in both nations and, with the exception of the Australian Federal Parliament’s Section 44 restrictions, typically seek for public office. Additionally, you acquire the freedom to purchase, sell, or inherit property in both jurisdictions rights that are sometimes denied to foreign nationals.
Simplified Employment: With the status, you are now able to work for any employer in both the countries that you have citizenship for. Global leaders and digital nomads are mostly the individuals that would benefit from this.
Disadvantages of Dual Citizenship Australia
With pros of everything, there are also certain cons as well. Similarly, with the powerful array of benefits that the dual citizenship Australia provides, there are few disadvantages as well. The disadvantages of Dual Citizenship Australia are as follows:
Limited Consular Assistance: In 2026, this is considered as the most crucial and critical risk. If you are in your other country of the Dual Citizenship, then the Australian government may be legally barred to provide you with the facility of consular help if you are in a condition of an arrest or are involved in any legal trouble.
Compulsory Military Service: With the benefits of the Dual Citizenship Australia, there are numerous countries like Isreal, South Korea, Greece and Turkey that have mandatory military service. If you are someone who is holding a dual citizenship Australia, it does not automatically exempt you and could lead to you being detained and drafted upon arrival, even if you are just visiting on holiday.
Double Taxation & Filing: Some nations around the globe like USA impose taxes to its citizens on the basis of Citizenship whereas there are countries like Australia that impose taxes based on residency. Regardless of where you reside, you might have to report overseas bank accounts and file tax returns to both countries annually as a dual citizenship holder.
The Dual Passport Travel Rule: When you are in your dual citizenship, while entering the turf of Australia requires you to enter and depart Australia on your Australian passport. Since an Australian citizen is technically unable to have a visa for their own nation, using a foreign passport may result in delays at the border.
Costs of Dual Citizenship Australia
The cost related to the Dual Citizenship Australia is totally dependent on your application to the specific eligibility stream. The cost in this field is all the fees that are non-refundable and must be paid at the time of lodgment with the official link through the ImmiAccount.
| Application Type | Standard Fee | Concession Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship by Conferral (Standard Path) | AUD $575 | AUD $80 |
| Citizenship by Conferral (60+ Years) | AUD $350 | $40 |
| Citizenship by Descent (First Applicant) | AUD $370 | N/A |
| Citizenship by Descent (Subsequent Siblings) | AUD $150 | N/A |
| Evidence of Citizenship (Certificate Only) | AUD $280 | Nil |
| Resumption of Citizenship | AUD $245 | Nil (under 16) |
Processing Time of Dual Citizenship Australia
As every application process has a processing time. Similarly, the Dual Citizenship Australia also has a timeline that is further divided into 2 phases:
- Decision Phase (Lodgment to Approval)
- Ceremony Phase (Approval to Official pledge)
| Pathway | 75% of Cases | 90% of Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship by Conferral | 12 Months | 14 Months |
| Citizenship by Descent | 5 Months | 7 Months |
| Decision to Ceremony (Wait time) | 4 Months | 6 Months |
| Total Estimated Time (Conferral) | ~16 Months | ~20 Months |
Steps to Get a Dual Citizenship Australia
If you are a lawful Citizen and a Permanent Resident of Australia who is aged between 18-59 years old, then you must follow this 2026 roadmap that can be a steppingstone to help you secure your Australian Status while you are maintaining your original nationality.
Step 1: Verify Residency and Absence Limits
In 2026, before you apply for the Dual Citizenship Australia, you are required to satisfy the “General Residence Requirement” which basically means that you are required to satisfy the following criteria:
- You need to have lived in the turf of Australia for the past 4 years and on a valid visa.
- You should have held a Permanent Residence (PR) in Australia for the last 12 months.
- You haven’t spent more than 12 months outside of Australia in the four years, and you haven’t gone overseas for more than 90 days in the 12 months before applying.
Step 2: Prepare Decision-Ready Documents
After you have verified your residency and absence limits in Step 1, the next step is to prepare documents that need to be submitted. You need to gather high-quality color scans of documents that need to be submitted, and you need to make sure that digital documents and their clarity are a priority given by the DHA. The documents that need to be submitted are:
- All the passports till now (Current and Expired), Birth Certificates and National ID (NID) that verify your identity must be submitted.
- All the police and character certificates from any country where you have lived for more than 12 months in the last 10 years must be submitted.
- A completed Form 1195, signed by an authorized person who has known you for at least one year showing the Identity Declaration must be submitted.
Step 3: Lodge via ImmiAccount
After you have prepared the documents that need to be submitted to the DHA, you are required to lodge your application via ImmiAccount website and need to pay the standard fee of AUD $575. After completing this step successfully, you will then receive an immediate acknowledgement that your application has been lodged and will receive a Transaction Reference Number (TRN).
Step 4: Attend Appointment and Citizenship Test
After your application has been lodged and it is screened, you will then be invited by the DHA to attend an interview for the verification. In this interview taken by the DHA, an officer will then verify your original documents. Another part of this step is that you need to pass a test taken by the DHA. In this test, you are required to score at least 75% on the Australian Citizenship Test. In 2026, you need to answer all 5 questions on “Australian Values” correctly to pass this test.
Step 5: Receive Approval and Attend Ceremony
After you have successfully attended the interview and passed the Australian Citizenship Test, you will then receive a “Letter of Approval”. After you receive the approval letter, you are then required to attend a local Council ceremony which usually takes place after 4-6 months and take a pledge of commitment. After the ceremony, you will then receive your certificate marking you as an individual who has acquired Dual Citizenship Australia.
FAQs
Yes, Australia allows its eligible citizens to hold dual citizenships without any restrictions. However, Dual Citizenship Australia depends on the laws of the other country that you are trying to get a citizenship from as well. If the other nation that you are trying to get the citizenship from allows you to have dual citizenship can secure a dual citizenship Australia.
If you want to travel to Australia, then you are legally obliged to use your Australian passport to enter and leave Australia. Since Australian nationals are not eligible for visas, trying to enter Australia on a foreign passport can result in major delays at the border, even though you can use it for other portions of your trip (such as entering the UK or the USA).
Yes, Australia allows dual citizenship with New Zealand. As of 2023 July, New Zealand Citizen living in Australia on Subclass 444 visa for more than 4 years is eligible to directly apply for the citizenship by conferral. With this change in 2023, it makes the process of Dual Citizenship Australia more straightforward and accessible for citizens of New Zealand.
The primary disadvantage of a dual citizenship Australia is the disadvantage of limited consular protection while you are in another country you are having the citizenship from. If you are in the other country, you have the citizenship of, the government of Australia is not able to legally assist in the legal disputes.
Children born in Australia to parents who are neither citizens or permanent residents (such as those on a work or student visa) are subject to the 10-year rule. Regardless of their parents’ visa status, a kid who spends the first ten years of their life in Australia “ordinarily” automatically becomes an Australian citizen on their tenth birthday.
With the 2026 in effect, the competitive landscape of the Australian migration scene requires more than just guides or documents. The process to navigate the complexities of the dual citizenship Australia requires a partner that can make the difference between the approval of the application and the delays that can be caused.
At BJay Education & Visa Services, we have a full-fledged team who specialize in citizenship and migration strategy. We Ensure that your journey from PR in Australia to having a dual citizenship Australia is handled with precision and is seamless.
Why BJay?
Expert Team: With a team of experienced team members, we here at BJay Education & Visa Services, we provide you with the tailored and specialized support that you require.
Proven Track Record: With over a decade long experience since 2011, we have been a help and assisted numerous clients from various parts of the world to provide tailored services suited for them.
Registered & Regulated: We comply with the stringent code of conduct. Jaya Oli, our head agent, has firsthand knowledge of your path because he was an international student in Australia.
Global Presence: with offices in Kathmandu, Birtamode and Sydney, BJay education and Visa Services provides you with services that are uninterrupted and available for you at your convenience.
Want to have the Dual Citizenship Australia without any problem? Start with a Free, Non-Obligatory Consultation with BJay Today!
