How to get an Australian citizenship certificate
Your Australian citizenship certificate is the official proof that you're a citizen. You need it to apply for an Australian passport, prove your status for employment, enrol to vote, and access other entitlements. Here's how you get it, for each situation.
Official evidence of citizenship information: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/certificate
1. After a citizenship ceremony (conferral applicants)
For most applicants — those who applied for citizenship by conferral — the citizenship certificate is presented at the citizenship ceremony. You don't receive it when your application is approved; you receive it when you attend the ceremony and make the pledge of commitment.
The process to get to that point:
- Apply for citizenship through ImmiAccount at online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login
- Attend your appointment — identity verification and, for most applicants aged 18 to 59, the citizenship test
- Wait for approval — your application moves into final assessment (check ImmiAccount for updates)
- Attend the citizenship ceremony — your local council invites you; you make the pledge and receive your certificate
For a full guide to the ceremony, see important things about the Australian citizenship ceremony.
2. For citizenship by descent applicants
If you applied for Australian citizenship by descent, there's no ceremony and no pledge required. Once the Department of Home Affairs approves your application, you receive a citizenship by descent certificate directly.
Processing times vary. Apply through ImmiAccount and check immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/citizenship-processing-times for current estimates.
For more on the descent pathway, see how to get Australian citizenship by descent.
3. If you've lost or damaged your certificate (evidence of citizenship)
If your original certificate is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can apply for a replacement through the Department of Home Affairs — this is called evidence of Australian citizenship.
Apply online through ImmiAccount. You'll need:
- Identity documents (passport, driver's licence)
- Any available proof of your existing citizenship (previous certificate, current Australian passport, or other records)
- The applicable fee (check current fees at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/departmental-forms/online-forms/citizenship-fees)
Replacement certificates are treated the same as originals — they work for passport applications, employment purposes, and all other official needs.
4. If you need proof but never had a certificate
Some people are Australian citizens who have never had a formal certificate — for example, people who became citizens automatically at birth under older rules, or whose certificate was lost long ago and records are unclear.
In these cases, applying for evidence of Australian citizenship establishes the documentary proof. The Department's evidence of citizenship process covers these situations.
For more on the forms used in this process, see Australian citizenship forms 118 and 119 explained.
What to do with your certificate
Keep it somewhere safe — it's a legal document. Don't carry it around daily; store the original securely and use a certified copy where possible.
With your certificate, you can:
- Apply for an Australian passport (through the Australian Passport Office)
- Enrol to vote in federal, state, and local elections (through the AEC at aec.gov.au)
- Prove your citizenship to employers, courts, and government agencies
If it's ever lost, damaged, or destroyed, a replacement is available — but it takes time to process. Apply for evidence of citizenship as soon as you notice the issue.
Related guides
- Important things about the Australian citizenship ceremony
- How to get Australian citizenship by descent
- Australian citizenship forms 118 and 119 explained
- Step-by-step Australian citizenship application process
*Fees and processing times are updated regularly. Check the Department of Home Affairs website for current figures before applying. *