Australian citizenship forms 118 and 119 explained

Not all citizenship applicants complete the same paperwork. Forms 118 and 119 serve very different purposes, and using the wrong one causes delays. Here's what each form is for.

Important note: The Department of Home Affairs now directs most applicants through online ImmiAccount flows rather than downloadable paper forms. The form names (118 and 119) are associated with specific pathways, but when you apply through ImmiAccount, you'll typically follow the relevant online application rather than a standalone PDF form. Treat the form numbers as legacy/search terminology unless the Department specifically asks you to use a form.

Always use the official pathway page to start:

• Citizenship by descent: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/become-a-citizen/by-descent
• Evidence of Australian citizenship: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/certificate

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Quick comparison

	Form 118	Form 119
Purpose	Apply for citizenship by descent	Prove you already are a citizen
Who uses it	People born overseas with an Australian parent	People who are already citizens and need documentation
What it gives you	Citizenship by descent certificate	Evidence of Australian citizenship certificate
Test required?	No	No
Ceremony required?	No	No
Official pathway	Citizenship by descent	Evidence of citizenship

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The common mistake

The mistake is applying for evidence of citizenship when you actually need to apply for citizenship by descent.

Use this simple distinction:

• If you were born overseas and are trying to become an Australian citizen because your parent was Australian when you were born, look at the by descent pathway.
• If you are already an Australian citizen and only need proof, look at evidence of citizenship.

If you choose the wrong pathway, the Department may need more information, or you may lose time before realising the application does not match your situation.

Form 118 — citizenship by descent

Form 118 is the application for Australian citizenship by descent. You use this pathway if:

• You were born outside Australia, and
• At least one of your parents was an Australian citizen at the time of your birth

This form does not apply to people seeking citizenship through permanent residency (citizenship by conferral). It's specifically for people claiming citizenship based on their parent's citizenship status.

A few things to know about the by descent application:

• There's no age limit — you can apply as a baby, a teenager, or an adult
• You need to provide your birth certificate and evidence of your parent's Australian citizenship (an Australian passport or citizenship certificate)
• If your parent was also a citizen by descent or adoption, extra residence evidence may be needed to show they spent enough time lawfully in Australia
• Good character requirements apply if you're an adult applicant
• Applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount

See how to get Australian citizenship by descent for the full eligibility requirements and document checklist.

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Form 119 — evidence of citizenship

Form 119 is for people who are already Australian citizens but need official documentation to prove it.

You'd use this pathway if:

• Your original citizenship certificate was lost, destroyed, or damaged
• You need to replace a certificate to apply for an Australian passport
• You need formal proof of citizenship for an employer, a court, or a government agency
• You may have acquired citizenship automatically and need a certificate to prove it

Form 119 doesn't make you a citizen — it provides documentary proof that you already are one.

Do not use the evidence pathway if you are applying to become a citizen for the first time. For example, a permanent resident applying after meeting the residence requirement usually needs citizenship by conferral, not Forms 118 or 119.

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What you'll need to provide

For the by descent (Form 118) pathway:

• Your birth certificate (showing both parents' names)
• Evidence of your parent's Australian citizenship at the time of your birth
• Your own identity documents
• A completed identity declaration if the Department asks for it
• Certified English translations of any non-English documents (use a NAATI-accredited translator: naati.com.au)

For evidence of citizenship (Form 119) pathway:

• Identity documents (passport, driver's licence)
• Any existing proof of citizenship (previous certificate, current Australian passport)

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Fees

Both pathways carry an application fee. Fees are updated periodically, so check current amounts before applying: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/departmental-forms/online-forms/citizenship-fees

For a plain-English overview, see Australian citizenship fees.

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Related guides

• How to get Australian citizenship by descent
• How to get an Australian citizenship certificate
• How to obtain Australian citizenship for babies born overseas
• Australian citizenship documents checklist

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*Form names and application flows are subject to change. Use the official Department of Home Affairs pathway pages to start your application. *