The City of Cockburn holds citizenship ceremonies on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs throughout the year for Cockburn residents to receive Australian Citizenship. A citizenship ceremony is where you make the Australian citizenship pledge, the final step in becoming an Australian.
You need to meet criteria to be eligible to apply. You must apply for citizenship online or you can request paper copies of relevant forms form the Department of Home Affairs. Lodge your completed application together with an application fee to the Department. You will be asked to attend an appointment to have an interview and sit a citizenship test. For all information on becoming a citizen please visit the
Department of Home Affairs website opens in a new window or contact 131 880.
Once approved you will receive a letter from the Department of Home Affairs. The Department of Home Affairs send us a list of invitees around 6 weeks before each ceremony. You will receive your invitation by email as soon as the your details have been received by us on an invitation list. If you have not received an invitation email then we do not yet have your information.
All ceremony allocations are done by the Department of Home Affairs. Any queries you have regarding scheduling, including early or urgent ceremony allocation must be directed to the Department by emailing
[email protected] or by calling their office on 131 880.
From receiving your letter of approval from the Department of Home Affairs to being invited to attend a ceremony may take several months due to the high number of approvals. If you wish to be make the pledge with family or friends who are also applying for citizenship, you must let the Department know at the time of your interview, they will link your applications together.
Ceremonies at the City of Cockburn are usually held once a month on a Monday evening. Please arrive at 5.30pm for registration with a 6.15pm start, and remember to bring photo ID.
Passports
You can apply for an Australian passport when you have attended a citizenship ceremony, made the Australian Citizenship Pledge and received your citizenship certificate. It can take at least 3 weeks to get a new Australian Passport after your ceremony. Contact your local post office for an application form and to arrange a time to submit your passport application or complete the passport application online opens in a new window. For assistance, call the Australian Passport Information Office on 131 232.
Lost citizenship certificates
If you have lost your certificate and need evidence of your Australian citizenship, you can order a replacement certificate from the Department of Home Affairs website opens in a new window. You will need to complete an application form and pay the applicable fee for a new or replacement certificate.
Tips
Apply early, as the whole process can take a long time. If you are going to travel and wish to go on an Australian Passport, are going to university and want to apply for the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) or are applying for a job requiring Australian Citizenship, you need to apply well in advance.
Security
You are welcome to take photos at your ceremony. However please take extreme care if posting photos with your citizenship certificate to social media sites. To protect yourself from possible identity theft, ensure your personal details on the certificate including your full name, date of birth and identification numbers are not clearly visible or able to be copied.