Australia's Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that only one category of foreign applicants qualifies for a reduced citizenship application fee. The concession applies exclusively to holders of a valid Pensioner Concession Card, which must be issued by the Australian Government through Services Australia or the Department of Veterans' Affairs. The card must not be expired, and the applicant's name must appear on it as the primary cardholder.
Who Qualifies for the Reduced Fee?
The reduced fee extends to dependants as well. Anyone aged 17 or younger who appears as a dependant on a qualifying Pensioner Concession Card is also entitled to pay the reduced fee. Additionally, children aged 15 and under who are applying on the same form as a parent are fully exempt from paying any citizenship fee.
The government has drawn a clear line around which cards qualify. Health Care Cards, Student Cards, and Senior Health Cards do not meet the criteria and cannot be used to access any fee reduction.
How to Apply for the Concession
Eligible applicants can apply online through the government's ImmiAccount platform. To unlock the reduced fee during the application process, applicants must upload a scanned copy of both sides of their valid Pensioner Concession Card. Those who prefer to submit a paper application must include a certified copy of the card instead.
Citizenship application fees in Australia are reviewed annually, with increases typically taking effect on 1 July each year. The full schedule of citizenship fees is available in the government's Form 1298i document.
Residency Requirements and Related Updates
Legit.ng previously reported that Australia's Department of Home Affairs has outlined the residence requirement foreigners must meet before applying for citizenship. Applicants must have lived in Australia on a valid visa for a number of years before the date they apply for citizenship. The rules also specify how much time applicants are allowed to have spent outside Australia during that period.
This update follows other announcements from the department, including the list of three categories of foreigners exempt from paying the citizenship application fee and the documents foreigners may be required to bring to a citizenship interview. For those seeking citizenship elsewhere, Legit.ng has also published residency years for foreigners who want to become Qatari citizens.
