How to Apply for Australian Citizenship by Descent for a Child Born Overseas
Learn when a child born overseas can become an Australian citizen by descent, what parentage and citizenship evidence to provide, the fee and how to apply online.
AU Australia
Immigration & Travel ~ 9 min read
9 FAQ
Updated 2026-09-14
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A child born outside Australia on or after 26 January 1949 can generally apply for Australian citizenship by descent if at least one parent was an Australian citizen when the child was born. For a child under 16, the application must be made by a responsible parent. Applications can be lodged online through ImmiAccount. The current citizenship by descent fee is AUD 370 for a single application or first sibling, and AUD 150 for the second and each subsequent sibling applying at the same time. If the Australian parent was themselves a citizen by descent or in another specified descent-related category, that parent generally must have been lawfully present in Australia for a total of at least 2 years before the child's application, unless the statutory exception for a person who has never been a national or citizen of any country applies.
What you need
- The child must have been born outside Australia and meet the citizenship by descent eligibility rules.
- Provide the child's identity and birth evidence, including a full birth certificate showing the parents' names.
- Provide evidence that at least one parent was an Australian citizen at the time of the child's birth.
- If the Australian parent acquired citizenship by descent or another category specified in section 16(2)(b) of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, provide evidence that the parent was lawfully present in Australia for a total of at least 2 years before the application, unless the statutory exception applies.
- For a child under 16, a responsible parent must make the application.
- Provide a compliant citizenship photograph and the identity evidence requested in the application.
- Provide English translations of documents that are not in English.
Eligibility
For a person born outside Australia on or after 26 January 1949, section 16 of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 provides that the person is eligible for citizenship by descent if a parent was an Australian citizen at the time of birth, subject to the additional rules in the Act. If that Australian parent was themselves a citizen by descent, under the Hague adoption citizenship provisions or under specified provisions of the former citizenship law, the parent generally must have been present in Australia lawfully for a total of at least 2 years before the application. An exception applies where the applicant is not, and has never been, a national or citizen of any country. A child under 16 must have the application made by a responsible parent.
How to do it
- Confirm that at least one parent was an Australian citizen when the child was born and check whether the parent's own citizenship status triggers the 2-year Australian presence requirement.
- Gather the child's full birth certificate, identity documents, photograph and evidence linking the child to the Australian citizen parent.
- Gather evidence of the parent's Australian citizenship at the date of birth and, where required, evidence of the parent's periods of lawful presence in Australia.
- Arrange English translations for documents that are not in English and prepare clear colour scans for the online application.
- Create or sign in to ImmiAccount and start an Australian citizenship by descent application for the child.
- Complete the application accurately, attach the required documents and pay the applicable citizenship fee when lodging.
- Monitor ImmiAccount and respond if the Department of Home Affairs requests further documents or information.
- If approved, keep the citizenship certificate as formal evidence of the child's Australian citizenship before applying for an Australian passport.
If your child was born outside Australia and at least one parent was an Australian citizen when the child was born, the correct pathway may be Australian citizenship by descent rather than a child visa or citizenship by conferral. Citizenship is not automatic under this pathway: an application must be made and approved.
For a child under 16, a responsible parent must make the application. Home Affairs accepts citizenship by descent applications online through ImmiAccount.
When is a child born overseas eligible?
For a child born outside Australia on or after 26 January 1949, the central rule is that at least one parent must have been an Australian citizen at the time of the child's birth.
This is different from citizenship by conferral, which generally applies to eligible permanent residents and has residence requirements in Australia. A child who qualifies by descent does not need to use the conferral route simply because they were born overseas.
What if the Australian parent was a citizen by descent?
An additional rule can apply if the Australian citizen parent obtained their own citizenship by descent, through specified intercountry adoption citizenship provisions or under specified descent provisions of the former citizenship legislation.
In that situation, section 16 of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 generally requires that parent to have been lawfully present in Australia for a total of at least 2 years at any time before the child's application is made.
The Act provides an exception where the applicant is not a national or citizen of any country at the time of application and has never been one. Because this is a specific statutory exception, do not assume it applies merely because the child does not yet have a passport.
What documents should you prepare?
The exact document checklist is shown in the online application and depends on the child's circumstances. For a straightforward child citizenship by descent application, prepare evidence covering the following points:
- the child's full birth certificate showing the parents' names;
- the child's passport or travel document, if available, and other identity evidence requested by Home Affairs;
- evidence of any legal change of the child's name, if applicable;
- a citizenship photograph that meets Home Affairs requirements;
- evidence that the relevant parent was an Australian citizen when the child was born;
- documents linking the parent and child where names or family details differ across records;
- evidence of the Australian parent's lawful presence in Australia for at least 2 years if the additional descent rule applies;
- any custody, guardianship or parental responsibility documents requested for the responsible parent, where relevant.
Home Affairs must be satisfied of the applicant's identity. Incomplete identity, parentage or citizenship evidence can delay the application or prevent approval.
What photo does the child need?
Home Affairs requires a current citizenship photograph. For an online application, the photo should be supplied as a digital JPEG meeting the Department's technical and image-quality requirements. The image must normally be no more than 6 months old, in colour, clear, unedited and taken against an appropriate neutral or light grey background.
For babies and children under 3, an open mouth is acceptable, but no other person or object should appear in the photograph.
Do overseas documents need translations?
Yes. If a document is not in English, provide both the original-language document and an English translation. Home Affairs states that translations prepared in Australia must be completed by a translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. Translators outside Australia do not have to be NAATI accredited, but the translation must include the translator's identifying and professional details required by Home Affairs.
How do you apply online?
Citizenship by descent applications can be lodged online through ImmiAccount. You can apply while the child is in Australia or overseas.
- Create or sign in to ImmiAccount.
- Start the citizenship by descent application for the child.
- Enter the child's and parents' details exactly as shown on the supporting records.
- Upload the requested identity, birth, parentage and Australian citizenship evidence.
- Upload any evidence required for the Australian parent's 2-year presence in Australia.
- Pay the application fee and submit the application.
- Keep your own copies of the application and supporting records.
Do not email supporting documents unless Home Affairs specifically instructs you to do so. Documents for an online application should be attached through ImmiAccount as directed.
How much does citizenship by descent cost in 2026?
The Home Affairs citizenship fee schedule lists the fee for Australian citizenship by descent as AUD 370 for a single application or the first sibling where siblings apply at the same time.
The fee for the second and each subsequent sibling applying at the same time is AUD 150.
Citizenship fees can change, commonly from 1 July, so the amount that applies is the fee in force when the application is lodged.
How long does a citizenship by descent application take?
Home Affairs does not publish one permanent processing deadline for every citizenship by descent application. It publishes citizenship processing-time information that is updated monthly, and actual processing can vary with the circumstances of the application.
A complete online application with all requested documents can help avoid unnecessary delays. If you applied online, you can monitor the application status in ImmiAccount. Home Affairs will contact you if more information is required.
When does the child become an Australian citizen?
Under section 19 of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, a person approved for citizenship by descent becomes an Australian citizen on the day the Minister approves the application, provided the statutory requirements are satisfied.
Home Affairs registers the person after approval and issues formal evidence of citizenship. Applicants approved for citizenship by descent receive an Australian citizenship certificate.
Citizenship by descent does not depend on attending a citizenship ceremony or making the citizenship pledge before citizenship begins.
Can you apply for the child's Australian passport next?
Once citizenship has been approved and you have the required evidence of Australian citizenship, you can move to the passport process. The citizenship application itself is not a passport application.
For the next step, see how to apply for an Australian child passport and provide parental consent.
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Do not apply only because the parent is an Australian citizen now; for the standard descent rule, the parent must have been an Australian citizen when the child was born.
- Do not overlook the 2-year Australian presence rule when the Australian parent obtained citizenship by descent or another category covered by section 16(2)(b).
- Do not upload only a short-form birth record if it does not establish the parent-child relationship required for the application.
- Do not omit official evidence linking different names where a parent or child has changed their name.
- Do not submit untranslated foreign-language records.
- Do not assume a foreign passport proves the child's Australian citizenship. Citizenship by descent must first be approved.
Does the child need an Australian visa instead?
If the child qualifies for Australian citizenship by descent, Home Affairs specifically notes that citizenship by descent may be available instead of applying for a child visa to travel to Australia. An Australian citizen cannot be granted an Australian visa.
If eligibility for citizenship by descent is uncertain, establish the child's citizenship status before relying on a visa pathway, particularly where the Australian parent's citizenship history is complex.
Frequently asked questions
Is a child born overseas automatically an Australian citizen if a parent is Australian?
Not under the citizenship by descent pathway. A child born outside Australia generally needs an application for citizenship by descent to be made and approved, even where a parent was an Australian citizen at the time of birth.
Can I apply for Australian citizenship by descent online for my child?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs accepts citizenship by descent applications online through ImmiAccount.
How much does Australian citizenship by descent cost in 2026?
The current Home Affairs fee schedule lists AUD 370 for a single citizenship by descent application or first sibling, and AUD 150 for the second and each subsequent sibling applying at the same time.
Does the Australian parent have to have lived in Australia for 2 years?
Not in every case. The 2-year rule generally applies where the Australian parent was themselves a citizen by descent or held another citizenship status specified in section 16(2)(b) of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. That parent must generally have been lawfully present in Australia for a total of at least 2 years before the application, subject to the statutory exception for an applicant who has never been a national or citizen of any country.
Who applies if the child is under 16?
An application for a child under 16 must be made by a responsible parent.
What birth document is needed for citizenship by descent?
You should provide the child's full birth certificate or equivalent official birth evidence that establishes the child's identity and parentage. The application checklist may request additional identity or family documents depending on the circumstances.
Does a child applying for citizenship by descent need a citizenship test or ceremony?
Citizenship by descent is not the citizenship-by-conferral process. Citizenship begins on the day the application is approved under section 19 of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, provided the legal requirements are met; it is not dependent on completing a citizenship ceremony.
How long does Australian citizenship by descent take?
There is no single fixed processing period for every case. Home Affairs publishes citizenship processing-time information and updates it monthly. Individual cases can take longer if documents are missing or further checks are required.
What happens after my child's citizenship by descent application is approved?
The child becomes an Australian citizen on the approval date under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, subject to the statutory requirements. Home Affairs provides formal evidence of citizenship, which can then be used for processes such as applying for an Australian passport.
Official sources
Department of Home Affairs - Australian citizenship by descentFederal Register of Legislation - Australian Citizenship Act 2007Department of Home Affairs - Citizenship application fees, Form 1298iDepartment of Home Affairs - Citizenship processing timesDepartment of Home Affairs - Photo requirements for citizenship applicationsDepartment of Home Affairs - Applying online or on paperDepartment of Home Affairs - Form 1195 Identity DeclarationDepartment of Home Affairs - Child visa Subclass 101 and citizenship by descent guidanceDepartment of Home Affairs - Evidence of citizenship and citizenship certificatesRelated procedures
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