Australian nationality law

Australian Citizenship Act 2007
Parliament of Australia
Long title An Act relating to Australian citizenship
Citation	No. 20 of 2007
Territorial extent	Australia
Enacted by	House of Representatives
Enacted	1 March 2007 (with amendments from the Senate)
Enacted by	Senate
Enacted	26 February 2007
Royal assent	15 March 2007
Commenced	1 July 2007
Administered by	Department of Home Affairs[1]
Legislative history
First chamber: House of Representatives
Bill title	Australian Citizenship Bill 2005
Introduced by	John Cobb
First reading	9 November 2005
Second reading	28 November 2006
Third reading	28 November 2006
Second chamber: Senate
Bill title	Australian Citizenship Bill 2006
Member(s) in charge	Ian Campbell
First reading	30 November 2006
Second reading	26 February 2007
Third reading	26 February 2007[2]
Repeals
Australian Citizenship Act 1948
Status: Amended

Australian nationality law details the conditions by which a person is a national of Australia. The primary law governing nationality regulations is the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, which came into force on 1 July 2007 and is applicable in all states and territories of Australia.

All persons born in Australia before 20 August 1986 were automatically citizens at birth regardless of the nationalities of their parents. Individuals born in the country after that date receive Australian citizenship at birth if at least one of their parents is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Children born in Australia to New Zealand citizens since 1 July 2022 also receive Australian citizenship at birth. Foreign nationals may be granted citizenship after living in the country for at least four years, holding permanent residency for one year, and showing proficiency in the English language.

Australia is composed of several former British colonies founded in the 18th and 19th centuries whose residents were British subjects. After federation as a Dominion within the British Empire in 1901, Australia was granted more autonomy over time and gradually became independent from the United Kingdom. Although Australian citizens have no longer been British subjects since 1984, they continue to hold favoured status when residing in the UK. As Commonwealth citizens, Australians are eligible to vote in UK elections and serve in public office there.