Proof of Australian citizenship 106-06020060

A customer claiming an Australian social security payment or concession card:

• generally needs to have legal permanent residence, and
• must be able to prove their legal residence status, and that of their partner, if applicable

The customer/partner can satisfy legal permanent residence status by being:

• an Australian citizen
• a permanent visa holder, or
• a protected Special Category visa (SCV) holder

If the customer/partner is an Australian citizen, verification may be required for social security payments and concession cards.

Documents that can help to verify citizenship are an Australian:

• birth certificate
• passport (current or expired)
• Citizenship Certificate

Information from the Department of Home Affairs via the Immigration Datalink may verify Australian citizenship. For example, grants of Australian citizenship, generally after 2001, may upload to the Legal Residence Details (RSLEG) screen. If the customer travelled on an Australian passport after 1 September 1994, passport details upload to the Immigration Enquiry (RSIMME) screen.

The system validates Australian citizenship in most social security payment new claim/transfer activities using identity documents and information coded via the Immigration Datalink.

If a validation error occurs, Service Officers should follow the steps on the Process tab to determine:

• what proof is required
• when it is not appropriate to code Australian citizenship
• when to refer to Centrelink International Services (CIS)

The concept of Australian citizenship was introduced with the Australian Citizenship Act on 26 January 1949. The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for decisions around citizenship.

The following list is a guide to general citizenship rules. If a person appears to meet these rules, they should have, or can apply for, evidence of Australian citizenship. A person:

• residing in Australia on 26 January 1949
• born in Australia before 20 August 1986
• born in Australia after 20 August 1986 if at least one of their parents is an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia at the time of the person's birth. An official Norfolk Island resident before 1 July 2016 was a permanent resident of Australia for Australian citizenship purposes
• born in Australia to New Zealand citizen parents if they:
• were born in Australia between 26 January 1949 and 19 August 1986. Note: children born in Australia between 20 August 1986 and 31 August 1994 generally did not acquire Australian citizenship by birth, or
• were born between 1 September 1994 and 26 February 2001 and one of their parents held a permanent residence visa or an SCV, or
• were born after 27 February 2001 and one of their parents was a protected SCV holder
• were born in Australia on or after 1 July 2022 and one of their parents is an SCV holders
• may automatically acquire citizenship (the Date of event for Australian citizenship in these cases is the tenth birthday), if:
• they were born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, and
• neither parent is an Australian citizen, permanent visa holder or protected SCV holder, and
• they continue to reside in Australia until their tenth birthday
  Note: this includes where the parent is the holder of a non-protected SCV or any type of temporary visa
• born in Papua New Guinea before 1975, if one of their parents was born in Australia and was an Australia citizen at the time of the person’s birth
• born outside Australia if they:
• were born to Australian citizen parent/s and registered as the child of an Australian citizen with the local Australian Embassy or High Commission (by descent), or
• acquire Australian citizenship by grant (formally called 'naturalisation')

Norfolk Island has been covered by the Australian citizenship legislation since it was introduced on 26 January 1949. There is no such thing as a Norfolk Island citizen and this should not be recorded.

See Date of event for Australian citizenship for the relevant date to use for each situation.