Citizenship

Please note, in addition to the ceremonies held by Liverpool City Council, the Department of Home Affairs hold citizenship ceremonies and candidates may be invited to attend these departmental ceremonies. If you have concerns regarding individual wait time, please contact the Department of Home Affairs on 131 880 for further advice of your individual status.

Liverpool City Council aims to hold in-person citizenship ceremonies hosted by the Lord Mayor every month. On each ceremony date Council can host up to two ceremonies at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.

Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre is a cultural facility of the Liverpool City Council and is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW. Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre is a multi-disciplinary arts centre, which includes a wide range of events, art exhibitions, theatre space, artists studios and restaurant.

Address: 1 Powerhouse Road, Casula NSW 2170 (Access via Sheperd Street, Liverpool) Free onsite parking or located next to Casula Station for public transport.

How do I get my Australian Citizenship?

To become an Australian Citizen, you need to apply through the Department of Home Affairs. The delivery of the Australian Citizenship Program is the responsibility of the Department of Home Affairs which are supported by Local Councils throughout Australia.

The Department of Home Affairs manages all information regarding Australian Citizenship, including:

• Applications for Australian Citizenship
• Approval of Australian Citizenship
• Allocation of conferees to ceremony dates and times
• Production of Australian Citizenship certificates

If you would like information regarding becoming an Australian Citizen or have any questions about your application, contact the Department of Home Affairs or phone the Citizenship Information Line on 131 880.

Council is not involved in applications, approvals, allocation of conferees to ceremony dates and times, and certifications. Liverpool City Council is unable to move applicants forward on the list or give preference to attend a specific ceremony.

What is the waiting time for a ceremony?

The Department of Home Affairs advises that approved applicants are required to wait up to 12 months to be invited to attend an Australian Citizenship Ceremony and be presented with your Australian Citizenship certificate.

During the time an applicant waits to be invited to attend an Australian Citizenship ceremony, the Department of Home Affairs advises that citizenship assessment continues. If there are changes to the person’s individual circumstances during this period which affect their application the wait time can be impacted.

Other circumstances that can impact the timeframe of when you will be invited to a ceremony include:

• Your application has been approved, however you have linked your citizenship application with another individual’s application that has not yet been finalised/approved.
• You have not updated your contact details with the Department. Please ensure your email and other contact details are up to date in your Immi account.

If you have concerns regarding individual wait time, please contact the Department of Home Affairs for further advice of your individual status. The Department of Home Affairs' can be contacted on 131 800.

Once an applicant receives a letter from the Department of Home Affairs advising Australian Citizenship has been approved, they must:

• Wait for an invitation to attend an Australian Citizenship ceremony. The Department of Home Affairs will send a letter of invitation advising you of your ceremony details. This invitation will include the date, time and location of the ceremony.
• If you are invited to attend a ceremony and do not attend, you will need to contact the Department of Home Affairs and wait until you are invited to a new ceremony. Failure to attend further ceremonies may result in forfeiting your Australian Citizenship.
• The Department of Home Affairs hold ceremonies for candidates, as well as the ceremonies held by Liverpool City Council and candidates may be invited to attend these departmental ceremonies.

For any further information regarding your Australian Citizenship, please phone the Australian Citizenship Information Line on 131 880.

How do I apply for an urgent ceremony?

If you have compassionate or compelling grounds for an urgent ceremony, you may request one through the Department of Home Affairs by completing the Request for urgent citizenship ceremony form and emailing it to ceremony.nsw@homeaffairs.gov.au.

Urgent ceremonies are only approved in exceptional and very limited circumstances. Conferees are advised that all fields in the form must be completed with supporting evidence attached so that requests can be assessed and considered by the Department.

Please ensure all documentation is translated into English. If you do not provide evidence, your request will not be accessed, and you will not receive a reply from the Department of Home Affairs.

If you have any questions regarding urgent ceremonies, please contact the Department of Home Affairs directly for further advice on your application. The Department of Home Affairs can also be contacted on 131 880.

Planning your visit to Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre 

Parking and public transport

Address is 1 Powerhouse Road, Casula NSW 2170 (Access via Sheperd Street, Liverpool). Free onsite parking is available, if driving, please allow extra time to reach the venue. Casula Station is located next to the powerhouse please see Transport NSW for train timetable.    
For more information about parking and public transport please visit: https://www.casulapowerhouse.com/visit/getting-here

What to bring to the ceremony?

You need to bring your invitation to the ceremony and one form of photo identification:

• driver's licence
• passport, or
• an official document with a photograph

If your documents are not in English, you must provide official translations.

If you do not have photo identification, then bring at least three documents showing your name, address and signature:

• bank statements
• utility bills, or
• credit card statements

If you are under 16, you do not need to bring photo identification.

If you want to make the Australian citizenship pledge on a holy book, bring a book with you to the ceremony.

What should I expect at the ceremony?  

Once an applicant has been invited to an Australian citizenship ceremony by the Department of Home Affairs, the final step to becoming an Australian citizen is to attend the ceremony and make the Australian Citizenship Pledge to Australia and its people.

Making the Pledge

Making the Pledge is the final legal requirement to becoming an Australian citizen. The "Pledge" contains the words that are to be read out loud to complete the citizenship requirements. There are two pledges that conferees can choose from, one mentions God and the other does not.

All conferees will be assigned to a seating area to make their Pledge of Commitment.

Special and formal occasion

Australian citizenship ceremonies in Liverpool are a special and formal occasion. They fulfil requirements under Australian citizenship law. They also provide an important opportunity to officially welcome new citizens as full members of the Australian community. They are often an emotional experience for the new citizen, as well as their host, family and friends and other ceremony guests.

How many guests can I bring?

You are welcome to bring family and friends to this special occasion, however guest spaces are limited and you will be advised on your letter of invitation how many you are allowed to bring.

Taking Photographs

Please note that photographers and videographers may be present at the ceremony. Media may attend too. Photos and video footage may be used on Council’s website , social media, and for other promotional purposes. If you do not want to be photographed or filmed, please let the photographer or videographer know.

Your family and friends can take photographs of you during and after the ceremony. They must not disrupt other participants and their guests.

Citizenship Certificates

Your certificate is evidence of Australian citizenship once you have made the pledge.

Your citizenship certificate is issued in your legal name at the time we approved your citizenship application.

Your citizenship certificate is an important legal document. You will need it when you apply for an Australian passport. You may need it to apply for a job or join the Australian Defence Force.

It is an offence to deface or alter your citizenship certificate by:

• writing on it
• changing any details on it (i.e. laminating)

You must inform The Department of Home Affairs if your certificate is lost or stolen.

I am unable to attend my ceremony.

If you are unable to attend your ceremony, please contact the Department of Home Affairs on 131 880 and follow the instructions in your invitation letter provided by the Department of Home Affairs.

In most cases, you will receive a non-attendance from the Department and you will be then invited to the next appropriate ceremony.

Conferees will be contacted by the Department of Home Affairs when they have been allocated to a ceremony. The Department of Home Affairs will send a letter of invitation advising you of your ceremony details.

Applicants are asked to please ensure their email address is up to date in their Department of Home Affairs ImmiAccount.

Overseas travel before and after the ceremony

After making the pledge, you will be eligible to apply for an Australian passport. Wait at least 10 days before you apply online with the Australian Passport Office. This is how long it might take for your citizenship details to be recorded in the system. Use your current passport if you need to travel before the ceremony.

Before you leave, get a visa that allows you to re-enter Australia to attend your ceremony. If the travel conditions on your permanent visa have expired or are about to expire, you will need to apply for a Resident Return Visa.

Make sure any travel does not affect your ability to attend the ceremony, or it will delay you in becoming an Australian citizen.

If you plan to travel outside Australia before your ceremony, please contact The Department of Home Affairs prior to your ceremony.

How do I enrol to vote (Australian electoral roll)?

Once the ceremony has concluded, Australian Electoral roll applications are completed by new citizens can be submitted via their application form, these forms will be given to Conferees at their ceremony. It is compulsory by law for all eligible Australian citizens to enrol and vote in federal elections, by-elections and referendums. For further information regarding voting or the Australian electoral roll, please visit the Australian Electoral Commission website.

Council is not able to speed up the application process or hold your ceremony before approval has been given.

All citizenship information is handled by the Department of Home Affairs, including allocation of ceremony dates and times. The Department of Home Affairs will not under any circumstances move people forward on the list or give preference to attend a ceremony.

If you have any enquiries regarding your approval letter and date of Citizenship, please contact the Department of Home Affairs on 131 880.

Council's Citizenship Officer can be contacted on 02 8711 7680. Council is unable to answer questions on your Citizenship status and where your application is on the waiting list.

Council's Customer Contact Centre can be reached on 1300 362 170.