18Renunciation of citizenship

18 Renunciation of citizenship

(1) Where a person is an Australian citizen and: (a) has attained the age of 18 years and is a national or citizen of a foreign country; or (b) was born, or is ordinarily resident, in a foreign country and is not entitled, under the law of that country, to acquire the nationality or citizenship of that country by reason that the person is an Australian citizen; the person may lodge with the Minister a declaration in the prescribed form renouncing the person’s Australian citizenship. (4) Subject to subsections (5), (5A) and (6), the Minister shall register a declaration made under this section and thereupon the person making the declaration shall cease to be an Australian citizen. (5) Where, during a war in which Australia is engaged, a declaration is made under this section by a person who is a national or citizen of a foreign country, the Minister may refuse to register the declaration. (5A) The Minister shall not register a declaration made under this section if the Minister considers that it would not be in the interests of Australia to do so. (6) The Minister shall not register a declaration made under this section unless the Minister is satisfied that the person who made the declaration: (a) is a national or citizen of a foreign country; or (b) will, if the declaration is registered, become a national or citizen of such a country immediately after the registration.