21Application and eligibility for citizenship

#### 21 Application and eligibility for citizenship (1) A person may make an application to the Minister to become an Australian citizen. > Note 1: Subsections (2) to (8) deal with eligibility. > Note 2: Section 46 sets out application requirements (which may include the payment of a fee). General eligibility (2) A person is eligible to become an Australian citizen if the Minister is satisfied that the person: (a) is aged 18 or over at the time the person made the application; and (b) is a permanent resident: (i) at the time the person made the application; and (ii) at the time of the Minister’s decision on the application; and (c) satisfies the general residence requirement (see section 22) or the special residence requirement (see section 22A or 22B), or satisfies the defence service requirement (see section 23), at the time the person made the application; and (d) understands the nature of an application under subsection (1); and (e) possesses a basic knowledge of the English language; and (f) has an adequate knowledge of Australia and of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship; and (g) is likely to reside, or to continue to reside, in Australia or to maintain a close and continuing association with Australia if the application were to be approved; and (h) is of good character at the time of the Minister’s decision on the application. (2A) Paragraphs (2)(d), (e) and (f) are taken to be satisfied if and only if the Minister is satisfied that the following apply: (a) the person has sat a test approved in a determination under section 23A; (b) the person was eligible to sit that test (worked out in accordance with that determination); (c) the person started that test within the period worked out in accordance with that determination and completed that test within the period (the relevant test period) worked out in accordance with that determination; (d) the person successfully completed that test (worked out in accordance with that determination) within the relevant test period. Permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity (3) A person is eligible to become an Australian citizen if the Minister is satisfied that the person: (a) is aged 18 or over at the time the person made the application; and (b) is a permanent resident: (i) at the time the person made the application; and (ii) at the time of the Minister’s decision on the application; and (c) satisfies the general residence requirement (see section 22) or the special residence requirement (see section 22A or 22B), or satisfies the defence service requirement (see section 23), at the time the person made the application; and (d) has a permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity, at the time the person made the application, that means the person: (i) is not capable of understanding the nature of the application at that time; or (ii) is not capable of demonstrating a basic knowledge of the English language at that time; or (iii) is not capable of demonstrating an adequate knowledge of Australia and of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship at that time; and (e) is likely to reside, or to continue to reside, in Australia or to maintain a close and continuing association with Australia if the application were to be approved; and (f) is of good character at the time of the Minister’s decision on the application. Person aged 60 or over or has hearing, speech or sight impairment (4) A person is eligible to become an Australian citizen if the Minister is satisfied that the person: (a) is: (i) aged 60 or over at the time the person made the application; or (ii) aged 18 or over at the time the person made the application and is suffering from a permanent loss or substantial impairment of hearing, speech or sight at that time; and (b) is a permanent resident: (i) at the time the person made the application; and (ii) at the time of the Minister’s decision on the application; and (c) understands the nature of the application at the time the person made the application; and (d) satisfies the general residence requirement (see section 22) or the special residence requirement (see section 22A or 22B), or satisfies the defence service requirement (see section 23), at the time the person made the application; and (e) is likely to reside, or to continue to reside, in Australia or to maintain a close and continuing association with Australia if the application were to be approved; and (f) is of good character at the time of the Minister’s decision on the application. Person aged under 18 (5) A person is eligible to become an Australian citizen if the Minister is satisfied that the person: (a) is aged under 18 at the time the person made the application; and (b) is a permanent resident: (i) at the time the person made the application; and (ii) at the time of the Minister’s decision on the application. Person born to former Australian citizen (6) A person is eligible to become an Australian citizen if the Minister is satisfied that: (a) the person was born outside Australia; and (b) a parent of the person was not an Australian citizen at the time of the person’s birth; and (c) the parent had ceased to be an Australian citizen under section 17 of the old Act (about dual citizenship) before that time; and (d) if the person is aged 18 or over at the time the person made the application—the person is of good character at the time of the Minister’s decision on the application. Person born in Papua (7) A person is eligible to become an Australian citizen if the Minister is satisfied that: (a) the person was born in Papua before 16 September 1975; and (b) a parent of the person was born in Australia (within the meaning of this Act at the time the person made the application); and (c) the parent was an Australian citizen at the time of the person’s birth; and (d) the person is of good character at the time of the Minister’s decision on the application. Statelessness (8) A person is eligible to become an Australian citizen if the Minister is satisfied that: (a) the person was born in Australia; and (b) the person: (i) is not a national of any country; and (ii) is not a citizen of any country; and (c) the person has: (i) never been a national of any country; and (ii) never been a citizen of any country; and (d) the person: (i) is not entitled to acquire the nationality of a foreign country; and (ii) is not entitled to acquire the citizenship of a foreign country.