5. Will I lose my current citizenship if I become an Australian citizen?

Australia does not require you to renounce your citizenship when you become an Australian citizen. Whether you lose your former citizenship when you become an Australian citizen does not depend upon Australian citizenship law, but upon the citizenship laws of the other country. A number of countries allow their citizens to keep their original citizenship, so make sure you check with the consulate or embassy to get the latest information.

6. Will I lose my Australian citizenship if I acquire the citizenship of another country?

If you acquired another citizenship on or after 4 April 2002, you will not lose your Australian citizenship. The Australian Citizenship Act 1948 was amended, so that after 4 April 2002 Australian citizens can acquire the citizenship of another country without losing their Australian citizenship.

If you acquired the citizenship of another country before 4 April 2002, you may have lost your Australian citizenship. However, you can apply to resume your Australian citizenship if you meet certain requirements. See question 12 below.

12. Can Australian citizens have dual citizenship?

Australian citizens may hold the citizenship of another country (dual citizenship) or more than two countries (plural citizenship).

This happens when:

• people born in Australia automatically acquired, through a parent, another citizenship by descent;
• people become Australian citizens and who are able, under the law of their country of origin, to keep their other citizenship;
• Australian citizens are born overseas to an Australian citizen parent and who by the law of that country acquire that citizenship at birth; and
• Australians acquire the citizenship of another country automatically by legislation of that country, for example, through marriage.Following recent amendments to citizenship legislation, Australian citizens can acquire another citizenship from 4 April 2002 and retain their Australian citizenship