Starting July 1, 2024, Australians and permanent residents will need to dig deeper into their pockets when applying for citizenship or renewing their passports.
The Australian government has announced a noticeable increase in the associated fees, affecting a broad range of applicants, from permanent residents to individuals involved in international adoption agreements.
Who Will Be Affected?
The fee hike will impact various groups, particularly permanent residents who are seeking Australian citizenship. Adoption cases, including those involving foreign children under the Hague Convention or bilateral arrangements, will also see an increase in costs.
Additionally, specific foreign applicants covered under international agreements will be subject to the new fees.
For those who are part of families or groups that qualify, some exemptions and minimal fee changes will provide a bit of financial relief. This includes children under 16 who apply on the same form as a responsible parent, who will not be affected by these increases.
The structure of the new fee
Let’s break down the new fees to see how they compare to the old ones:
- Standard Citizenship Application (Ages 18 to 59): The fee will rise from $540 to $560.
- Adoption – First Sibling: Fees will increase from $345 to $360.
- Adoption – Additional Siblings: Each additional sibling’s fee will increase from $145 to $150.
- Renouncing Citizenship: The new fee will be $300, and resuming citizenship will cost $240.
These adjustments reflect the government’s ongoing commitment to maintaining an efficient and effective system.
In addition to citizenship fees, the cost of obtaining or renewing an Australian passport will also increase from July 1, 2024. While the specific figures have not been fully disclosed, the increase will affect all passport applications submitted from that date onwards.
Why the Increase?
The Australian government applies annual indexation to citizenship application fees based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
This standard adjustment helps the government manage the growing number of applications and ensures that adequate resources are available to support the application process effectively.
For anyone planning to apply for citizenship or renew their passport after July 1, 2024, it’s important to be aware that the new fees will apply to all applications received by the Department of Home Affairs from 12:00 am (AEST) on that date. Even if you start your application before July 1, the fee applicable at the time of submission will be charged.