Australia to Increase Citizenship and Passport Fees Effective July 1

Significant changes are coming to the fees associated with Australian citizenship applications and passport renewals. The Australian government has announced a new fee structure effective from July 1, 2024.

These adjustments will impact a range of applicants, including permanent residents, those seeking citizenship through adoption, and foreigners under specific international agreements.

Increased Citizenship Application Fees

From July 1, 2024, Australian permanent residents aged 18 to 59 will face an increase in citizenship application fees. The new fee will be $560, up from the current $540. Additionally, the cost for citizenship applications through adoption will rise from $345 to $360 for the first sibling and from $145 to $150 for each additional sibling applying simultaneously .

Breakdown of New Citizenship Application Fees

• Standard (Ages 18 to 59): $560 (up from $540)
• Adoption – First Sibling: $360 (up from $345)
• Adoption – Additional Siblings: $150 (up from $145)

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Special Provisions for Children

Children under 16 who apply on the same form as a responsible parent will not be affected by these fee increases. This exemption aims to ease the financial burden on families .

Adjustments for Foreign Applicants

Citizenship fees for foreign children adopted under the Hague Convention or bilateral arrangements will also increase. The fees will be as follows:

• Single Application/First Sibling: $360
• Second and Subsequent Siblings: $150

Furthermore, the fees for renouncing and resuming Australian citizenship will rise to $300 and $240, respectively .

Concessional Fees

Concessional fees for pensioner concession card holders and dependents will see a slight adjustment, increasing from $75 to $80 .

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New Passport Fees

In addition to citizenship application fees, Australians will see higher costs for obtaining or renewing passports starting July 1, 2024. The government has not yet disclosed the exact details of these increases, but they will apply to all passport applications submitted from this date onwards .

Annual Indexation

The Australian government applies annual indexation to citizenship application fees based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This adjustment takes effect each year on July 1. For 2024, the updated fees will be applied to all citizenship applications received by the Department of Home Affairs from 12:00 am (AEST) on July 1 .

Exemptions and Unchanged Fees

Certain groups will continue to be exempt from paying citizenship fees, including:

• British or Maltese former child migrants who arrived in Australia between September 22, 1947, and December 31, 1967, under the Commonwealth Child Migration Scheme.
• Individuals with at least 90 days of service in the permanent forces of the Commonwealth of Australia.
• Applicants under the Statelessness provision (Section 21(8) of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007) .

Application Process

For those applying online on or after July 1, 2024, the new fees will be applicable regardless of when the application process was initiated. The application is considered submitted when it, along with the appropriate fee, is received by the Department of Home Affairs .

Summary of Fee Changes

The fee adjustments reflect the government’s efforts to align the costs of processing applications with the actual expenses incurred while maintaining fair access to citizenship.

For more information on the new fee structure, visit the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.