Citizenship ceremonies

Upcoming citizenship ceremonies

Citizenship Ceremonies will be held on:

• Monday, 27 May 2024
• Tuesday, 11 June 2024
• Tuesday, 9 July 2024
• Monday, 22 July 2024

What to expect at an Australian Citizenship Ceremony at the City of Whittlesea

Citizenship Ceremonies at the City of Whittlesea run for approximately 20 minutes.

With a 45 minute registration window, the ceremonies will start promptly at the time in your letter, late arrivals are turned away.

Registration opens 1 hour prior to your ceremony and closes 15 minutes before the ceremony commences.

Upon arrival you will be asked to register by providing identification and given a small gift bag.

You will then be seated with your family or guest, this is the location you will remain for the duration of the ceremony.

The ceremony will opening with a welcome from our Presiding Officer, this will be followed by the Minister’s Message from The Hon Andrew Giles, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.

The preamble and pledge will be completed as a group remaining in the location of your selected seats.

When the pledge is completed we will speak of the obligations of Citizenship followed by the National Anthem, Advance Australia Fair.

That will conclude the ceremony. Please note catering is no longer provided at Australia Citizenship Ceremonies.

After the ceremony, you are encouraged to celebrate at home with family and friends.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

I am a resident waiting to be invited to a citizenship ceremony, what should I do?

All invitations and ceremony allocation are managed by the Department of Home Affairs. The department can be contacted on 131 880.
To ensure you are promptly invited to a ceremony please ensure your contact details are up to date with the Department of Home Affairs.
Wait times are regularly updated and can be found here - Ceremony wait times (homeaffairs.gov.au)

Can I bring my family and friends?

To ensure we can fit the maximum number of candidates in to each ceremony we ask that each family group only bring 1 guest to a ceremony.
We encourage you to celebrate afterwards with your friends and family.

I am unable to attend my scheduled ceremony, what should I do?

You do not need to do anything, after the ceremony you will be sent a letter of non-attendance and will be invited to a future scheduled ceremony.

What identification do I need to provide?

Please bring a copy of your Department of Home Affairs invitation (Digital or paper).
Candidates over the age of 16 are required to show a drivers licence, passport or other official document which includes a photograph.
For candidates who do not have any form of photographic identification, at least three documents bearing their name, address and signature, for example, bank statements, credit cards or bills are required.

What is the dress code?

Formal, smart casual clothing, or your national or cultural dress are appropriate and groomed to reflect the day’s significance.

Can I bring my child to a ceremony?

Dependent children are welcome to attend with their invited parent or carer.

How many people attend each citizenship ceremony?

There will be approximately 150 citizenship candidates in each ceremony.

How do I apply to become an Australian citizen?

To apply to become an Australian citizen you need to contact the Department of Home Affairs on 131 880 or visit the Department of Home Affairs website.

The department will tell you if you are eligible to become an Australian citizen and how to apply.

Please note that we host the ceremony on behalf of the Department of Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs and do not have involvement in the application and approval process.