The Australian government has announced an increase in fees for citizenship applications and passports effective from July 1, 2024.
The adjustments will impact a range of applicants, including permanent residents, adoption cases, and specific foreign applicants.
Notably, fees for permanent residents, individuals pursuing citizenship through adoption, and foreigners applying under international agreements will see an uptick. However, exemptions or minimal fee changes will benefit certain families and groups.
The fee revisions aim to simplify and modernize the application process while ensuring adequate resources to handle the increasing number of applications efficiently.
The government emphasizes these changes are part of broader reforms to enhance Australia’s immigration and citizenship systems.
Starting July 1, 2024, standard citizenship application fees for adults (aged 18 to 59) will rise from $540 to $560. Adoption-related fees will also increase, with the first sibling costing $360 and additional siblings $150, up from $145.
Children under 16 applying with a responsible parent on the same form will not be subject to these fee hikes. Foreign children adopted under the Hague Convention or bilateral arrangements will face increased fees as well.
Additionally, Australians will encounter higher costs for passport issuance or renewal starting July 1, 2024.
The government applies annual indexation to citizenship application fees based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), effective each year from July 1.
These updated fees apply to all citizenship applications received by the Department of Home Affairs beginning at 12:00 am (AEST) on July 1.
