Australian citizenship is often considered the final step in the migration process. Australian citizens are awarded all the rights, freedom and protection offered by the laws of Australia.
There are several pathways to Australian citizenship:
By birth: In Australia people automatically become an Australian citizen if they are born here and one or both of their parents is an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia.
By descent: Child of an Australian citizen who is born overseas will generally be granted Australian citizenship. There are a number of rules that might apply to people in this category. These are indicated in the Australian Citizenship Act, 2007.
By grant: A non-citizen of Australia can apply to become an Australian citizen. Migrants holding permanent residence visas who satisfy the residential requirements and who are good character may be eligible for citizenship.