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Australian Citizenship

All applications for Australian citizenship are processed by the Department of Home Affairs.

Further information on how to apply for Australian citizenship is available from the Department website or the Citizenship Information Line on 131 880.

Citizenship Ceremonies

Attending a citizenship ceremony is the final step in the journey to becoming an Australian citizen and receiving your Certificate of Australian Citizenship.

Ceremonies are held at the Knox Civic Centre, 511 Burwood Highway Wantirna South.

Citizenship Ceremonies commence at 6.30pm.

Unrestricted parking is available around the Civic Centre Precinct.

2021 Dates

Virtual Ceremonies were held on Australia Day and in March 2021.

The following in-person ceremonies are scheduled to take place, subject to COVID-19 restrictions.

Thursday 29 April
Thursday 10 June
Thursday 29 July
Thursday 23 September
Wednesday 27 October
Thursday 9 December

COVID Safety

The Citizenship Ceremony is a COVIDSafe activity.

Any restrictions or regulations will be in place in accordance with the current Victoria State Government guidelines available at the DHHS website.

All attendees, including children and guests are required to check in for contact tracing purposes before entering the venue with the venue QR code. The Services Victoria app will be used for check in.

If you have cold-like symptoms, including a fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, chills, shortness of breath or loss of sense of smell or taste, do not attend the Citizenship Ceremony.
Do not attend the ceremony if under isolation
Provide contact tracing details
Maintain social distancing
Wear face masks and minimize movement

What happens when my application is approved?

When your application has been approved, your name will go on a waiting list for attendance at a citizenship ceremony, which is conducted by Council on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs.
Please do not call Council to find out when your ceremony is scheduled as we do not have that information.
You will receive a letter from the Department advising you of the date of your citizenship ceremony approximately four weeks prior to the ceremony.
Council will subsequently contact you by letter with specific ceremony information and requirements to attend the ceremony. This includes: RSVP information, your allocated registration arrival time, guest information, face mask requirements and other details. Please note, this information is subject to change.

What to bring to the ceremony

Your printed letter of invitation and photo identification.

Please note if you don't supply the required identification you are unable to become a citizen.

Appropriate forms of photo identification are:

a driver's licence, or
a passport, or
another official document which includes a photograph

If you do not have any form of photographic identification you will need to bring at least three documents with you that include your name and address and signature, such as credit cards, bills and bank statements.

Children under 16 years of age do not need to provide identification.

Dress Code

The Knox City Council Australian Citizenship Dress Code is designed to reflect the significance of becoming an Australian Citizen.

The Dress Code is a requirement of the Australian Government’s Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code.

The attire of attendees at Knox Council Citizenship Ceremonies should reflect the significance of the occasion both to the attendee themselves, and to other patrons attending the ceremony.

Council strongly encourages Citizenship Ceremony attendees to wear smart casual attire, or national / traditional / cultural dress.

The following are strongly discouraged:

Beach wear (i.e bathers)
Bare feet
Clothes with slogans or images that may cause offence or distress to other participants.

Should an attendee at a Citizenship Ceremony, in the opinion of the Chief Executive Officer (or their representative at the Ceremony), be dressed in a manner which poses a risk to the attendee’s health and safety they may be refused entry to the Citizenship Ceremony.

If an attendee at a Citizenship Ceremony, in the opinion of the Chief Executive Officer (or their representative at the Ceremony) and the Mayor, is dressed in a manner which poses an unreasonable risk of causing significant offence and/or distress to other attendees, they may be asked to modify their dress and on refusal of such a request may be refused entry to the Citizenship Ceremony.

Enquiries regarding the Knox City Council Australia Citizenship Ceremony Dress Code should be directed to Mr Phil McQue, Manager- Governance on 9298 8000.