Australian Citizenship
Becoming an Australian citizen is an exciting and proud moment for thousands of individuals every year. In celebration of those who have chosen to live “down under”, the City of Swan hosts citizenship ceremonies to welcome those living in our beautiful City.
To be eligible to attend a citizenship ceremony at the City of Swan, you must reside within the City of Swan council boundary, completed your application process with the Department of Home Affairs, and received an approval letter from the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.
Ceremonies are held every month, with a larger, more formal ceremony on Australia Day, January 26.
Further information about the Citizenship Ceremonies and what you can expect is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the waiting time for a ceremony?
A: The waiting period for a Citizenship Ceremony once you have received the approval letter from the Department of Home Affairs is between three to six months.
You will receive a letter of invitation from the City of Swan approximately four to five weeks prior to your ceremony date.
The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for the scheduling of conferees for a ceremony, including any requests for early or urgent ceremony allocation. They can be contacted at ceremony.wa@homeaffairs.gov.au or phone 131 880.
Q: What do I do if I can’t attend the ceremony I’ve been invited to?
A: Please notify us of your unavailability and we will arrange to have you transferred to a more suitable date.
Q: Where are the ceremonies held?
A: Ceremonies are held at: Midland Town Hall, 312 Great Eastern Hwy, Midland WA 6056
Q: What do I need to bring with me?
A: You need to bring one form of photo identification:
- driver's licence
- passport or
- an official document with a photograph.
If you do not have photo identification, then bring at least three (3) documents showing your name, address and signature:
- bank statements
- utility bills or
- credit card statements.
If you are under 16, you do not need to bring photo identification.
Q: How many guests can I bring to the ceremony?
A: The City allows two guests per recipient. Children, of course are an exception.
Q: How long does the Citizenship ceremony run for?
A: The Citizenship Ceremony runs for approximately one hour. Refreshments are provided for recipients and their guests immediately following the ceremony.
Q: What Pledge am I taking? What is the difference between Pledge 1 and Pledge 2?
A: There are two pledges, Pledge 1 - the Oath refers to God, whereas Pledge 2 is an affirmation. You would have nominated which pledge you are making when you filled out your application form at the Department of Home Affairs. The Department of Home Affairs advise us of your nominated pledge when they send us the candidate names. Pledge cards will be made available at the ceremony. You will be asked to make your pledge in groups, not individually.
Q: Can I take photographs at the ceremony?
A: An official photograph will be taken of each candidate as they receive their certificate from the Presiding Officer. These are complimentary and will be available online approximately one week after the ceremony.
If you wish to take your own photographs, we ask that these are taken from where you and your guests are seated.
The Presiding Officer will be available after the formal proceedings should you wish to take photos with your phone / camera.
Q: What should I do if I lose my citizenship certificate?
A: You will need to contact the Department of Home Affairs to arrange a replacement on 131 880. The City of Swan cannot issue or replace citizenship certificates.