On the day of your ceremony, bring the following items:

• Your invitation to the ceremony
• One form of photo identification that can be a driver's licence, a passport, or an official document with a photograph

If you do not have photo identification, then you need to bring at least 3 documents showing your name, address and signature:

• Bank statements
• Utility bills, or
• Credit card statements

If you are under 16 years of age, you do not need to bring photo identification.

If you want to make the Australian citizenship pledge on a holy book, bring a book with you to the ceremony. Ceremony organisers do not always provide holy books.

There’s no official dress code, but the Department of Home Affairs suggests that you wear smart casual clothes.

The following is strongly discouraged:

• Bare feet
• Beach wear (eg. bathers)
• Athletic/gym wear
• Clothes with slogans or images that may cause offence to other participants.

You are able to invite friends and family to the ceremony, however guest numbers are required to ensure reserved seating can be allocated. In the event of NSW Public Health restrictions being put in place, guest numbers may be restricted. Any changes in this regard will be communicated.

Seating is allocated according to surname. We will make every effort to seat family members who are also becoming Australian citizens near each other where possible, however this is not guaranteed.

If you have young children attending who are not receiving their citizenship and cannot be left with relatives or friends while you attend the ceremony, please advise the ceremony coordinator immediately so appropriate arrangements can be made to assist you.

Children who are to receive a Certificate of Australian Citizenship and are 15 years and under do not need to attend a citizenship ceremony to receive their certificate. However, we welcome their participation in the ceremony if they wish to attend. Children will receive their own certificate, which will be attached to the designated parent’s certificate.

Please advise the Department of Home Affairs as well as Council so that we can make appropriate arrangements as needed to assist you.

The Department of Home Affairs and Council do not offer an urgent citizenship ceremony service.

People are encouraged to attend public ceremonies. However, in genuinely urgent, compelling and unforeseen circumstances, the Department may agree to conduct a Departmental citizenship ceremony.

The following circumstances are not considered genuinely urgent or compelling:

• Overseas travel for employment, holidays, family reunions or weddings
• Pre-purchased airline tickets, cruise tickets or overseas accommodation
• General entry-level employment requiring Australian citizenship
• Expired passport. If you are travelling overseas before your ceremony, you are encouraged to apply for another passport from your current country of citizenship
• Expired authority to return to Australia. If you are travelling overseas before your ceremony, you are encouraged to apply for a Resident Return visa
• Students intending to apply for HECS - Higher Education Loan Program

Applicants for citizenship must attend a citizenship ceremony within their local government area.

If you are unable to attend your ceremony, you must contact the Department of Home Affairs immediately on 131 880 so they can provide you with an alternative date. Please note that Council is unable to reschedule your ceremony. If you do not advise the Department that you cannot attend and you miss your ceremony, Council is unable to provide you with your certificate and it must be returned to the Department. If you do not attend a ceremony within 12 months of your application being approved, and you do not have an acceptable reason, your application could be reviewed and cancelled.

You are not eligible to become an Australian citizen until you have read the Pledge of Commitment in the presence of the Presiding Officer or the Minister for Home Affairs. Your certificate cannot be collected or mailed out before this has occurred. If you have been approved for Australian citizenship, an invitation will be mailed to you from Council approximately four weeks prior to the next scheduled ceremony.

The “Pledge” contains the words you will read out in the presence of the Mayor in order to complete your Citizenship requirements.

Below are the two pledges that you can choose between:

A pledge card, containing the above words and affirmation, will be given to you at the ceremony.

If you would like to practice beforehand, an audio version is available on the Department of Home Affairs citizenship website.

If you would like to make your pledge on a Holy Book, please bring that book along to the ceremony as they are not provided.

All conferees will be required to register upon arrival. A staff member will be present to provide assistance.

During registration, you will need to show photographic identification (driver’s license, passport etc) to verify your identity.

• If you do not have photo identification, please bring along three documents with your name, address, and signature (bank statements, credit card statements, bills).
• If you choose to wear a mask, you will be required to removed it to allow visual identification to be completed,
• If you do not have adequate identification, you will not be allowed to proceed with the citizenship ceremony
• If you have legally changed your name since applying for citizenship, please advise the Department Home Affairs as soon as possible and provide proof of the name change.

After you have completed your registration, you will then be directed to the seating area in preparation for the ceremony.

Recipients will be given an allocated seat, a pledge card and an affirmation card. There may be a short wait until the ceremony starts. You will be required to remain on the premises until the completion of the ceremony.

Should you need to leave, ID will have to be re-confirmed.

If you are not in your allocated seat during this part of the ceremony (from Mayor's speech until completion of the pledges) you will be noted as not having completed the pledge. You will be required to attend the next scheduled ceremony.

LATE ARRIVALS

Please note that if you arrive late and miss this part of the ceremony, let one of our staff members know as soon as possible. If you do not complete the pledge, you will not become an Australian citizen.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION REGISTRATION

All new citizens over the age of 18 must enrol to vote. This can be completed at the citizenship ceremony or afterwards at home and entitles new citizens to vote at Federal, State and local Council elections.

Voting at elections is compulsory and there are fines for failure to do so without a valid reason. Further information can be found on the Elections website.

All conferees will have reserved seating according to their surname.

There will be a formal introduction, speeches and an address before the Pledge of Commitment.

The Presiding Officer, will ask you to stand as a group (according to which pledge you will be making) and to read out/repeat the Pledge of Commitment.

There are two versions of the Pledge, one that mentions God, and one without. You’ll have to repeat the selected on your application form.

You are required to undertake the Pledge and show your loyalty to Australia and accept the responsibility and privileges of Australian citizenship. It also signals a person’s commitment to being an active member of our society as well.

Once you’ll have made the pledge, you will be an Australian citizen and will receive your Australian Citizenship Certificate.

The National Anthem will be played at the end of the ceremony and photo opportunities will follow.

Make sure the information on it is correct and store the certificate somewhere safe.

Citizenship certificates will be provided to you at the ceremony.

All children will receive their own citizenship certificate. For children under 16, certificates will be given to the parents/guardians during registration.

There will be an opportunity for you and your guests to take photos. Photos will also be taken during the ceremony and sent to recipients via email.

Light refreshments may be available, and recipients will receive a small gift from Council.

You’ll be offered the opportunity to add your name to the electoral roll so you can vote at the next election. Since voting is compulsory in Australia, you can either complete the forms at the ceremony or take them home to complete later.

You’ll also be eligible to apply for an Australian passport. Further information can be found on the Passports website.