The most common Australian citizenship story is one of belonging and community. It’s a story of falling in love with a new place, wanting a new life.
Here at Richard Timpson Solicitors, we have seen a lot of amazing citizenship stories, and helped with even more of them. Here is what a typical story about becoming an Australian citizen looks like. Is it like yours?
The Australian citizenship story
There are many reasons why people visit Australia. For some, it’s the land of beaches, sun, and relaxation. For others, it’s a land of danger and excitement. And for still others, it’s simply a must-see, bucket-list place: A giant land to trek through and visit.
It’s not uncommon that travellers come back. And keep coming back. And find themselves falling in love with our beautiful country, its people, and its possibility.
Many find work, or come back to work
It’s true that you don’t really know a place until you work in it. It’s easy to get starry-eyed and romantic about it, but living and working somewhere shows you local life that you may otherwise miss.
Many young people experience Australia this way the first time they come here, on work and holiday visas. For others, working in Australia becomes something more concrete, a goal to achieve as part of deciding whether moving here is actually a good idea.
Settling down is never far away
When your life gets into a routine of work and friends, it’s very common for people to settle down. They find themselves in relationships, or even married. They buy houses and cars. They might even have children. Permanent residency is the next major step that many people take.
Each one of these things makes you more a part of the Australian community. People find themselves involved in community groups, or churches or schools. They get involved in sport. They have their favourite places to go.
But then, one day, people realise that in everything but nationality, they’re Australians.
Australian citizenship formalises what you already have
We often find that ‘citizenship’ is connected to official things like voting or representing Australia. But really it’s the fact that it turns your place of residence into a home. You can travel and come back home without any hassles. You can vote, you become eligible for things that only Australians can access: Medicare, state-funded education through high education loans schemes, and much more besides.
Becoming an Australian isn’t about painting on a new identity, or losing your old one.
It’s about celebrating and recognising that your life is Australian.
