The Australian government has recently announced that starting July 1, 2024, its citizens will face higher fees for obtaining or renewing their passports as the latter will apply new citizenship application fees.

Citizenship applications for Australian permanent residents aged 18 to 59 will be increased to $560 from the current $540. Citizenship through adoption applications will also increase from $345 to $360 for the first sibling and from $145 to $150 for additional siblings, VisaGuide.World reports.

On the other hand, children under 16 who apply on the same form as the responsible parent are exempted from the updated changes regarding citizenship application processes.

The government further said the Australian citizenship application fee depends on key factors such as application type, age, and individual circumstances.

On July 1 each year, indexation is applied to citizenship application fees based on the consumer price index (CPI). The new fees apply to all citizenship applications received by the Department of Home Affairs at or after 12 am (AEST) on July 1, 2024.​

Citizenship Fees Will Also Increase for These Groups of Foreigners

Citizenship application fees will also increase for foreigners who fall under Australian citizenship for children adopted under the entire Hague Convention or bilateral arrangements group, which include:

• Single application / First sibling when two or more siblings apply ($360)
• Second and each subsequent sibling applying at the same time ($150)

At the same time, the Renunciation of Australian citizenship Standards and the Resumption of Australian citizenship fees will also increase to $300 and $240, respectively.

Moreover, concessional fees for pensioner concession card holders and dependents will see minor adjustments, from $75 to $80.

If you apply online at or after 12 am (AEST) on July 1 2024, you will pay the new fee. This is regardless of when you started the application. Your application is considered submitted when we receive it, along with the fee.

Exemptions for Australian Citizenship Cost

Fees currently nil or subject to minimal rounding changes will remain unchanged. In this regard, those who will be exempted from paying the citizenship fee are as follows:

• British or Maltese former child migrants who came to Australia without parents between September 22, 1947, and December 31, 1967, under the Commonwealth Child Migration Scheme.
• Persons who have served for at least 90 days in the permanent forces of the Commonwealth of Australia.
• Persons applying under the Statelessness provision (section 21(8) of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007).