You may automatically acquire Australian citizenship by birth or adoption or may apply for Australian citizenship by descent or conferral.
If you are over 16 years at the time you make your application for citizenship by conferral, you will obtain Australian citizenship only after you have made the pledge of commitment and have been issued with evidence of Australian citizenship from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
Note: The prescribed residency requirements for Australian citizenship have changed for persons who became permanent visa holders on or after 1 July 2007.
To confirm your residency status, contact the Citizenship Information Line on 13 18 80 or visit the Australian citizenship website at http://www.citizenship.gov.au/.