Australian citizenship ceremony
We conduct citizenship ceremonies on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs. The citizenship ceremony is the final step in becoming an Australian citizen. Each year, around 1,700 local residents become Australian citizens at these events.
Ceremonies are scheduled regularly, based on advice received from the Department of Home Affairs, to help candidates become citizens as soon as possible. We are provided with a list of approved candidates approximately four to six weeks before each ceremony. We then issue formal invitations with the relevant ceremony details. Before that time, both the Department of Home Affairs and ourselves, are unable to advise applicants of the date of their citizenship ceremonies.
Following approval of Australian citizenship, it may take six to 12 months for candidates to receive an invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony.
If you have questions about your application, you must contact the Department of Home Affairs by calling 131 880 or visit the Department of Home Affairs website for helpful information on the process.
Ceremony waiting times
You can usually expect to be invited to a ceremony within six months of your application approval, though waiting times can vary.
If you have requested to be linked to other people for your ceremony, you will not be allocated for a ceremony until the last person in your group has been approved. Having family members linked to your application may also affect your wait time.
Request for urgent ceremony
You will need to contact the Department of Home Affairs to apply for your ceremony to be brought forward. Urgent ceremonies will only be considered in exceptional and very limited circumstances and supporting documentary evidence must be provided.
Request for online ceremony
Requests for online ceremonies, accompanied by supporting documentary evidence, may be considered in exceptional and very limited circumstances. Refer to the Department of Home Affairs website for more information on online ceremonies.
Citizenship ceremony process
To officially become an Australian citizen, you must attend a citizenship ceremony in person and take the pledge. Children under 16 do not have to attend the ceremony and make the pledge, but they are welcome to do so. Children over 16 are required to attend a ceremony and provide photo ID.
The process is:
- You will be invited to a ceremony once you have:
- completed your application process with the Department of Home Affairs
- received your letter of approval from the Minister for Home Affairs.
2. Once you are approved, the Department of Home Affairs will allocate you to a ceremony. We will then send you an email invitation no less than four weeks prior to your assigned ceremony and we will follow up until we have received attendance confirmation from you.
3. Attend the ceremony at The Annex, 541 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba.
Ceremony dates for 2026
The below dates and times are proposed and are subject to change.
- Thursday, 19 March 2026 - 10am and 2pm
- Thursday, 9 April 2026 - 10am and 2pm
- Thursday, 21 May 2026 - 10am and 2pm
- Thursday, 11 June 2026 - 10am and 2pm
- Thursday, 16 July 2026 - 10am and 2pm
- Thursday, 27 August 2026 - 10am and 2pm
- Thursday, 17 September 2026 - 10am and 2pm
- Thursday, 22 October 2026 - 10am and 2pm
- Thursday, 19 November 2026 - 10am and 2pm
Ceremony details
A citizenship ceremony lasts about two hours, but extra time is needed for registration on the day. The ceremony includes:
- a welcome from the Mayor of Toowoomba Regional Council
- a message from the Minister for Home Affairs
- the introduction
- the citizenship pledge
- the Australian national anthem
- presentation of your citizenship certificate and photo.
Non-attendance
If you are unable to attend your allocated ceremony you will be invited to another ceremony in the future. The Department of Home Affairs will send you a non-attendance letter after your scheduled ceremony outlining next steps.
It is not possible to choose which ceremony you would like to attend.
Questions about the citizenship ceremony, that aren't answered on this page, can be directed to our team via email.