AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Australia is attracting more overseas military services personnel to highly specialised roles by making it easier for their families to get citizenship, according to a joint media release by Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Bowen MP and Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Warren Snowdon MP on September 11, 2012.

The two Ministers stated in the release that family members of overseas lateral recruits to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) were eligible for conferral of Australian citizenship at the same time as the lateral recruit. The amendments to the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 that allow applicants to be fast tracked for citizenship will be applied to family members of current and future lateral recruits.

“We are providing families with earlier eligibility for citizenship to assist them with settling in Australia, including providing access to employment opportunities and educational assistance,” said Mr Bowen.

In particular, the amendments also ensure that the family members will still be eligible for Australian citizenship in case the ADF member dies before becoming eligible.

To be eligible, the overseas lateral recruit must be granted a certain Australian visaafter 1 July 2007 and undertake 90 days service in either the permanent or reserve forces of the Army, Navy or Air Force.

The amendments also clarify that defence service refers only to appointed and enlisted personnel in the Australian Defence Force.

“These amendments will assist Australia to attract personnel to highly specialised roles within the ADF as they will provide tangible benefits to lateral recruits’ migrating families,” said Mr Snowdon.

The amendments will be effective from January 1, 2013.

If you are interested in Australian visas, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Australia.
Hanna Eliasson | Migration Expert Australia