Citizenship ceremonies

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The City of Unley hosts Citizenship Ceremonies throughout the year with the largest held in January.  At the ceremony new citizens receive their Citizenship Certificate.

The ceremonies include an official Pledge of Commitment as the final step in becoming an Australian citizen. Once the pledge had been made before a person delegated by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, the person is an Australian citizen.

The Mayor of the City of Unley is delegated by the Minister as an official person who can hear the pledge.

At the City of Unley there are two ceremonies per year:

  • On Australia Day, or the three days prior or the three days after Australia Day.
  • A later date mid-year (June/July)
 

Note: The Department has a policy of allocating applicants to ceremonies by order of their approval date and within each council’s ability to confer applicants.

For more information about ceremonies in Unley, please phone (08) 8372 5111. For information about becoming an Australian citizen, visit the Department of Home Affairs website or phone 13 18 81.

 

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for citizenship?

To apply for citizenship, you must contact the Department of Home Affairs.

What to do once you have received a letter confirming of approval of Citizenship.

Depending on when the letter was received, it generally takes a couple of months for the Department of Home Affairs to finalise all the paperwork.

Then if you wish to take your pledge at the City of Unley council, you will need to inform the Department of Home Affairs who will finalise the list and inform you and the Council of your citizenship ceremony date. 

I have received an invitation to attend my citizenship ceremony and I’d like to RSVP.

Please phone the Council on (08) 8372 5111.

I have not received an invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony.

The Department of Home Affairs has a policy of allocating applicants to ceremonies by order of their approval date and within each council’s ability to confer applicant

Also, the Council may be at full capacity and unable to take any more new conferees.

I was unable to attend the previous citizenship ceremony. Can I be put on the list for the next one?

If you were unable to attend the last citizenship ceremony, your name will automatically go back on the list for the next ceremony.

I already have my citizenship certificate but my name is spelt incorrectly.

Please contact the Department of Home Affairs as they are the legal body that has the authority to make these changes.

I already have my citizenship but I have lost my citizenship certificate.

Please contact the Department of Home Affairs.

I attended the recent citizenship ceremony, how can I get my photos from the photographer that was present on the day?

Once the photos are ready they will be mailed out to your home address. (This is the home address that was provided to the Department of Home Affairs on your original application form).

I attended the most recent Citizenship Ceremony but have not received my citizenship certificate. When will I get it?

Occasionally we are unable to receive citizenship certificates in time, due to a delay in delivery from Canberra. The Department of Home Affairs will be in contact with you to arrange delivery of your citizenship certificate.

  

Pledge of commitment

All new citizens read aloud a pledge as part of the citizenship ceremony. If the ceremony is for a group of new citizens you will all read your pledge together.

There are two pledges. The first pledge refers to God and the second pledge does not. At your citizenship interview you will be asked which pledge you wish to make during your ceremony.

Australian Citizenship Pledge 1

From this time forward, under God,
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
Whose democratic beliefs I share,
Whose rights and liberties I respect,
And whose laws I will uphold and obey.   
 

Australian Citizenship Pledge 2

 
From this time forward,
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
Whose democratic beliefs I share,
Whose rights and liberties I respect,
And whose laws I will uphold and obey.

The Australian National Anthem

The Australian National Anthem is sung at all Citizenship Ceremonies.

On 19 April 1984, the Governor General, Sir Ninian Stephan, declared Australia's National Anthem to be 'Advance Australia Fair'. 

Advance Australia Fair

Australians all let us rejoice
For we are young and free
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea:
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare,
In history's page let every stage
Advance Australia fair,
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We'll toil with hearts and hands,
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands,
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share,
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia fair.

Words and music by Peter Dodds McCormick.

 

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