Applying for Australian citizenship by conferral (the usual path for dual citizenship) costs AUD $575 for the standard fee as of mid-2025, with a concession fee of $80 available for eligible applicants, while children under 16 applying with a parent usually pay nothing; other specific categories like citizenship by descent have different fees.
How Much Does Dual Citizenship Cost? To apply for U.S. citizenship, you have to get an N-400 form to process your application. You will need to pay a total of $760 for paper filing and $710 for online filing. You can make the full payment via money order, cashier's check, personal check, or credit/debit card.
Australian Citizenship Application Fees
Citizenship by Conferral (General Eligibility - Form 1300t): The new standard application fee is now $575. A concession fee of $80 is available for eligible applicants. Citizenship by Descent (Form 118): The fee is $370 for the first applicant.
Complex Legal Obligations
Dual citizens must adhere to the laws and regulations of both countries, which can sometimes lead to conflicts. For example, military service requirements, tax obligations, and legal responsibilities may differ between countries, requiring careful navigation to avoid legal issues.
Submit $760 if filing by paper, or $710 if filing online.
For a citizenship application, you'll generally need identity documents (passport, birth certificate, driver's license), proof of address (utility bills, bank statements), proof of name changes (marriage/deed poll), photos, and sometimes police certificates, depending on the country and your eligibility, with specific requirements varying by jurisdiction like Australia or the U.S. Always check the official government website (e.g., Department of Home Affairs for Australia or USCIS for the U.S.) for your country's precise checklist.
Despite the five years of permanent residence requirement, you are actually allowed to submit your naturalization application to USCIS within the 90 days before your 5-year anniversary has arrived. The reason has to do with timing.
The United States generally considers a person with dual U.S. and foreign citizenship a U.S. citizen for Social Security purposes. This may not apply if you're a U.S. citizen and a citizen of a country the United States has an international social security agreement with.
A dual citizen is a person who is a citizen of 2 or more countries. You become a dual citizen if you: are an Australian citizen, are granted citizenship of another country and don't lose your Australia citizenship, or. remain a citizen of another country and become an Australian citizen.
Holding multiple citizenships provides a person with a number of benefits, such as freedom of travel, the ability to choose the more advanced healthcare system, and wider educational opportunities. However, there are some cons to holding two passports, too.
For Australian citizenship, you'll generally need documents proving your identity (birth certificate, passport, driver's license), date of birth, name, gender, current address (utility bills, bank statements), and potentially evidence of name changes (marriage certificate) or police checks, with all documents needing to be in English or officially translated. Use the Department of Home Affairs' Document Checklist tool for a personalized list when you apply.
Australian citizenship processing times vary significantly by application type, but for Citizenship by Conferral, 90% of applications take around 14 months from application to ceremony, with individual circumstances, completeness, and verification impacting the exact timeline, while Citizenship by Descent is faster, often within 7 months, and Evidence applications are very quick (around 17 days). Delays often occur due to incomplete forms, missing documents, or increased identity verification, with some complex cases taking longer.
Paraguay. Paraguay offers one of the most affordable paths to citizenship, but with an important caveat: its constitution only formally recognizes dual citizenship with countries with which it has reciprocity agreements, such as Italy and Spain.
Individuals who apply before this date will not be affected, so those considering citizenship are encouraged to act early to avoid higher costs. New fees from 1 July 2025 will include: Citizenship by descent: increasing from $360 to $370. Citizenship by conferral (general eligibility): from $560 to $575.
Obtaining a second passport is different for every country, each with their own timeline, regulations, and requirements. Some require a minimum income while others may just require an investment in real estate, businesses, or job creation. Other countries grant dual citizenship quite easily.
Having dual citizenship can make it easier to live and own property in two countries, but it also complicates estate planning and administration. There are significant differences between countries in terms of inheritance, succession, and estate or inheritance tax.
Taxes: The U.S. taxes its citizens on worldwide income, regardless of where you live. Australia taxes residents on their global income as well. This means dual citizens may have to file tax returns in both countries, though tax treaties and credits can help avoid double taxation.
Dual citizenship allowed if you were born in another country and thus acquired nationality, or lived there as a minor, or if you automatically acquired your spouse's nationality.
If you've paid into Social Security through U.S. payroll taxes, you're still entitled to receive benefits—even after renouncing your U.S. citizenship.
For example, if you're a US citizen with more than one passport, you must use your US passport to enter and leave the United States. The same goes for Canada. However, the passport you use at your destination country can depend on both your preference and the laws of that country.
Claiming Benefits Too Early
One of the biggest mistakes people make is claiming Social Security benefits as soon as they're eligible, which is at age 62. While getting money sooner can be tempting, claiming early has a significant downside: your monthly benefit will be reduced.
For a citizenship application, you'll generally need identity documents (passport, birth certificate, driver's license), proof of address (utility bills, bank statements), proof of name changes (marriage/deed poll), photos, and sometimes police certificates, depending on the country and your eligibility, with specific requirements varying by jurisdiction like Australia or the U.S. Always check the official government website (e.g., Department of Home Affairs for Australia or USCIS for the U.S.) for your country's precise checklist.
These are: by birth, by descent, by naturalization, and by marriage. These core categories form the foundation for how most individuals acquire their legal status within a nation.
To qualify for naturalization under the marriage-based three-year rule, you must also: Be at least 18 years old. Maintain continuous residence in the United States for three years. Meet the physical presence requirement by spending at least 18 months in the U.S. during those three years.