The Department of Home Affairs will begin conducting online citizenship ceremonies in place of the traditional ceremonies that have been impacted by Covid-19 health and social distancing restrictions.
Home Affairs began trialing ceremonies over secure video link at the end of March. When fully implemented, the online citizenship service will be able to confer citizenship on up to 750 people a day.
The department is also working with people without internet access to ensure their naturalization ceremonies can occur in timely fashion and in line with health advice.
Home Affairs has advised councils approached by clients requesting a ceremony to direct them to the departmental mailbox: virtual.citz.ceremony@homeaffairs.gov.au
There are 85,000 people whose citizenship has been approved and who are awaiting a formal ceremony.