A Duty to Apply for Australian Citizenship?

A land of diverse viewpoints and personal backgrounds, Australia isn’t especially well-known for the uniformity of its decisions, and opinions among the nation’s people are likely to vary greatly on any given subject. The topic of immigration in particular is bound to provoke anger or frustration in some citizens, while others greet the subject with openness and joy; the difference often has ties to personal experiences perceived to depend upon the national stance towards immigration itself. For the most part, however, Australians are notably welcoming to foreigners, and there is a deep appreciation for the new cultural, religious, and professional ideas and practices brought into the country by people originally from other lands. Whether they support specific immigration policies or not, many Australians take the view that those who wish to work and live in the country beyond a short, exploratory visit are obliged to seek out Australian citizenship, a view that may have considerable consequences for immigrants who do not show any interest in becoming Australians themselves.

Australian citizenship is held as a goal for many people who venture to the country on a visa, and quickly going through the process to apply for citizenship, take the citizenship test, and complete the other necessary steps is a standard procedure for some. Yet there are others who venture to Australia for work, education, or for personal reasons, and who do not attempt to solidify their status in the country through citizenship. To many native citizens and those who have gone through the naturalization process, this reluctance or outright refusal to join in the community and take on the responsibilities of citizenship can be frustrating, as immigrants are sometimes viewed as snatching up certain types of jobs or detracting from social services by obtaining help without paying into national funds through regular taxes. Immigrants who do not seek out citizenship may also face difficulties with the law, and may find themselves cut off from many of the benefits of living and working in Australia.

While each newcomer to the country is sure to think of their duty to the nation in a different way, the number of those who feel obligated to become Australian citizens after a certain period of time or after a thought-out decision is likely to rise when the opinions and arguments of existing citizens are heard. Though there will doubtless always be some who refuse to go through the paperwork of a citizenship test and application or who feel that taking on a new citizenship status would somehow jeopardize their personal or family identity, the benefits of becoming an involved and legal member of the national community are bound to help convince many that going Aussie on paper is the right choice. Seeking out Australian citizenship is ultimately a very personal choice, and not all immigrants will choose to take the leap, yet those who do will find greater acceptance and, likely, greater prosperity as a result.