CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT APPLICATION CHECKLIST

This application checklist

Payment of the Application Charge

(evidenced by an original pink receipt)

See: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/citizenship.htm

Form 118 - Application for Australian citizenship by descent

(fully completed, signed and dated by the applicant (or responsible parent, for applicants aged under 16 years))

See: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/application-forms/forms_num2.htm  

The proof of identity declaration in Form 118 is fully completed, signed and dated by a person who is not related to the applicant by birth, marriage, or de facto relationship; has known the applicant for at least 12 months (unless the applicant is under 6 years of age); and currently belongs to one of the professions or occupations listed under the heading Proof of identity declaration - list of professions in the information section of Form 118. The list includes teachers, police officers, nurses, doctors, dentists and lawyers.

If possible, this person should be an Australian citizen, but if not possible, they can be a citizen of Vietnam or another country.

2 x recent passport sized photographs (not more than 6 months old) of the applicant endorsed by the person who signed the proof of identity declaration.

This person must endorse the back of the photographs with the words "This is a true photograph of [insert applicant's name in full]", and sign and date the back of the photographs. The endorsement can be written in Vietnamese or English.

Certified copy of passport or other travel document of the applicant (if any)

Original registered full birth certificate of the applicant 

If the claimed Australian citizen parent is not included on the applicant's original birth certificate, a certified copy of a Decision to Acknowledge Recognition of the Child issued by the local authorities

If the claimed Australian citizen parent is not included on the applicant's original birth certificate, evidence to show that the claimed parents of the applicant are in a relationship (for example, photographs, Household Registration Book)

Certified copy of the marriage certificate of the applicant's parents (if applicable)

Certified copy of death certificate of claimed Australian citizen parent (if applicable)

Evidence that at least one natural parent was an Australian citizen at the time of the birth of the applicant (certified copy of full Australian birth certificate, certificate of Australian citizenship, or Australian passport)

Certified copy of relevant pages of passport used by the claimed Australian citizen parent to demonstrate entry to and exist from Vietnam

Evidence of change of name (if the applicant or the claimed Australian citizen parent has changed their name)

If the applicant is aged 16 years or over, certified copy of their national identity card

If the applicant is aged 16 years or over, original curriculum vitae certified by the local People's Committee

(not more than 6 months old) 

If the applicant is aged under 18 years and their parents are divorced, evidence of custody and access arrangements

If the applicant is aged under 18 years and their guardian is a person other than a natural parent, certified copy of certificate of guardianship issued by the local People's Committee

If the applicant is aged 18 years or over, original police certificate of No Criminal Record issued by the local Service of Justice

(Applicants who have spent a total of 12 months overseas in the last 10 years must also provide police certificates from those countries in which they have spent 3 months or more)

If the applicant (or responsible parent, for applicants aged under 16 years) has a preference for an alternative name ordering to that outlined below, or if one name is a combination of two words, a statement specifying that preference.

Vietnamese birth certificates and passports traditionally record a person's name in the following way:

1. Family name   2. Middle name   3. First name

However, Australian citizenship certificates are issued in the following uniform format to reflect the accepted Australian practice of recording a person's surname/family name last:

1. First name   2. Middle name   3. Family name