Hi All.....can anyone tell me what are the major differency between these two? What more are you entitled to? etc............

thanks
sarahx

The right to vote and an Australian passport are the major two things that spring to mind.

Cheaper uni fees!

Ditto, I was wondering myself, I am not worried about the OZ passport, but the cheaper Uni fees may be handy in about 11 years :D

Also there are certain jobs in the public sector (I think??) and the defence forces that you can only apply for if you are an australian citizen.

We could not wait to become citizens.

A) They cannot send you back.

B)The Aussies love the fact that you have "Thrown your lot" in with them.


C) Having two passports makes it easier for entry/exit between the UK and here.

I'd forgotten to renew my UK passport and felt weird when I had to stand in the "foreighenrs" channel to enter the UK. :lol:

Also you can claim unemployment benefit....

Ann

In the "old" days, there wasn't any difference, other than the fact that you were entitled to hold an Australian passport, but since the late 1970's and thro the 1980's, the privileges of just being a "British" subject (i.e. United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canadian, Rhodesian, etc) have all progressively been stripped away one by one. Now, if you are British, you have to line up behind the apaches and eskimos for any special treats.
The advantages of Australian citizenship nowadays are that . . . . .
you can stand for office and enter Parliament;
vote at local, State or Commonwealth elections;
hold an Australian passport and get representation o'seas by Australian diplomats; University Higher Education Contribution Scheme fees are only available to Australian citizens, otherwise you are up for about double the fees to go thro Uni each year;
can work for the Australian and State gov'ts;
can join the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force.

Permanent residents can too - after 2 years. Also, most Government departments don't require citizenship. My husband and I work for completely different Government departments and we've never been asked if we're citizens or not.

M.

Citizenship can be revoked if you're a naughty boy or girl. ;)

You don't have to be a citizen to beable to join up but you do have to be a citizen after 3 months i think it is and also you can do this if you have'nt been here for the time it states to become one.

Debs xxx

As the wife of an Australian Citizen I received Newstart Allowance ( unemployment benefit ) until my husband got a job. I hold a spouse visa 100 which gives me the 100 points that goes a long way here, for most things. We had no idea that either of us would receive the benefit until we arrived. Lovely surprise !!

Helen x

That's interesting! I wonder if I can claim sickness benefit being married to an Australian citizen and unable to work.

Not sure about that, Michelle..if you are on Centrelink's 'books' might be worth a visit. My pay stopped as soon as Paul started working and I have a couple more weeks left of my Health Care Card to get my BP prescriptions cheaper. Fingers crossed I may have a p/t job, as I have a second interview on Thursday. With all this talk of so many days to Christmas I could do with the 'dosh' !!

Helen x

I've just checked their website, I haven't been a Permanent Resident for 2 years yet so I'm not eligible for anything. :(

No wonder they are making it more difficult to become a citizen. Nobody seems to want to become a citizen because they love Australia; you all have a hidden, selfish agenda.

tumkino

I beg your pardon...I don't have a hidden, selfish agenda.

Cheek..

Helen x

Yep we sure do Tumkin :lol: :D :P

Did'nt know that..... will that apply for my OH if he gets the citizenship by descent that he is currently applying for? (We still live in the UK)......C x