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Key Changes to Citizenship Same-Sex Relationships

Key changes will include:

  • new definition of de facto partner, applying to both same-sex and opposite-sex de facto partners
  • changes to residence discretion, a same-sex de facto partner of an Australian citizen will be able to access the same residence discretion as an opposite-sex de facto partner or spouse of an Australian citizen
  • recognition of certain parent-child relationships under the Citizenship Act.

A plain English question and answer factsheet is available. It covers issues related to:

  • how same-sex partners are currently recognised for citizenship purposes
  • what affect the key changes to citizenship legislation that will have on same-sex partners
  • how the changes affect may affect current citizenship applications

For further information specifically related to these changes and other citizenship matters, refer to our Citizenship questions and answers information sheet, contact us by telephone or go to the Citizenship website homepage.
See: Citizenship changes for same-sex de facto partners – Questions and Answers (62KB PDF file)
Telephone: 131 880
Citizenship website: www.citizenship.gov.au/

More information

For further information regarding these changes, refer to our General questions and answers information sheet.
See: Legislative changes for same-sex relationships – General Information – Questions and Answers (41KB PDF file)

For information regarding same-sex changes introduced by other Australian Government departments and agencies go to the Attorney-General's Department website.
See: Same-Sex Reforms