We’ve covered the perks of getting an Australian permanent residency (see here). You can consider applying for Australian Citizenship if you want to secure an Australian passport and also take advantage of other benefits available to Australian citizens.
Below are some of the benefits of becoming an Australian Citizen.
In Australia, no vote ever goes to waste (see here how their elections work), as they utilize the preferential system of voting. As an Australian citizen, you have the right to vote in federal, state or territory, and municipal elections, as well as in referendums. Take note though that voting here is both a right and a duty.
Australia has a very stable government (What type exactly? Check here). If you are aspiring to be a member of the Federal Parliament, you cannot hold a dual citizenship, unless you have made all efforts to have your other citizenship revoked.
Being part of the Australian Defence Force is ripe with benefits. First, you will have the honour of preserving peace in the country and protecting it. Second, you’ll have access to pensions, benefits, free medical and dental care, excellent training facilities, and subsidized accommodation, among others. Working for the government also has many perks, like good compensation, superannuation, and employment pension.
Mishaps while overseas are a prime headache, but being an Australian citizen, the embassies will take care of that. In case of accidents, injuries, natural disasters, passport loss, and other unwanted instances, you may seek aid from Australian embassies and consulates located worldwide.
As a permanent resident visa holder, your children will become Australian citizens automatically given they were born in the country. If you are an Australian citizen, children born anywhere in the world can be registered as Australian citizens by descent. They are entitled to rights, privileges, and benefits enjoyed by other Australian citizens.
Australian citizenship does not have an expiry date. As a citizen you can apply for an Australian passport and have total freedom to travel in and out of Australia (including being overseas, without any time limitations or restrictions to re-enter).
Being a permanent visa holder, you are already entitled to education subsidies to aid you in tertiary education expenses. But being a citizen gives you (and your children) more options in education cost deferrals such as HECS programs, scholarships, awards and the Student Income Support from the Australian government.
If you and your spouse are Australian citizens, you are eligible to adopt a child here. Do note that requirements may vary in every state.
You will have full travel and work rights in New Zealand (as Australia and New Zealand have a Trans-Tasman agreement).
The Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and Goodwill games are just few of the sporting events Australia always send delegates to. If you are an Australian citizen, you are eligible to participate and represent the country in these events, if you want to embark on a sporting career.
We have already compared Australia with United States. But there’s something about US of A’s northern neighbor that makes it so attractive to immigrants, too. The very polite Canadians, the amenable culture, the vast opportunity for employment, efficiently health care system, and the history built on migration, and so on. In many cases, the Great White North is very similar to the Land Down Under.
Or is it? We compared Australia and Canada for you, so we can help you decide before applying for that visa.
Both countries thrive on the mining industry that saw a boom in the recent decade. But the Great White North is bigger when it comes to the manufacturing industry. Not to mention, blue collar jobs, especially nursing, offers better opportunities and bigger compensation here.
Canada might be closer to the US, but most of American-owned IT firms and their regional headquarters set up shop here. Also, white collar jobs have greater opportunities and have better payoff here.
Despite having an ultra-efficient economy, housing has yet to be relaxed and uncomplicated for Canadians. By 2007, roughly 1.7 million residents have housing affordability issues. Which is ironic since the country is considered to be one of the most affordable places to settle. Currently, eighty percent of Canadians still rely on market based housing, in which the citizens finance their own housing without help from the government.
It is reported that high cost housing gets growingly difficult for blue collar jobs e.g. nurses, police officers, teachers; despite them earning very good income.
Public housing in Australia is provided by departments of state governments, though they operate on the groundwork of the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement, in which both federal and state governments provide the funding for public housing. The government is trying its best to make housing very affordable to encourage families to buy landed houses instead of renting.
Being the second largest country in the world (yes, even bigger than Australia), the Canadian government dedicated effort to efficient, high-capacity multimodal transport for its citizens. Of the commuters, 63.5% roam by bus, 25.0% through subway or elevated rail, 11.2% via light rail, streetcar or commuter train, and 0.3% by ferry.
Compared to Australia, fares are cheaper also. A one-way ticket costs 3.15 AU$, while going for a monthly pass will hike it up to 95.58 AU$. A taxi tariff is at AU$3.78 with AU$1.89 for each kilometer. If you want your own car, A Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (or any equivalent new car) will cost you 24,157.23 AU$ plus 1.13 AU$ for every litter of gasoline.
All of Australian cities have reliable, affordable public bus networks and train lines, plus taxis operate nationwide. These train lines include commuter rail networks, trams, light rails, and rapid transits. Despite this, driving is the most used mode of transport, and this number continues to rise. It is followed by train, walking (the country has a very good culture of walking), bus, and lastly, trucks.
Fares are pricier here compared to Cana. A one-way ticket sets you back by 3.93 AU$, while going for a monthly pass will increase it by 130.00 AU$. A taxi tariff is at AU$4.00 2.17 with AU$1.89 for each kilometer. If you want your own car, A Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (or any equivalent new car) will cost you 25,000.00AU$ plus 1.32 AU$ for every litter of gasoline.
Not unlike its southern neighbor, Canada has a culture of dining out well placed. What with the French, South American, Asian, and other ethnic restaurants thriving in the country. A three-course meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant will set you back by 64.05 AU$, while dialing it down to an inexpensive Restaurant will cost you 15.75 AU$. A McDonalds combo meal clocks only at 9.45 AU$.
But it doesn’t mean cooking at home is dead. Though you have to shell more (as compared to Australia). A grocery with all the basic necessities like milk, bread, eggs, potatoes, chicken breasts, beef, onion, lettuce, bananas, wine, beer, and a pack of cigarettes, among others, will set you back AU$122.92.
Just like Canada, Australia was built by the tide of immigrations. Thus becoming a melting pot of different cuisines from various cultures. But compared to Canada, dining out is pricier here. A three-course meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant will cost you 80.00 AU$, you can save by going fo an inexpensive Restaurant instead, which will cost you 18.00AU$. A McDonalds combo meal is at AU$10.00.
According to recent studies, home cooking is slowly overriding eating out. And it’s cheaper here compared to Canada. A grocery with all the basic necessities just like above will cost you only AU$ 111.92.
Canada’s health care is provided through a publicly funded system. That means it is mostly free to use with the services provided by private companies. The government ensures that citizens receives all medically necessary and hospital physician services.
While citizens have guaranteed access to hospital and medical services, it is up to each province’s preference whether to cover "supplementary" benefits, such as dental care and drug coverage. About two-thirds of Canadians take out private, supplemental insurance policies (or have an employer-sponsored plan) to cover these services.
Medicare is the Australian government’s universal health insurance scheme. It provides Australian residents free treatment as a public patient in a public hospital and free or subsidized treatment for optometrist, dental care, and psychology services as well as treatment by doctors.
Check here how the Australian Public Health Care System Works.
Much like Australia, Canada’s climate differs greatly based on geography (both countries are huge). The northern part is a complete perma-frost while the equatorial areas enjoy four distinct seasons. These regions experience varying temperature ranging from 35 degrees Celsius in the summer to a chilly -25 degrees Celsius during winter.
During late May, summer begins and this extends through September. July and August are the hottest months. The months of September and October, when autumn falls, are the best time to visit Canada as most days are cool and pleasant. The winter is the longest.
Climate also varies vastly in Australia, with snow-capped mountains in the south and arid deserts in the interior. But unlike Canada, majority of the country leans more towards the temperate, tropical rainforest climate. Australians get plenty of sun and warmth most of the year but with huge drops in temperature during winter.
The weather widely differs with every city. To find out more about the climate in each of them, check it here.
Advantages of Canadian Citizenship include:
Advantages of Australian Citizenship include: