Pre-2002 rule (ended)
Before April 2002, Australia did not recognise dual citizenship. Taking another citizenship automatically ended Australian citizenship under the old rules. See resumption.
5 Min Read · Australia Permits Dual Citizenship
You want Australian citizenship. You also want to keep your passport from home.
Your mother says she cannot bear to see you become Australian. The good news is that Australia does not ask you to choose. The question is whether your other country will. For Indian and Chinese background applicants, the home-country rules are the main consideration, not Australia\'s position.
Australia's position
Permitted since 2002. No renunciation required.
Australia fully permits dual and multiple citizenship. You do not have to give up your original citizenship when becoming Australian.
Post-2002 rule (current)
Australia recognises dual and multiple citizenship. No requirement to renounce any other citizenship when becoming Australian.
Application disclosure
Your citizenship application asks about other citizenships, but holding them is not a barrier to becoming Australian.
Your other country's rules are separate
Whether you can actually hold dual citizenship depends on your other country's laws, not Australia's.
Countries that allow vs restrict
Most Western democracies allow it. Some do not.
Policies change periodically. Check your home country's current rules before applying.
Countries that allowUnited Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, United States, France, Germany (with conditions), Italy, Ireland, Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and many others.
Countries that restrictIndia (no dual, but OCI card available), China (no dual), Japan (requires choice by age 22), and several others. Consequences and exact rules vary.
India specificIndia does not permit dual citizenship. When you become Australian, your Indian citizenship ends automatically. OCI card provides rights to visit, work, and own property in India without full citizenship. Common for our clients from Indian backgrounds.
China specificChina does not recognise dual citizenship. Australian citizenship typically means loss of Chinese citizenship. Subsequent visits to China require standard visitor visa arrangements.
Practical implications
Five areas where dual citizenship matters day to day.
The benefits are mostly about freedom of movement and identity. Obligations can exist on both sides.
Travel
Enter and leave each country on that country's passport. Australian citizens entering Australia should use their Australian passport.
Voting and civic duties
Vote in Australian elections as an Australian citizen. Voting rights in your other country depend on that country's laws.
Tax and military obligations
Most countries tax based on residency. The United States taxes citizens on worldwide income. Some countries require military service that continues after you become Australian.
Your Australian citizenship application does not communicate with your home country.
The Department of Home Affairs does not notify your country of origin when you become Australian. Any impact on your original citizenship arises from your home country's own laws, not Australian action.
Common questions
The questions we hear most.
For country-specific dual citizenship questions, book with Sourabh Aggarwal. For home-country specifics, we will refer you to specialists.
What happens if my home country does not allow dual citizenship?
Australia still grants you Australian citizenship. The effect on your home citizenship depends entirely on your home country's laws. This is a decision many applicants need to make with full information about both sides.
Do I have to tell Australia about my other citizenship?
Your citizenship application asks about other citizenships, but holding them is not a barrier to becoming Australian.
Can I lose my Australian citizenship by becoming a citizen of another country later?
Not automatically, but specific circumstances can lead to revocation. Generally, acquiring a third citizenship does not affect your Australian citizenship.
Do my children automatically get dual citizenship?
It depends on both countries' laws. Children born in Australia to Australian citizens or permanent residents are usually Australian citizens. Whether they also inherit another citizenship depends on the other country.
Some information on this page has been sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and has been interpreted and approved by Principal Migration Agent Sourabh Aggarwal (MARN 1462159). Last reviewed: May 2026.