Citizenship Ceremonies
Willoughby City Council hosts regular Citizenship Ceremonies to welcome people in our community who are taking the step to become an Australian citizen.
Australian citizenship symbolises our unity as a nation. It represents commitment to this country and its people, the values we share and our common future. Australian Citizenship also represents the sense of belonging to the country you’ve decided to make your home.
To attend a ceremony at Willoughby City Council, you must live within the Willoughby City Council Local Government area.
If you have applied for Citizenship, the Department of Home Affairs will notify you of the date and time of your ceremony. You will be sent a letter of invitation advising you of your ceremony details. Applicants are asked to please ensure their email address is up to date in their Department of Home Affairs ImmiAccount.
If you have any enquiries about becoming an Australia Citizen or the date of your ceremony, please call the Citizenship Information Line on131 880 or email ceremony.nsw@homeaffairs.gov.au.
2023 Citizenship Ceremony dates
- Thursday 17 August, 2023
- Thursday 21 September, 2023
- Thursday 19 October, 2023
- Thursday 16 November, 2023
- Thursday 14 December, 2023.
Arrival time
New citizens are recommended to arrive 45 minutes before their ceremony time to have their photo ID checked and electoral form filled out. Please confirm your arrival at the check-in tables, where Willoughby City Council staff will welcome you. Guests will be seated in order of arrival.
Venue: Dougherty Community Centre
Venue address: 7 Victor Street, Chatswood NSW 2067
About the ceremonies
Confirmed ceremony times will be provided on your invitation and take approximately one hour.
When attending a citizenship ceremony we recommend to dress in smart casual attire or traditional cultural clothing to reflect this significant occasion. Citizens and guests are welcome to take photos during the ceremony.
Citizenship for children
If you apply for citizenship for a child under 16 years of age, you need to attend the ceremony and receive their Citizenship Certificate on their behalf. Children are not required to attend, but of course we welcome them.
Further information is available from the Department of Home Affairs website.
Guests
The invitation will tell you if you can invite guests, or the number of guests you can invite.
Your guests might have to sit apart from you during the ceremony. Children must be well supervised.