Which Victorian councils make becoming an Australian citizen the fastest?

Becoming an Australian citizen is a massive milestone for any migrant, but which council area has the fastest citizenship process? Find out here.

How long does it take to become an Australian citizen broken down by Victorian LGAs.

More than 10 per cent of immigrants hoping to become Victoria’s newest citizens live in Wyndham, with more than a thousand people set to pledge their commitment to Australia in the next three months.

Nearly 1420 residents in the outer western Melbourne council area have applied for Australian citizenship — the most across the state followed closely by those in Melton and Casey.

Ninety four per cent of Wyndham’s would-be citizens will attend a ceremony in the next three months — likely on Australia Day on Sunday — compared to Casey where one in three will wait at least another three months.

Of those, 55 people won’t be able to become Australian citizens until the second half of 2025.

It comes as new data from the federal government revealed the wait times for citizenship ceremonies across every municipality in Victoria.

The citizenship pledge.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ is a public declaration required to obtain Australian citizenship. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Outside of metropolitan Melbourne, Bendigo had the speediest citizenship process where 71 per cent of candidates were invited to a ceremony within three months.

Which council-hosted ceremony people attend was determined by their residential address, with attending ceremonies compulsory.

The wait time for a ceremony depended on demand.

Wyndham’s Ajay Kaushik with his son at his citizenship ceremony. Picture: Supplied.

Wyndham’s Ajay Kaushik — who moved to Australia in 2017 and became a citizen in 2023 — waited less than four months for his citizenship ceremony after registering.

The software engineer from India said while the citizenship ceremony was one of the happiest days for his family it was also bittersweet.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL LIST OF CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY WAIT TIMES BROKEN DOWN BY LGA

“It’s a mixed feeling. You are the happiest about gaining one of the most powerful passports in the world and becoming a citizen of a country whose values you respect and which welcomes you with open hearts,” he said.

“But at the same time, it’s hard to shake the feeling that, on paper, you’re no longer Indian. Still, in your heart, you remain Indian forever.”

Mr Kaushik said the move to Australia marked a turning point in his family’s life. “India gave us birth, but Australia is giving us life,” he said.

Before settling in Melbourne, the Kaushik family considered Germany and Canada as migration options but ultimately chose Australia for its multiculturalism, love of sport and welcoming climate.

“What stood out the most is how Australia welcomes everyone, treating them like friends and family,” he said.

Ajay Kaushik and his family waited less than four months for his citizenship ceremony after registering at Wyndham. Picture: Supplied.

While the family initially missed India, Melbourne’s Indian temples became a source of comfort and connection, making them feel at home in their new country.

“It feels like an upgrade of India,” Mr Kaushik said. “We live with the same values our ancestors passed down to us.

“What I love most about this country is how everyone has equal rights. Even when crossing the road, the biggest trucks will stop for you if you’ve pressed the button. It’s those small acts of kindness that make you fall in love with this country.”

The citizenship pledge is a public declaration made at a citizenship ceremony and a legal requirement for most people to obtain Australian citizenship.

The ceremony marked the conclusion of the immigration journey where new citizens publicly committed to Australia and accepted both the responsibilities and privileges that come with citizenship.

The frequency of citizenship ceremonies was determined by the number of registrations, with local councils holding fewer events when registrations are low.

Wait times were calculated from the date of application approval up to December 31 last year.

The data included applicants invited to a citizenship ceremony as of the same date

Originally published as Which Victorian councils make becoming an Australian citizen the fastest?