Our friendly staff look forward to assisting with your enquiry.
The first step in becoming an Australian citizen is to apply through the Department of Home Affairs.
We conduct citizenship ceremonies on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs.
We do not handle the application process of becoming an Australian citizen.
The Department handles all aspects of applying to become a citizen and inviting applicants to attend a ceremony where they will make their Australian Citizenship Pledge.
Please visit the Department of Home Affairs website or contact them on 131 880 for information about becoming an Australian Citizen.
Upcoming Citizenship Ceremonies
The next citizenship ceremony will be held on Thursday 23 January 2025
Citizenship ceremonies are livestreamed and can be viewed on Council’s YouTube channel ‘EastGippyTV’.
This year we are holding three citizenship ceremonies per year. The first is held on Australia Day, 26 January, and a ceremony is also held on Australian Citizenship Day in September.
For more details on Citizenship Ceremonies, please contact us at civicevents@egipps.vic.gov.au or phone 5153 9500.
When can I take part in a citizenship ceremony
We are notified when candidates are approved for this step by the Department of Home Affairs.
We will then invite the candidate to participate in the next ceremony.
We know it is an important decision to become an Australian citizen and we aim to make each ceremony memorable and personal. We send each candidate a personalised photograph to remember the day.
For further information on citizenship ceremonies contact the Civic Events Officer on 5153 9500 or feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au
A citizenship ceremony is the final step towards becoming an Australian citizen; it is where candidates publicly make the Pledge of Commitment as citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia.
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Congratulations to East Gippsland Shire’s new Australian citizens!
On the morning of Tuesday 17 September, new citizens took part in a citizenship ceremony - the final step in their journey to Australian citizenship.
The ceremony was held on this date to coincide with Australian Citizenship Day. Whether we are citizens through birth or by active choice, Australian Citizenship Day is a chance for all Australians to:
- take pride in our citizenship,
- celebrate our democratic values, and
- think about what unites us as Australians.
The ceremony was held at St Mary's Parish Hall in Bairnsdale and was live streamed on our YouTube channel so family and friends from across the world could watch the special occasion.
You can watch the ceremony on our YouTube channel.
12 June 2024
East Gippsland Shire has 18 new citizens following a citizenship ceremony held Bairnsdale on Wednesday, June 12.
The new citizens hailed from the Philippines, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Japan, Colombia, Vietnam, United States, and India formally pledged their commitment to Australia in front of a large gathering of family and friends at St Mary’s Parish Centre.
East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor Cr Tom Crook presided over the ceremony and said citizenship ceremonies are special occasions for all involved.
Conferees received a certificate, a commemorative citizenship coin, and a native plant as a gift from Council.
This ceremony signifies the completion of all requirements set by Australian law for citizenship.
The ceremony was live-streamed so family and friends from across the world could watch the special occasion. You can view the ceremony on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/EastGippyTV.
Around 11 per cent of East Gippsland Shire’s population of nearly 50,000 residents were born overseas.
26 January 2024 - Australia Day
On Australia Day, 26 January, we welcomed our newest Australian citizens.
Eighteen residents pledged their commitment to Australia in front of more than 60 family and friends.
We also livestreamed the ceremony so people from around the world can watch and share in the special day. The ceremony can be viewed on our YouTube channel. youtube.com/EastGippyTV
Deputy Mayor Cr Jane Greacen OAM was the presiding officer.
The 18 conferees were from Britain, Philippines, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, Malta and India.
Council holds three citizenship ceremonies each year. Attending a citizenship ceremony is the final step in the journey to become an Australian citizen.
Conferees received a certificate, citizenship coin, and a gift from Council in the form of a native plant. The ceremony fulfils the requirements under Australian citizenship law.
17 September 2023
Sunday 17 September is Australian Citizenship Day and it was our pleasure to celebrate with 9 new citizens at a citizenship ceremony in Bairnsdale.
Our conferees came from Iran, Thailand, Philippines, Britain, South Africa, Pakistan, Fiji, Germany and Kenya.
Congratulations to our newest citizens and we're thrilled you've chosen to make East Gippsland your new home.
You can watch a recording of today's ceremony on our YouTube channel, EastGippyTV.
Check out the gallery below for a range of photos from today's ceremony.
20 July 2023
East Gippsland welcomed 17 new Australian citizens at a citizenship ceremony in Bairnsdale this afternoon.
East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor Cr Mark Reeves led proceedings, which saw conferees from seven countries take the final step in their journey to Australian citizenship.
These new citizens come from Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Cr Reeves said he always looks forward to these events on the civic calendar and getting to meet our newest Australian citizens.
“We are pleased that they have chosen to make their permanent homes in our region – it is truly a great place to live, especially for families,” Cr Reeves said.
“To be able to meet with these new citizens and hear a little bit about their backgrounds and how they made their way to Australia is undoubtably inspiring.”
As part of the ceremony, conferees were presented with citizenship certificates, a commemorative coin, and, as a gift from Council, a native plant.
Council holds four citizenship ceremonies each year on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs. The ceremony fulfils the requirements under Australian citizenship law and provides an opportunity for Council to officially welcome its new citizens.
11 May 2023 Citizenship Ceremony
East Gippsland welcomed nine new citizens on Thursday, May 11.
The conferees, from seven countries, including Canada, England, Philippines, Scotland, Serbia, Taiwan and Vietnam, became Australian citizens at a ceremony held in Bairnsdale and hosted by East Gippsland Shire Council.
This makes a total of 42 new citizens welcomed in East Gippsland this year. They have originated from across the world predominately from Canada, Europe and Philippines.
Mayor Cr Mark Reeves said citizenship ceremonies are one of the highlights of his role.
“Welcoming people from all walks of life and all corners of the globe to East Gippsland changes our community for the better. I am absolutely thrilled that nine new citizens have chosen to live in our wonderful part of the world,” Cr Reeves said.
“It was a pleasure to make them ‘official’ Aussies and for them to be joined by family and friends in marking the milestone. Some have been living in Australia, and East Gippsland, for many years while others are more recent arrivals. Either way, East Gippsland offers a great way of life and opportunities to be involved in our community.”
Council offers four citizenship ceremonies each year on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs.
Attending a citizenship ceremony is the final step in the journey to become an Australian citizen and receive a certificate of Australian Citizenship. The ceremony fulfils the requirements under Australian citizenship law and provides an opportunity for Council to officially welcome its new citizens.
The ceremony was live streamed and can be viewed on Council’s YouTube channel.