Australian Citizenship Pledge: Full Text of Both Versions

At the ceremony you make the pledge of commitment to Australia. Home Affairs offers two versions and you choose one of them, so it is worth reading both before the day.

Pledge 1 (mentions God)

From this time forward, under God, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey.

Pledge 2 (does not mention God)

From this time forward, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey.

What the lines refer to

The pledge links to the four testable parts of Our Common Bond. Loyalty to "Australia and its people" relates to Part 1 (Australia and its people). "Democratic beliefs I share" and "rights and liberties I respect" relate to Part 2, and "laws I will uphold and obey" to Part 3. Part 4 on Australian values explains how these commitments apply in everyday life.

When you become a citizen

You do not become an Australian citizen until you have made the pledge at a ceremony. Children under 16 on your application become citizens at the same time as you.

How the pledge is made

Most people make the pledge at a citizenship ceremony, where it is the final legal requirement. The presiding officer asks you to repeat the pledge out loud, and you choose which of the two versions to say. If you want to make the pledge on a holy book, bring your own book to the ceremony. Home Affairs describes the pledge as a public commitment to Australia and an acceptance of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

Who does not have to make the pledge

You do not have to attend a ceremony and make the pledge if you are a child under 16, are granted citizenship by descent or adoption, are resuming Australian citizenship, have been assessed as having a permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity, were born in Papua before 16 September 1975 to an Australian citizen, were born to a former Australian citizen, or were stateless when born in Australia. Children under 16 are welcome to make the pledge if they want to.