Important Updates to Australian Citizenship Ceremonies
Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the ascension of His Majesty King Charles III, there will also be new protocols observed at ceremonies this month.
Below is an outline from the Australian Government about what has changed.
Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code
The Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code has been updated to reflect:
- councils must hold a citizenship ceremony on Australia Day, or the three days prior or three days after Australia Day
- references to the Queen being replaced with references to The King of Australia, His Majesty King Charles III
- changes to arrangements with the Australian Electoral Commission.
Instrument of Authorisation
The Instrument of Authorisation has been updated to:
- allow a person who is ‘holding, occupying or performing the duties’ of the stated position/s to receive the pledge of commitment.
This means a person acting in the position of an authorised presiding officer – for example, an acting Mayor or acting Deputy Mayor – can preside over Australian citizenship ceremonies.
This change is retrospective to ensure validity of citizenship for applicants who may have previously provided a pledge to a person acting in an authorised position.
Find out more about the updated Instrument of Authorisation.
Portrait of The King of Australia
A portrait of The King of Australia, His Majesty King Charles III, has been provided by Government House and is available for download.
This portrait is only for use at Australian citizenship ceremonies and should not be used for any other events. It is not suitable for banners.
Use the following printing specifications when printing the portrait to ensure best quality:
- full colour print
- high resolution (300dpi)
- A3 size.
As the portrait of The King has been provided, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet advises it is no longer appropriate to use a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II at citizenship ceremonies.