The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reports the Australian continent was inhabited by Aboriginal and Torres Strait people prior to European settlement of the continent in the Southern Hemisphere. The first settlement of Australia was begun by British sea captain James Cook when he claimed the country for Great Britain in 1770. On Jan 26, 1788, the first British fleet arrived at Sydney Harbor with 1,500 people, prompting the day to be known as Australia Day.
The right to claim Australian citizenship was legalized by the Nationality & Citizenship Act 1948, which stated any person born in Australia on or after Jan 26, 1949, was classified as an Australian citizen. The Department of Immigration & Citizenship reports that people holding citizenship from other countries could also apply to become Australian citizens on and after Jan 26, 1949. Since 1949, over four million people were reported by the Department of Immigration & Citizenship to have become Australian citizens. The Nationality & Citizenship Act was updated for the 21st century to become the Citizenship Act 2007.
With the establishment of Australian citizenship in 1949, 2,493 people emigrated from 35 countries to Australia in the first year citizenship was available. The Department of Immigration & Citizenship reports that in 1949, the top five countries people emigrated from were Italy, with 708 people emigrating to Australia; Poland, with 597 immigrants; Greece, with 276; Germany, with 225; and Yugoslavia, with 80 immigrants. In the year 2008-2009, 86,981 people from 185 countries completed the process of becoming Australian citizens. In 2008-2009, the Department of Immigration & Citizenship reports the top five countries for emigration to Australia were the U.K., with 18,510 immigrants; India, with 9088; China, with 6697; South Africa, with 4,128 immigrants; and 3,744 people emigrating from New Zealand to Australia.
According to the Department of Immigration & Citizenship, the process of becoming an Australian citizen varies with the eligibility of individuals to emigrate to Australia. Children under 16 years of age are usually processed under the application of a parent or guardian. The Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) is used as a way of gauging the eligibility of a person for entry into Australia. The MODL lists jobs the Australian government deems to have a shortage of qualified applicants for available positions. An offer of a job with an employer who meets the qualification standards, which includes being in business for more than two fiscal years and employing 10 or more people, can increase migration opportunities greatly.
The final step in emigrating to Australia is to attend a citizenship ceremony, according to the Department of Immigration & Citizenship. At the citizenship ceremony, each attendee recites the pledge of commitment and is welcomed as a citizen to Australia.
