MadFruit

Thanks, yes that's the one I was thinking of, but it appears in best case I would have to continue to get those every five years (assuming I continued to travel). As you say, it's not particularly secure (especially since they could reject an application at any point) and I'd never actually become a citizen of the country I live in Thanks for the non passive aggressive reply I've read on another forum where someone got this and didn't seem to imply they were "forcibly" living outside Australia. I appreciate that now two independent people have said that same thing (and that does carry more weight) but I still can't find any information that suggests the reason for absence is considered and none of the formal documentation says "Look, this is really intended for people who have no choice but to be out of Oz". It all just lays out the conditions, and I seem to pass them all. You say "or a few other fairly specific reasons" - what are these specific, surely if they're specific, they must be written down somewhere? I don't really want to waste my time applying for something which is a forgone conclusion, but I don't want to just ignore it either when I can't find anything concrete that says I just wouldn't be eligible.

It's not really a case of needing to get citizenship quicker, it's more of a case of moving onto citizenship rather than having to get a number of bridging visa after my PR runs out. As far as I understand it (and please do correct me if I missed something) my PR is valid for five years where I can enter and leave Australia as I like, after that period I have leave to remain indefinitely, but if I leave Australia I cannot re-enter on that visa any more. I'd have to get some sort of bridging visa. Since I like to travel regularly and for extended periods this would continue to cause problems for me and I would probably never get the four years continuous residency. Therefore, I'm looking for a way to get past the four year continuous residency restriction. Obviously, combined I'll be in Australia a lot longer than the four years, it's just the continuous residency that gets me. Thus it looks very much like the ministerial discretion is exactly for this sort of thing.

No offence, but I believe in evidence, experience and/or other examples. I don't just take for granted what someone on the internet who says "I'm just aware" which goes against all other evidence and documentation I have found. It seems to me the opposite, and you want to believe you are "just aware" and to come across as someone of superior knowledge, but cannot backup how you are "just aware" of this. I'm more than happy to be shown otherwise, and you may well have some significant knowledge in this specific area. Unfortunately you completely fail to make your case and I'm not inclined to just believe unsupported hearsay from some Joe on the internet who thinks that all Ministerial Discretion decisions are made directly by the minister for immigration.

Do have experience of this? The minister does not get personally involved, it will be a registered officer. There still isn't any official documentation that I can find that backs up your assertion that the reasons for absence are significant. Do you actually know this and can point me to some evidence\examples for that? In fact, after a bit more digging, I think I have answered my own question. Section 5.18 of the Australian Citizenship Instructions (ACIs) seems to indicate that at least three things will apply to me for the "continuing association" rule:  regular periods of residence in Australia  long term relationship with Australian citizen spouse or de facto partner  intention to reside in Australia  evidence of income tax paid in Australia over the past four years;

Why not? I can't see any restriction for the reasons. Only that I have to be with my de-factor partner who is an Australian citizen for the entire period, which I will be. Having also fully lived and worked in Oz for the remaining 3 years seems like a better chance than I have read for some other people!

Hi All, First post Been living in Australia on a PR 189 (Skilled Migrant) visa for 18 months now and have been looking into citizenship. I plan to go backpacking for a year at the end of this year and I know that being out of the country can affect my citizenship eligibility. I am going travelling with my Australian girlfriend (who I live with and have done my whole time in Australia) and have today found out that a ministerial discretion can help my residency requirement on the citizenship. I seem to pass all the required steps for this except I'm concerned about the last bit: you maintained a close and continuing association withAustralia where in the application I have to provide: evidence that you had a close and continuingassociation with Australia during the period ofabsence Problem is, we don't own a house, I wont have a job while I am away so I'm not sure what else will be considered "close and continuing association" since obviously I've already played the "my girlfriend is an aussie" card getting to this point Any ideas?