1 Residence Requirements 居住要求
1.1 What are the new residence requirements for Australian citizenship?
入籍澳大利亞新的居住要求是什麼？
The new residence requirements for Australian citizenship will mean that applicants will need:
新法案要求申請人：
• four (4) years lawful residence in Australia immediately priorto making an application for Australian citizenship with at least 12months as a permanent resident, and
• 在申請入籍澳大利亞之前的四年必須在澳洲合法居住，其中至少有12個月以永久居民的身份居住；以及
• absences from Australia of no more than 12 months in total inthe four (4) years prior to application, and no more than three (3)months in the 12 month permanent residency period prior to application。
• 在申請入籍澳大利亞之前的四年內離開澳洲的時間累計不超過12個月，其中以永久居民的身份在澳洲居住的12個月內離開澳洲的時間不超過3個月。
Michaeliang曰：感覺新法案對以留學生身份在澳讀書的人士有利，因為舊的居住要求是必須以永久居民的身份住滿兩年，新的要求是一年就可以了。
1.2 When will the new residence requirements come into effect?
新的居住要求什麼時間生效？
On 1 March 2007, the Australian Citizenship Bill 2006 was passedby the Australian Parliament. The new legislation is likely to commenceon 1 July 2007。
《澳洲國籍法案2006》已於2007年3月1日由澳洲議會通過。新法案可能自2007年7月1日起生效。
1.3 Will they affect current permanent residents?
新的居住要求會影響目前的永久居民嗎？
The new residence requirements will only apply to people whobecome permanent residents on or after commencement of the legislation。
新的居住要求僅適用於新法案生效時或以後成為澳洲永久居民的人士。
People who are permanent residents before the commencement of thenew legislation will only need to meet the current residencerequirements (presence in Australia as a permanent resident for periodsamounting to two (2) years in the last five (5) years including one (1)year in the last two (2) immediately prior to making the application)provided they applied within three (3) years from the day thelegislation commences。
在新法案生效前，已成為澳洲永久居民的人士如果在新法案生效之日起三年內申請入籍，則僅需要滿足目前的居住要求即可(在申請前5年內必須在澳大利亞以永久居民的身份累計住滿2年以及在申請前2年內須在澳大利亞累計住滿1年)。
Michaeliang曰：如果新法案自2007年7月1日起生效，那麼對於我們這些已拿簽證但還沒有永久居留權的人來講，要想適用舊的居住要求，最晚應該在2008年7月1日之前長登。
1.4 What are the current residence requirements?
目前的居住要求是什麼？
At the moment, the Australian Citizenship Act 1948 provides, thatfor applicants to be eligible for Australian citizenship, they need tohave spent a minimum of two (2) years permanent residence in Australiain the last five (5) years, including at least 12 months in the lasttwo (2) years。
目前，根據《澳洲國籍法1948》的要求，申請人申請入籍澳洲必須在申請前5年內必須在澳大利亞以永久居民的身份累計住滿2年以及在申請前2年內須在澳大利亞累計住滿12個月。
1.5 What effect will the new residence requirements have on people who apply before the legislation commences?
新的居住要求對新法案生效前申請的人士有何影響？
Permanent residents who apply for Australian citizenship beforethe legislation commences will need to meet the current residencerequirements。
在新法案生效前申請入籍的永久居民需要滿足目前的居住要求。
1.6 Will travel overseas affect eligibility under the new requirements?
根據新的要求，海外旅行是否會影響入籍資格？
Absences of up to 12 months during that four (4) year period willbe allowed, with no more than three (3) months in the year beforemaking the application。
在申請入籍澳大利亞之前的四年內，允許離開澳洲的時間累計不得超過12個月，其中在申請前一年內離開澳洲的時間不得超過3個月。
1.7 What effect will the new residence requirements have on temporary residents?
新的居住要求對持臨時簽證的人士有何影響？
The new changes recognise time spent in Australia as temporaryresidents prior to the acquisition of permanent residence. Up to three(3) years of temporary residence will count towards the four (4) yearresidence requirement for citizenship。
新法案認可持臨時簽證的人士在獲得永久居留權以前在澳洲居住的時間。入籍要求的4年居住時間中最多可以有3年是以臨時居民的身份在澳洲居住。
In other words, people who become permanent residents after thechanges commence and have been living in Australia on temporary visasimmediately before becoming a permanent resident will be able to haveup to three (3) years of the time spent as holders of temporary visascounted towards the four (4) year residence requirement. They will needto have a minimum of one (1) year as a permanent resident。
