Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP ACT 2007 - SECT 26

             (1)  A person must make a pledge of commitment to become an Australian citizen unless the person:

                     (a)  is aged under 16 at the time the person made the application to become an Australian citizen; or

                     (b)  has a permanent physical or mental incapacity at the time the person made the application to become an Australian citizen that means the person is not capable of understanding the nature of the application at that time; or

                     (c)  is covered by subsection 21(6), (7) or (8).

Note:          See section 27 for how the pledge is to be made.

             (2)  A person must not make a pledge of commitment before the Minister approves the person's application to become an Australian citizen. A pledge of commitment made by the person before that time is of no effect.

Delayed making of pledge

             (3)  If the person is required to make a pledge of commitment and has not done so, the Minister may determine, in writing, that the person cannot make the pledge until the end of a specified period if the Minister is satisfied that:

                     (a)  a visa held by the person may be cancelled under the Migration Act 1958 (whether or not the person has been given any notice to that effect); or

                     (b)  the person has been or may be charged with an offence under an Australian law.

             (4)  The Minister must not specify a period that exceeds, or periods that in total exceed, 12 months.

             (5)  The Minister may, by writing, revoke a determination.

             (6)  If a determination is in force in relation to a person, the person must not make a pledge of commitment before the end of the period specified in the determination. A pledge of commitment made by the person before that time is of no effect.