AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP ACT 1948
- SECT 18
Renunciation of citizenship

(1)

Where a person is an Australian citizen and:

(a)

has attained the age of 18 years and is a national or citizen of a foreign country; or

(b)

was born, or is ordinarily resident, in a foreign country and is not entitled, under the law of that country, to acquire the nationality or citizenship of that country by reason that the person is an Australian citizen;

the person may lodge with the Minister a declaration in the prescribed form renouncing the person's Australian citizenship.

(4)

Subject to subsections (5), (5A) and (6), the Minister shall register a declaration made under this section and thereupon the person making the declaration shall cease to be an Australian citizen.

(5)

Where, during a war in which Australia is engaged, a declaration is made under this section by a person who is a national or citizen of a foreign country, the Minister may refuse to register the declaration.

(5A)

The Minister shall not register a declaration made under this section if the Minister considers that it would not be in the interests of Australia to do so.

(6)

The Minister shall not register a declaration made under this section unless the Minister is satisfied that the person who made the declaration:

(a)

is a national or citizen of a foreign country; or

(b)

will, if the declaration is registered, become a national or citizen of such a country immediately after the registration.