Christmas Island (Citizenship) Regulations

Legislation au C1958L00061 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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Christmas Island (Citizenship) Regulations

Statutory Rules 1958 No. 61 as amended

made under the

Christmas Island Act 1958

This compilation was prepared on 9 May 2002
taking into account amendments up to SR 2002 No. 93

[Note:  These regulations were repealed by SR 2002 No. 93]

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting,
Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra

Contents

Page

 1 Citation [see Note 1] 

 2 Interpretation 

 3 Form of declaration 

 4 Forwarding of declaration 

 5 Registration of declaration 

 6 Particulars etc may be required 

 7 Replacement of lost copy of declaration 

 8 Certified copy to be endorsed 

 9 Persons before whom declaration may be made 

 10 Penalties 

Schedule  

Form 1 Declaration undersection 15 

Form 2 Declaration under section 15A 

Notes  

 

 

 

 

1 Citation [see Note 1]

  These Regulations may be cited as the Christmas Island (Citizenship) Regulations.

2 Interpretation

  In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears:

authorized officer, in relation to the exercise of a power or function under these Regulations, means a person authorized for that purpose by the Minister.

declarant means a person who makes a declaration.

declaration means a declaration under section 15 or 15A of the Act.

the Act means the Christmas Island Act 1958.

the Secretary means the Secretary to the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.

3 Form of declaration

 (1) A declaration under section 15 of the Act shall be in accordance with Form 1 in the Schedule.

 (2) A declaration under section 15A of the Act shall be in accordance with Form 2 in the Schedule.

4 Forwarding of declaration

 (1) A person who makes a declaration may forward the declaration to, or lodge it with, the Secretary or an authorized officer.

 (2) Where a declaration is forwarded to, or lodged with, an authorized officer, that officer shall forward it to the Secretary.

5 Registration of declaration

 (1) Upon being satisfied that the declarant is entitled to make a declaration and that the declaration complies with the requirements of these Regulations, the Secretary shall register the declaration.

 (2) Upon registration, the declaration shall be filed in the records of the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, and a certified copy of the declaration shall be forwarded to the declarant.

6 Particulars, etc, may be required

  The Secretary may require a declarant to furnish such particulars and produce such documents as the Secretary thinks necessary to establish that the declarant is entitled to make a declaration, and may refuse to register the declaration until those particulars and documents are furnished or produced.

7 Replacement of lost copy of declaration

  If he is satisfied that a certified copy of a declaration has been lost or destroyed, the Secretary may supply a further certified copy of the declaration to the declarant.

8 Certified copy to be endorsed

  A certified copy of a declaration shall have endorsed on it a certificate by the Secretary or an authorized officer that it is a true copy of the original declaration and that the original declaration was registered in accordance with these Regulations on a date specified in the certificate.

9 Persons before whom declaration may be made

  A declaration may be made before a Commissioner for Declarations, a Justice of the Peace or an authorized officer.

10 Penalties

  A declarant shall not, in his declaration or in furnishing particulars or producing a document required to be furnished or produced under these Regulations, make, orally or in writing, a false or misleading statement.

Penalty:   $100 or imprisonment for 3 months.

Schedule  

Form 1 Declaration undersection 15

(sub-regulation 3) (1))

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

Christmas Island Act 1958

DECLARATION UNDER SECTION 15

I, (full name) of (address) do solemnly and

sincerely declare as follows:

1. I was, immediately before the first day of October, 1958, a British subject ordinarily resident in Christmas Island.

2. I wish to become an Australian citizen.

 (Signature)

 Made and subscribed at this

day of , 19 .

before me

(Person before whom declaration is made.)

Form 2 Declaration under section 15A

(subregulation 3) (2))

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

Christmas Island Act 1958

DECLARATION UNDER SECTION 15A

I, (full name) of (address) do solemnly and

sincerely declare as follows:

 1. I am not an Australian citizen.

2. I was immediately before 1 October 1958 ordinarily resident in Christmas Island.

 3. I am ordinarily resident in*

 4. I was born on 19 .

 5. I wish to become an Australian citizen.

(Signature of the declarant)

Made and subscribed at

this day of 19 .

 before me

 (Signature of the person before whom declaration is made)

________________________________________________________________

 * Here insert ‘Australia’ or, where the applicant is resident in an external Territory, the name of that external Territory, as the case requires.

Notes to the Christmas Island (Citizenship) Regulations

Note 1

The Christmas Island (Citizenship) Regulations (in force under the Christmas Island Act 1958) as shown in this compilation comprise Statutory Rules 1958 No. 61 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

Table of Statutory Rules

Year and
number

Date of notification
in Gazette

Date of
commencement

Application, saving or
transitional provisions

1958 No. 61

2 Oct 1958

2 Oct 1958

 

1979 No. 36

14 Mar 1979

14 Mar 1979

1980 No. 371

23 Dec 1980

23 Dec 1980

2002 No. 93

9 May 2002

9 May 2002

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted      am. = amended      rep. = repealed      rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

R. 2.................

am. 1979 No. 36; 1980 No. 371

Rr. 3, 4...............

am. 1980 No. 371

R. 5.................

am. 1979 No. 36

R. 10................

am. 1980 No. 371

Heading to The Schedule..

rep. 1980 No. 371

Heading to Schedule.....

ad. 1980 No. 371

Heading to Form 1.....

ad. 1980 No. 371

Form 2..............

ad. 1980 No. 371

 

 

Overview

The Christmas Island (Citizenship) Regulations, Statutory Rules 1958 No. 61 as amended, were enacted to provide a legal framework for the acquisition of Australian citizenship by individuals who were British subjects ordinarily resident in Christmas Island prior to 1 October 1958. These regulations were made under the authority of the Christmas Island Act 1958 and were designed to address the specific citizenship needs of residents of Christmas Island in the context of Australia's evolving citizenship laws. The policy objective of these regulations is to facilitate a straightforward and legally binding process for eligible residents to declare their wish to become Australian citizens, thereby ensuring their legal status aligns with their residency and intentions. The enacting body responsible for these regulations is the Parliament of Australia, which has authorised the establishment of these rules to cater to the unique circumstances of Christmas Island residents. The regulations detail the process for making a declaration of intent to become an Australian citizen, including the form and content of the declaration, the authorities before whom the declaration can be made, and the procedures for the registration and endorsement of these declarations. The regulations also outline the penalties for making false or misleading statements in the declaration process, reflecting the importance of accuracy and integrity in the citizenship application process.

Scope and Application

The Christmas Island (Citizenship) Regulations, made under the Christmas Island Act 1958, provide the framework for individuals ordinarily resident in Christmas Island prior to 1 October 1958 to make a declaration for Australian citizenship. These regulations apply to persons who were British subjects or were ordinarily resident in Christmas Island before the specified date and wish to become Australian citizens. The regulations dictate the form and content of the declaration, which must be made before an authorized officer, a Commissioner for Declarations, or a Justice of the Peace. Upon satisfaction that the declarant is eligible and the declaration is correctly filled out, the Secretary to the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs will register the declaration, file it in the department's records, and provide the declarant with a certified copy. The regulations also allow the Secretary to request additional particulars or documents to substantiate the declarant's eligibility and permit the replacement of lost certified copies of the declaration. While the primary application of these regulations is within the Commonwealth, their jurisdictional reach is specific to Christmas Island and the individuals meeting the criteria outlined. The regulations were repealed by Statutory Rule 2002 No. 93.

Key Provisions

The Christmas Island (Citizenship) Regulations 1958, as amended, establish the formal requirements for individuals seeking Australian citizenship under the Christmas Island Act 1958. The main sections of these regulations outline the form and content of the declaration that an individual must make (Regulation 3), the process for lodging and forwarding the declaration (Regulation 4), the registration of the declaration (Regulation 5), the circumstances under which additional particulars or documents may be required (Regulation 6), and the replacement of lost declarations (Regulation 7). Additionally, Regulation 8 mandates that certified copies of declarations must be endorsed by the Secretary or an authorized officer, and Regulation 9 specifies the authorised persons before whom a declaration can be made. These regulations impose specific obligations on the parties involved. The declarant must make a declaration in the prescribed form (Regulation 3), which must then be forwarded or lodged with the Secretary or an authorized officer (Regulation 4). The Secretary has the authority to require additional information or documents to verify the declarant's eligibility (Regulation 6) and is responsible for registering the declaration upon satisfaction of its compliance (Regulation 5). In the event of a lost or destroyed certified copy, the Secretary may issue a replacement (Regulation 7). The declarant must ensure that all statements in their declaration and any accompanying documents are truthful and accurate; otherwise, they may face penalties (Regulation 10). Violating the regulations by making a false or misleading statement in a declaration or in providing the required particulars or documents results in severe penalties. According to Regulation 10, the declarant may be liable for a fine of up to $100 or imprisonment for up to three months. These consequences underscore the importance of the declarant's truthfulness and accuracy in their declaration and supporting documentation.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Citizenship Law
Immigration & Refugee Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Penalties
Administrative Discretion

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.