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Meeting our requirements

Australian values

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Life in Australia booklet

Visitors and new residents can learn more about the Australian Values Statement and our history, culture and society from the Life in Australia booklet.

You might also find the Life in Australia booklet useful if you work with migrants or have relatives or friends who recently arrived in Australia.

Read the Life in Australia booklet

Applicants for most temporary, provisional and permanent visas must:

  • read the Life in Australia booklet, then
  • sign or accept the Australian Values Statement.

If you have difficulty reading or understanding the Life in Australia booklet, ask someone else to explain it to you. For example,  you could ask:

  • a friend or family member, or
  • your sponsor or migration agent, if you have one.

Life in Australia booklet in community languages

The Life in Australia booklet has been translated into a number of community languages that are commonly spoken by Australian migrants.

Australian Values Statement

The key values that underpin our society and social cohesion are summarised in the Australian Values Statement.

By signing or accepting the Australian Values Statement, you are undertaking to conduct yourself in accordance with Australian values and to obey Australian laws during your stay in Australia. If you do not sign the Australian Values Statement, your application may be delayed or refused. We can consider an exception only in compelling circumstances.

You must sign or accept the Australian Values Statement every time you apply for a visa, so you may need to sign the Australian Values Statement more than once.

When you apply for a visa online, selecting the Australian Values Statement button lets us know that you, and any dependants included in your application, understand and agree with the Australian Values Statement.

For paper applications, the Australian Values Statement forms part of your visa application. When you complete the application you must agree with the Australian Values Statement.

Sign or accept the Australian Values Statement

Temporary and provisional visa applicants

All relevant temporary and provisional visa applicants must agree to the following Australian Values Statement as part of their application:

I confirm that I have read, or had explained to me, information provided by the Australian Government on Australian society and values.

I understand that Australian society values:

  • respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual;
  • freedom of religion (including the freedom not to follow a particular religion), freedom of speech, and freedom of association;
  • commitment to the rule of law, which means that all people are subject to the law and should obey it;
  • parliamentary democracy whereby our laws are determined by parliaments elected by the people, those laws being paramount and overriding any other inconsistent religious or secular “laws”;
  • equality of opportunity for all people, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, or national or ethnic origin;
  • a ‘fair go’ for all that embraces:
    • mutual respect;
    • tolerance;
    • compassion for those in need;
    • equality of opportunity for all;
  • the English language as the national language, and as an important unifying element of Australian society.

I undertake to conduct myself in accordance with these values of Australian society during my stay in Australia and to obey the laws of Australia.

Permanent visa applicants

All relevant permanent visa applicants must agree to the following Australian Values Statement as part of their application:

I confirm that I have read, or had explained to me, information provided by the Australian Government on Australian society and values.

I understand that Australian society values:

  • respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual;
  • freedom of religion (including the freedom not to follow a particular religion), freedom of speech, and freedom of association;
  • commitment to the rule of law, which means that all people are subject to the law and should obey it;
  • parliamentary democracy whereby our laws are determined by parliaments elected by the people, those laws being paramount and overriding any other inconsistent religious or secular “laws”;
  • equality of opportunity for all people, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, or national or ethnic origin;
  • a ‘fair go’ for all that embraces:
    • mutual respect;
    • tolerance;
    • compassion for those in need;
    • equality of opportunity for all;
  • the English language as the national language, and as an important unifying element of Australian society.

I undertake to conduct myself in accordance with these values of Australian society during my stay in Australia and to obey the laws of Australia.

I undertake to make reasonable efforts to learn the English language, if it is not my native language.

I understand that, if in the future I meet the legal qualifications for becoming an Australian citizen and my application is approved, I will need to pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people.