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| Residency, Health Care, etc.; What are the rights of a non-Australian? | |
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| Topic Started: Dec 10 2008, 07:00:21 AM (266 Views) | |
| pollyingrid | Dec 10 2008, 07:00:21 AM Post #1 |
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Anklebiter
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Hi, So I have two somewhat interrelated questions: 1) What rights, other than voting, would an Australian resident NOT have that an Australian citizen has? I have no current plans of becoming an Australian citizen, but I want to know what limitations this might bring with it. (FYI, here's the whole story: my husband is Anglo-Australian, so I really want to get a passport, or possible dual citizenship, for Britain. I doubt one can have more than 2 passports - the US doesn't allow that, does it?) 2) Now, some general questions about Australian health care (as it applies to residents) - how is it; what does it entail; how do things work; what do you think of the quality, etc. I finally saw SICKO and am absolutely nauseous over the way things are done Stateside; my husband says it's 95% better in Australia, but I wanted more diversified feedback! Edited by pollyingrid, Dec 10 2008, 07:01:07 AM.
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| TerritorianTori | Dec 10 2008, 11:30:41 AM Post #2 |
Dance to disco
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Here are a couple of past threads on the subject: Aussie Citizenship vs Residency? Will I lose my US citizenship if I take on Australian citizenship? Aside from being able to vote, Australian citizens can work in public service (government jobs) and receive government assistance for tertiary education (also known as the HECS/HELP scheme). Australian citizens can travel on an Australian passport and receive consular assistance from Australia (except in other countries of citizenship). But most of all, citizenship is forever. Australian citizens have the right to come and go as they please, and register any children born overseas as citizens. Permanent residence can be lost if you stay outside the country too long. (and yes, you can have more than 2 passports - I know someone who's got 4! But I'd imagine you'd have to actually live in the UK for awhile first... ) As for healthcare, it's probably best to read some of the threads over in the "How Do I..?" section; lots of personal accounts in there. Start here: http://yanksdownunder.net/single/?p=73968&t=461686 
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 South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys | |
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| minx | Dec 10 2008, 11:00:01 PM Post #3 |
True Blue Mate
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Unless you're planning to live in the UK for 2 years, you won't be able to get a passport. I had the same thought, as my husband is English originally, and there is definitely a residency requirement. 
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| pollyingrid | Dec 11 2008, 04:53:38 AM Post #4 |
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Anklebiter
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Thank you both so much! I'm really leaning toward trying to get my husband to agree to move to the UK for a few years and THEN Australia. The thought of having kids in a country where NEITHER OF US have family scares me to death. |
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9:59 PM Feb 8