Form 1195 Identity Declaration Guide for Australia

Applying for Australian citizenship? Then you may have come across the Form 1195 identity declaration. It looks like a small form, but it trips up a lot of people.

A wrong signer or a badly attached photo can slow your whole application. This guide explains the Form 1195 identity declaration in plain words: what it is, who needs it, and how to fill it in without errors.

What Is the Form 1195 Identity Declaration?

The Form 1195 identity declaration is a form from the Department of Home Affairs. It helps the Department confirm that you are really who you say you are.

Another person vouches for you. They fill in their details, sign the declaration and sign your photo. That gives the Department a second check on top of your passport or birth certificate.

Home Affairs cannot approve a citizenship application if your identity cannot be confirmed. That is why this form matters.

Who Needs the Form 1195 Identity Declaration in Australia?

Not every citizenship applicant has to submit a Form 1195 identity declaration. It depends on the type of application you lodge.

You need Form 1195 if you apply online for:

• Australian citizenship by descent
• Evidence of Australian citizenship (a citizenship certificate)

You usually do not need Form 1195 for citizenship by conferral

Since September 2024, most people applying for citizenship by conferral no longer have to submit the Form 1195 identity declaration. That is the common pathway for permanent residents.

Rules can change, so always check the Home Affairs website before you lodge.

Every applicant needs their own form

Each Form 1195 identity declaration covers one person. A husband, wife, partner or child cannot share a form. If three people apply, you need three forms.

This is the same for babies. Each child gets a separate Form 1195.

Who Can Sign the Form 1195 Identity Declaration?

This is where most mistakes happen. The person who completes Questions 2 and 3 and signs your photo must meet every rule below:

• Be an Australian citizen
• Have known you for at least one year
• Currently work in a profession or occupation listed on the form
• Not be related to you by birth, marriage or de facto relationship
• Be easy to contact by phone during normal working hours

A friend who is not in a listed job cannot sign. A family member cannot sign either, even if they are a doctor or a police officer.

Approved occupations for the Form 1195 identity declaration

The signer must be working in one of these roles at the time of signing. The form numbers them 1 to 39, and your signer writes their group number on the form. Use the list printed on your current form as the final word.

• Health: medical practitioner, nurse, dentist, pharmacist, physiotherapist, psychologist, optometrist, chiropractor, veterinary surgeon (all licensed or registered)
• Legal and courts: legal practitioner, judge of a court, magistrate, master of a court, registrar or deputy registrar of a court, clerk of the court, sheriff, bailiff, justice of the peace, commissioner for affidavits, commissioner for declarations
• Government and public service: police officer, member of the Commonwealth, state or territory Parliament or a local government authority, Australian consular or diplomatic officer, permanent Commonwealth, state or local government employee with 5 or more years of continuous service, permanent Australia Post employee with 5 or more years of continuous service
• Finance (5 or more years of continuous service): bank officer, building society officer, credit union officer, finance company officer
• Accounting and business bodies: member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, CPA Australia or the Institute of Public Accountants; Fellow of the National Tax Accountants’ Association; member of the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants; member of Chartered Secretaries Australia; member of Engineers Australia (not at student grade)
• Education: teacher employed full-time at a school or tertiary education institution
• Defence: member of the Australian Defence Force with 5 or more years of continuous service
• Religion and ceremonies: minister of religion or marriage celebrant licensed or registered under the Marriage Act 1961
• Migration: registered migration agent (registration not suspended or under caution)

Pay attention to the years of service. A bank officer with two years on the job does not qualify.

Form 1195 Photo Requirements

The photo on your Form 1195 identity declaration causes more rejections than people expect. Get a fresh one rather than reusing an old print.

• Taken no more than 6 months ago
• Shows your full face
• Good quality and in colour
• Neutral or light grey background that contrasts with your face
• Unedited, so do not remove the background, moles, wrinkles, scars or red eyes
• Passport-sized: 35 to 40 mm wide and 45 to 50 mm high
• Face size from chin to crown between 32 mm and 36 mm

Glasses and head coverings

Take your glasses off unless you cannot remove them for medical reasons. If you do wear them, the lenses must be untinted (unless tinted for medical reasons). The frames must not cover your eyes, and there must be no reflection on the lenses.

If you wear a head covering for religious reasons, you can keep it on, as long as your whole face is visible. The covering must be plain material with no patterns.

Home Affairs suggests getting your photo taken at a professional passport photo provider, such as Australia Post. They can also send you a digital copy, which you will need later.

How to Fill Out the Form 1195 Identity Declaration Step by Step

The form has four questions. You complete Questions 1 and 4. Your signer completes Questions 2 and 3.

Step 1: Get the latest form

Download the Form 1195 identity declaration from the Home Affairs website. Always use the current version.

Open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader and type your answers in English. Or print it and fill it in with a pen, using BLOCK LETTERS.

Step 2: Complete Question 1 (your details)

Write your family name and given names. Match them to your passport or birth certificate. Then add:

• Date of birth
• Current residential address
• Current postal address (write AS ABOVE if it is the same)
• Phone numbers
• Transaction Reference Number, which is the number you were given when you lodged your online application

If your address changes after you lodge the form, tell the Department.

Step 3: Glue your photo under Question 3

Glue the photo in the space provided. Do not staple it or use tape.

Step 4: Sign Question 4 (your declaration)

If you are 16 or over, sign and date your own declaration. If you are applying for a child under 16, the responsible parent signs instead. They also add their full name and phone numbers.

Step 5: Pass the form to your signer

Now your signer completes their part.

In Question 2, they add their name, address (home or business) and phone numbers. They tick Yes to confirm they are an Australian citizen. They also write their profession or occupation group number from the list.

In Question 3, they write your full name and how many years and months they have known you. They sign and date the declaration.

Then they sign over a bottom corner of the front of your photo. The signature must not touch your face.

Check that your signer does not sign in your box by mistake. That is a common slip.

How to Submit Form 1195 Online

Your signer must sign by hand, so you cannot finish the Form 1195 identity declaration on screen alone. The process is complete, sign, scan and upload.

• Scan pages 3 and 4 of the form, with the signed photo, together as one file
• Upload that file to your online application under “Form 1195 – Identity declaration”
• Upload a digital copy of your photo separately under “Photograph”
• Keep a copy of the form for your own records

Form 1195 for Children

Children need their own Form 1195 identity declaration too. This applies to babies as well.

For a child under 16, a responsible parent signs the applicant declaration in Question 4.

Special rule for children under 6

Most signers must have known you for a year. For a child under 6, the form relaxes this. An Australian citizen who has known the child for less than 12 months can complete Questions 2 and 3.

They still need to work in a listed occupation and not be related to the child by birth, marriage or de facto relationship.

Parents often use the same signer for the whole family. That is fine, as long as the person meets the rules for each applicant and completes a separate form for each one.

Form 1195 If You Live Overseas

Living outside Australia makes it hard to find an Australian citizen who has known you for a year. The form has a fix for this.

If you apply from outside Australia and do not know an Australian citizen, a citizen of your country of residence can complete Questions 2 and 3. They must have known you for at least one year, work in a listed occupation and not be related to you.

The same idea applies to a child under 6 living overseas. The signer can be a citizen of the child’s country of residence.

Common Form 1195 Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong signer. A relative, or a friend whose job is not on the list.
• Not enough time. The signer has known you for less than one year (unless the child exception applies).
• Old photo. It was taken more than 6 months ago.
• Wrong photo size. Outside the 35 to 40 mm by 45 to 50 mm size.
• Edited photo. Background, moles or red eyes were touched up.
• Signature over your face. The signer must sign over a bottom corner of the front, clear of your face.
• Name mismatch. Your name on the form is different from your passport.
• Missing signatures. Either you or your signer forgot to sign or date.
• Old form. You used a version that is out of date.
• Shared form. One form used for two people.

Before you scan anything, ask someone to read your Form 1195 identity declaration line by line. A fresh pair of eyes will often catch a missing date.

What Happens If Your Form 1195 Is Wrong?

If your Form 1195 identity declaration has errors, Home Affairs will usually ask you for a corrected form or more proof of identity. Your application then waits while you fix it.

That can add weeks to your timeline. In a worse case, the Department may not be able to confirm who you are, and the application cannot be approved.

Never give false details on purpose. The form warns that deliberately making a false or misleading statement is an offence under section 50 of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. False documents can also lead to refusal, and in serious cases to prosecution or even loss of citizenship later.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Form 1195 Identity Declaration

What is the Form 1195 identity declaration used for?

It confirms your identity and your photo when you apply online for citizenship by descent or evidence of Australian citizenship.

Do I need the Form 1195 identity declaration for citizenship by conferral?

Most conferral applicants do not need it since September 2024. Check the Home Affairs website for your own case.

Can my friend sign my Form 1195?

Only if your friend is an Australian citizen, has known you for at least a year, and works in a listed occupation. A friend in any other job cannot sign.

Can a family member sign my identity declaration?

No. Relatives by birth, marriage or de facto relationship cannot sign, whatever their job is.

Can I fill in the Form 1195 identity declaration online?

You can type your details in Adobe Acrobat Reader, but your signer must still sign by hand. So you print, sign, scan and upload it.

How old can my photo be?

No more than 6 months old.

Does a baby need a Form 1195 identity declaration?

Yes. Every applicant needs a separate form. For a child under 6, the signer may have known the child for less than 12 months.

Can one signer endorse forms for my whole family?

Yes, if they meet the rules for each person. They must complete one form for each applicant.

Is a migration agent allowed to sign Form 1195?

Yes. A registered migration agent is on the list, as long as their registration is not suspended or under caution, and they have known you for at least a year.

Need Help With Your Form 1195 Identity Declaration?

The Form 1195 identity declaration is simple once you know the rules. Most problems come from the signer, the photo or a missed signature.

If you are not sure which form applies to your citizenship application, speak to a registered migration agent before you lodge your Form 1195 identity declaration. A quick check now can save you a long delay later.

This article gives general information only. Always check the current form and rules on the Department of Home Affairs website.