Citizenship Eligibility Waiver for Non-Australian Citizens Seeking Security Clearance Australian citizenship is a mandatory requirement for obtaining an Australian Government security clearance at any level — Baseline, NV1, or NV2. This is a fundamental eligibility criterion under the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) and is enforced by the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA). However, a Citizenship Eligibility Waiver mechanism does exist under the PSPF and AGSVA guidelines. This waiver is rare and is only considered in exceptional circumstances where no Australian citizen is available to fill a particular role that requires access to security classified information. Key points about the Citizenship Eligibility Waiver: The waiver can only be pursued by the sponsoring Commonwealth entity — not by the individual applicant. An individual cannot request or apply for a citizenship waiver themselves. It must be initiated and justified by the government agency or organisation that requires the person to hold a clearance. The waiver requires approval from the Accountable Authority or Chief Security Officer of the sponsoring entity. This is a senior-level decision that must be formally documented and justified. The waiver does not guarantee that a clearance will be issued. Even if a citizenship waiver is approved, the applicant must still undergo the full AGSVA vetting process and meet all other eligibility and suitability criteria. AGSVA retains full discretion over whether to grant the clearance. Holding a security clearance from a Five Eyes partner nation (New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States of America, or Canada) does not transfer to Australia and does not automatically qualify a person for an Australian clearance. Each nation's clearance system is independent. A foreign clearance may be considered as part of the overall assessment, but it provides no entitlement or shortcut to an Australian clearance. Similarly, holding a state or territory government security clearance in Australia does not transfer to or equate with a Commonwealth security clearance administered by AGSVA. AUSTEO (Australian Eyes Only) classified material remains restricted regardless of any waiver. Even if a non-citizen is granted a clearance through the waiver process, access to AUSTEO material is not permitted. AUSTEO restrictions apply strictly to Australian citizens only and cannot be waived. In practice, the Citizenship Eligibility Waiver is extremely rare and is typically only considered for highly specialised roles where unique skills or expertise are required and no Australian citizen can reasonably fill the position. The vast majority of security clearance applicants must hold Australian citizenship before their application can proceed. If you are a non-Australian citizen interested in obtaining a security clearance, the standard pathway is to first obtain Australian citizenship and then apply for a clearance through a sponsoring organisation such as AusClear. For more information about eligibility requirements, contact AusClear at support@ausclear.com.au or call 1300 027 423.