False claims spreading on social media allege that the federal government will fast-track citizenship for millions of temporary visa-holders.

The claim is one of several that emerged following Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s appearance on a podcast. 

Other claims include that he announced he wants to – or will – grant citizenship to all 2.9 million temporary visa-holders in Australia.

In fact, Burke made no such comments during the recording, and a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs has confirmed there are no such plans.

“Tony Burke has openly declared it: No more ‘guest workers’,” one Facebook post reads.

“Anyone on a temporary visa who wants to stay gets fast-tracked to full Australian citizenship. All 2.9 million of them.”

Another post claims Burke waid he would grant citizenship to all temporary visa-holders, while a third claims he said he wanted to grant citizenship to nearly three million temporary visa-holders.

Some posts say the Minister has new powers to fast-track citizenship. Photo: AAP/Facebook

A further post claims the federal government has introduced “sweeping new immigration powers giving the Immigration Minister the ability to fast-track temporary visa-holders into Australian citizenship”.

The posts references an interview Burke gave to Indian Link, an Australian media outlet focusing on the South Asian community.  

Burke was asked what the federal government had done to reduce the number of people stuck permanently on temporary visas. He said he did not want Australia to have a “guest worker” economy where migrant workers lacked a pathway to citizenship.

“People who are going to continue to be here, and are working here, should have an opportunity to become fully part of Australia’s democracy,” he said.

At no point in the interview did Burke say the government planned to fast-track citizenship for temporary visa-holders or that all 2.9 million temporary visa-holders would be given citizenship.

The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that the Labor government had no such plans.

“The Minister for Home Affairs has no plans to approve citizenship to all temporary visa-holders but is focused on clear and equitable pathways to permanent residency,” a spokesperson said.

To be eligible for citizenship, a person must live in Australia on a valid visa for four years, including a permanent visa for the past 12 months, according to Section 22 of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007.

They must not be absent from Australia for more than 12 months in total over the four years, and no more than 90 days in the 12-month period prior to applying. 

There are some exceptions to these time frames, but only in limited circumstances.  

Section 22A  of the act allows the minister to grant citizenship to a person who has lived in Australia only for two years, provided they have been a permanent resident for that period and if citizenship is required for them to participate in an activity or event considered to be “of benefit to Australia”.

Wallaby Quade Cooper received citizenship under a fast-track process in 2022. Photo: AAP

These activities and events are strictly prescribed in secondary legislation and usually apply to Olympians, international tennis and cricket players and high-level government officials.

Section 22B, meanwhile, provides an exemption for people working in jobs that require regular overseas travel.

These include ship or aircraft crew members, executives of major companies, scientists, medical specialists or individuals on a talent visa for work in the academic, arts or sports industries. 

Last year, the government passed legislation that gave the minister discretion to approve citizenship under Section 22A without the applicant having to have spent 180 days in the country in the previous two years.  

This was in response to a request from the Australian Olympic Committee  and Paralympics Australia, according to a press release from the organisations.

In all these cases, the applicant must be a permanent resident, so these exemptions do not apply to people on temporary visas.

-AAP