Merri-bek City Council citizenship ceremony wait time, November 2026
252 approved applicants waiting. 97% had waited under 3 months, 0% more than 6 months. VIC overall: 88% and 1%.
Ceremony wait by state
Big number: share of approved applicants still waiting who had waited under 3 months, at 31 Oct 2026.
of the 252 people waiting for a citizenship ceremony at Merri-bek City Council had waited under 3 months
Merri-bek City Council citizenship ceremony wait time: 97% under 3 months, 3% 3 to 6 months and 0% more than 6 months since approval, at 31 October 2026. 3% had waited 3 months or more, a lower share than VIC overall (12%).
Official page updated · Waits counted to · Checked by us · Official ceremony wait times
Under 3 months3 to 6 monthsMore than 6 monthsNumber: waiting 3 months or more
Among 52 VIC councils with 20 or more waiting, Merri-bek City Council has the 49th highest share waiting 3 months or more.
What this can't tell you
- The date of your ceremony. The Department says invitations arrive about four weeks before the event, from your council or the Department.
- Whether you can move to another council. The Department says the ceremony you attend is set by your current residential address and you cannot choose where or when.
- How long people now joining the list will wait. The figures describe who was waiting at 31 Oct 2026.
Other VIC councils
| Council | Waiting | 3 months or more |
|---|---|---|
| City of Casey | 2,518 | 4% |
| Melton City Council | 1,491 | 7% |
| Brimbank City Council | 1,418 | 38% |
| Whittlesea City Council | 1,157 | 6% |
| Hume City Council | 1,133 | 4% |
| Wyndham City Council | 1,044 | 3% |
| City of Greater Geelong | 854 | 14% |
| City of Melbourne | 777 | 4% |
| Whitehorse City Council | 758 | 16% |
| Monash City Council | 724 | 8% |
| Manningham City Council | 694 | 22% |
| City of Greater Dandenong | 647 | 3% |
The 12 VIC councils with the most people waiting. All 79 VIC councils.
Merri-bek City Council ceremony wait, recorded readings
The Department replaces these figures each month and keeps no history. We record every change from 13 November 2026.
| Seen | Waiting | <3 mo | 3–6 mo | >6 mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 252 | 97% | 3% | 0% |
How to read the Merri-bek City Council figures: 5 things to know
- The people counted are approved applicants who have not yet had their ceremony, including those already invited to one, at 31 October 2026.
- The time is how long each of them had been waiting since approval at that date. It is not the full wait of people who have already had their ceremony.
- Councils with 1 to 4 people waiting are shown as "<5". The Department masks these for privacy.
- The three shares may not add up to 100% because of rounding.
- The Department publishes only the current month. We started keeping a copy on 13 November 2026, so this page has no earlier history.
These figures come from the Department of Home Affairs, not from Merri-bek City Council. Full decision times: Australian citizenship processing time.
6 questions about the Merri-bek City Council citizenship ceremony wait
How long is the citizenship ceremony wait at Merri-bek City Council?
On 31 October 2026, 252 approved applicants were waiting for a ceremony at Merri-bek City Council. 97% had waited less than 3 months since approval, 3% 3 to 6 months and 0% more than 6 months.
How many people are waiting for a citizenship ceremony at Merri-bek City Council?
252 approved applicants, including any already invited to a ceremony, at 31 October 2026. Across Victoria the number was 21,471.
Is the ceremony wait at Merri-bek City Council longer than the VIC average?
3% of those waiting at Merri-bek City Council had waited 3 months or more, a lower share than VIC overall (12%).
When will Merri-bek City Council invite me to a ceremony?
This data cannot say. The Department says invitations arrive about four weeks before the event, by a letter from your council or from the Department of Home Affairs.
Can I go to a ceremony at a different council?
The Department says the ceremony you attend is set by your current residential address, and you cannot choose where and when.
Is this a government website?
No. Visa Processing Time is independent and is not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs or any council.