The demand to be an Australian citizen has never been higher, according to the federal government, which estimates close to 189,000 people are now waiting for their citizenship applications to be processed.
This is more than eight times the number in 2015, when there were just under 23,000 people.
And the record number has meant that nine in 10 applications are now taking almost a year and a half to be processed.
Registered migration agent Julie Williams told SBS News waiting times had become an "ordeal".
"It's starting to turn people off as to, really, 'does Australia want me?' Because, you know, 'I'd like to give back, but, if they're not allowing me to become a citizen ... It's quite a sad situation," she said.
Migration agent Julie Williams.
SBS News
Ms Williams said access to study and certain jobs are just some examples of the issues caused.
"Their ability to, perhaps, attend university, apply for government jobs ... We have a lot of clients with children who have gone all the way through high school in the Australian education system and want to join the armed forces but can't because they haven't got their citizenship."
Sona Iplani and her family were granted citizenship this month after being on the waiting list for 10 months - what is now considered relatively fast.
"I think it's more than a paper. It's like officially feeling at home. While India will always be my first home, but then, having said that, I've now embraced the beautiful culture and the country and the people here in Australia," she told SBS News.
