Department of Home Affairs figures show the number of residents waiting to be approved for citizenship has spiralled from 27,000 to 189,000 under the Coalition.
Migrants say they have been left despairing at the situation, putting their study, plans to sponsor family members and apply for government jobs on hold in the midst of a divisive debate in Canberra.
Permanent residents are unable to vote, apply for jobs in the public sector where they need a security clearance, access HECS loans, or get priority access to sponsor their family members for visas.
The delays have been exacerbated by stalled citizenship changes including an English language and Australian values test that were rejected by the Senate in October.