Russell Crowe never applied for Australian citizenship

Russell Crowe poses during a press conference for his movie The Water Diviner. Photo / AP

Australia's Immigration Department says it has no record of Russell Crowe applying for Australian citizenship.

The Age newspaper reported that according to departmental records, Crowe "has not submitted an application for a permanent visa or for Australian citizenship".

Crowe made the headlines yesterday after he blasted Australian immigration rules, calling them "unreasonable".

The New Zealand-born actor - who has been married to Aussie singer Danielle Spencer since 2003 - has lived most of his life in the country and has even appeared on an Australian postage stamp, but because he was mostly shooting movies elsewhere between 2000 and 2002 his application was rejected.

He told Radio Times magazine in the UK: "They changed the law for New Zealanders.

"No matter how long you'd been in the country, if you weren't in Australia for the majority of 2000 to 2002 - when I was particularly busy filming overseas - you can't become a citizen."

Crowe said he had done enough to be granted Australian citizenship especially after once handing out "how-to-vote cards to help elect the Prime Minister".

He added: "I've been voted one of Australia's 50 national treasures. I've even had my face on an Australian stamp, the only non-Australian to do so, apart from the Queen, of course. It's so, so ... unreasonable."

While he was born in neighbouring New Zealand, the star first moved to Australia in 1968 when he was just 4years old and lent his voice to Aussie TV series Spyforce a few years later.

He is said to identify himself as Australian and even co-owns Australian National Rugby League team the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

However, immigration officials told The Age: "Should Mr Crowe apply for and be granted a permanent visa, there are a variety of options that he may use to meet the eligibility requirements, including the residence requirements."