A jubilant Julian Assange has embraced his wife Stella on his emotional return to Australia as a free man and convicted US criminal.

Assange arrived in wintry Canberra accompanied by U.S ambassador Kevin Rudd and UK High Commissioner Stephen Smith.

After more than a day of travel and a court hearing in Saipan he raised his fist as he emerged from a private jet, giving a thumbs up and waving to a small group of waiting supporters and media.

He then strode across the tarmac where he embraced his wife Stella, giving her a passionate kiss before hugging his father John Shipton.

For almost 15 years the Australian has been evading authorities seeking to bring him to American soil on spying charges after he leaked troves of secret state information.

He spent almost seven years holed up in Ecuador’s London embassy before being detained for five years in a maximum-security UK prison where he fought his extradition.

On Wednesday, the 52-year-old secured his freedom by pleading guilty to a single criminal count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defence documents and was sentenced to 62 months – time he has already served.

A few hours later, he left court a free man on the US Pacific territory of Saipan and boarded a chartered flight bound for Canberra.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was pleased the ordeal was now over, and welcomed Assange home.

“I do want to express my appreciation to the United States and the United Kingdom for their efforts in making this possible,” he said.