Australian citizenship: eligibility, residence and the test
Settledin Team5 min readMost permanent residents can apply for Australian citizenship after 4 years living in Australia on a valid visa, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident. Applicants aged 18 to 59 sit a 20 question test and need 75% to pass. The fee is $595, and you become a citizen when you make the pledge at a ceremony.
Facts checked against the Department of Home Affairs on 4 October 2026.
Who can apply for Australian citizenship?
Citizenship by conferral is how most people who were not born Australian citizens become one. Under the general eligibility rules, applicants must:
- be a permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen holding a Special Category visa (SCV), when they apply and when Home Affairs decides
- meet the residence requirement
- be of good character, if aged 18 or over
- be likely to live in Australia, or keep a close and continuing link with Australia while overseas
- sit the citizenship test, if aged 18 to 59 on the day the application is received
Some groups follow different rules:
| Situation | What is different |
|---|---|
| Aged 60 or over | No test. The pledge is still made at a ceremony. |
| Aged 16 or 17 | Apply on their own, with no test, and make the pledge. |
| Under 16 | Included on a parent's application, or apply on their own. No residence requirement and no ceremony needed. |
| Permanent incapacity | Medical evidence is needed, and there is no ceremony. |
| New Zealand citizens with an SCV | Since 1 July 2023, they can apply directly, without a permanent visa first. |
Other routes, such as citizenship by descent, adoption or resumption, are listed on Home Affairs' become a citizen page.
When can I apply for Australian citizenship after PR?
The general residence requirement has three parts, all counted back from the day you apply:
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| 4 years living in Australia | On a valid visa, immediately before applying. Time on temporary visas counts. Time without a valid visa does not. |
| The last 12 months as a permanent resident | A permanent visa or an SCV for the 12 months immediately before applying |
| Absence limits | No more than 12 months outside Australia in total in the 4 years, including no more than 90 days in the last 12 months |
Home Affairs has an official residence calculator. Its results are a guide only.
For New Zealand citizens, an SCV granted before 1 July 2022 counts as permanent residence from 1 July 2022, and a first SCV granted later counts from its grant date. The 4 year and absence rules still apply.
If you are still working towards permanent residence, see the Australian PR points test, explained, the Skills in Demand visa, explained and Australia's 2026–27 Migration Program. Settledin also has pages on permanent visas, including the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) and Skilled Regional visa (subclass 191).
What is the Australian citizenship test?
The citizenship test checks knowledge of Australia and of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who sits it | Applicants aged 18 to 59 on the day the application is received |
| Format | 20 multiple choice questions on a computer or tablet, in English |
| Time | 45 minutes (90 minutes for an Assisted Test) |
| Pass mark | All 5 Australian values questions correct, and at least 15 of 20 overall (75%) |
| Topics | Australia and its people; democratic beliefs, rights and liberties; government and the law; Australian values |
| Study resource | Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, in English and 40 community languages. All questions are based on it. |
| Practice | Home Affairs' practice test is a sample only |
| Resits | No extra cost. If you do not pass after three appointments, Home Affairs may refuse the application. |
People who do not sit the test, such as those aged 60 or over, may have an interview instead.
How do I apply for Australian citizenship?
- Check the residence requirement, for example with the official residence calculator.
- Apply and pay online in ImmiAccount. Paper forms are only for set cases, such as having no passport or travel document.
- Provide identity documents. You need 3 documents that together show your birth name, date of birth, sex, a photo, a signature and your current address. You also provide photos and any overseas police certificates asked for. Home Affairs requests the Australian police check for applicants aged 16 or over.
- Attend the appointment. Most applicants aged 18 to 59 sit the test, and bring original photo ID. Others may have an interview.
- Get the decision in writing. A refusal can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal.
- Attend a ceremony and make the pledge. You become a citizen on the day you make it.
How much does Australian citizenship cost?
Fees from Home Affairs' fee form (Form 1298i, July 2026):
| Application | Fee | Concession fee |
|---|---|---|
| General eligibility (most adults) | $595 | $85 |
| Child under 16 on a parent's application | Nil | |
| Aged 60 or over, incapacity, or under 18 applying alone | $365 | $40 |
The concession fee needs a valid Pensioner Concession Card (concessions and exemptions). Fees are indexed on 1 July each year.
How long does it take to get Australian citizenship?
Home Affairs publishes current citizenship processing times, from application to decision and from approval to ceremony. They change from month to month, and the official page always has the latest figures.
What happens at the citizenship ceremony?
- The invitation usually arrives about four weeks before the ceremony.
- Anyone aged 16 or over when they applied must attend, unless they have an incapacity. Children under 16 included on a parent's application are welcome but do not have to attend.
- There are two versions of the pledge: one mentions God and one does not.
- You do not become a citizen until you make the pledge. It must be made within 12 months of approval, or Home Affairs may cancel the approval.
Can I keep my other citizenship?
Home Affairs says Australia allows dual citizenship, but some countries do not. It suggests checking with the other country's embassy. Australian citizens use an Australian passport to enter and leave Australia.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in the Australian citizenship test?
20 multiple choice questions, with 45 minutes to answer them.
What is the pass mark for the citizenship test?
At least 15 of 20 (75%), with all 5 Australian values questions answered correctly.
What happens if I fail the citizenship test?
Home Affairs books another appointment at no extra cost. If you do not pass after three appointments, it may refuse the application.
How long after the test is citizenship approved?
Home Affairs publishes processing times from application to decision, not from the test. The latest figures are on its citizenship processing times page.
Can I include my child in my application?
Yes, for permanent resident children under 16, at no extra fee and without the residence requirement. Children aged 16 or 17 apply on their own.
What documents do I need to apply?
3 identity documents that together show your birth name, date of birth, sex, photo, signature and current address, plus photos and any overseas police certificates asked for.
Can Australians have dual citizenship?
Australia allows it, but some other countries do not.
What is citizenship by conferral?
It is how people who were not born Australian citizens apply to become one. Most applicants are permanent residents who meet the residence requirement.
Working towards permanent residence?
Settledin adds up an indicative points total from the official points table, for people still working towards permanent residence.
Work out your indicative points
This article describes published Department of Home Affairs information, checked on 4 October 2026. It is general information, not migration advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a registered migration agent. Check the register.