Australian Citizenship

Australian Citizenship Application Details

Australian Citizenship by Descent You may be eligible for Australian citizenship by descent if you were born outside Australia and, at the time of your birth, one or both of your parents was an Australian citizen.

Citizenship by Conferral for Individuals Aged 60 or Over Becoming an Australian citizen by conferral is a common pathway. To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen when you apply and when the application is decided.
  • Be physically in Australia when your application is decided (in most cases).
  • Intend to reside in Australia or maintain a lasting connection while overseas.
  • You are not required to take the Australian Citizenship Test.

Citizenship by Conferral for Permanent Residents or New Zealand Citizens To be eligible, you must:

  • Have lived in Australia on a valid visa for at least 4 years.
  • Have held permanent residency or been an eligible New Zealand citizen for the past 12 months.
  • Have not spent more than 12 months outside Australia in the past 4 years, and no more than 90 days outside Australia in the last 12 months. Your residency starts from the date you were granted a permanent visa while in Australia, or when you first entered Australia on a permanent visa.

Application Scenarios Requiring Paper Submission You cannot apply online if:

  • You entered Australia before July 1990 and have not travelled outside the country since.
  • You do not have a current or expired passport or travel document.
  • You are eligible for a fee exemption or concession.

Citizenship Fees

  • Main Applicant: A$560
  • Applicants aged 16-17: A$300
  • Pensioner Concession Card Holders: Reduced fee
  • Applicants aged 15 or younger: A$80

Processing Time 90% of applications are processed within 15 months.

Citizenship Requirements

Character Requirements Applicants 18 years and older must be of “good character,” defined as having enduring moral qualities. The Department of Home Affairs will assess your likelihood of upholding Australian laws and fulfilling your citizenship pledge.

Knowledge Requirements Most applicants must pass a citizenship test, demonstrating:

  • Basic knowledge of the English language.
  • An understanding of Australian citizenship responsibilities and privileges.
  • Adequate knowledge of Australian values, such as freedom, respect, and equality. A passing score of 75%, with all 5 questions on Australian values answered correctly, is required.

Language Requirements You must demonstrate basic English proficiency. Passing the citizenship test with a 75% score and correctly answering all questions on Australian values satisfies the language requirement. Certain applicants may not need to sit for the test but must attend an interview to show understanding of citizenship responsibilities and privileges.

Citizenship Certificate For applications approved on or after 1 July 2021, a citizenship certificate will be mailed to the approved applicants. The method of delivery depends on the postal address provided. If the address is outside Australia, the certificate may be sent to the nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate, where you will be informed on how to collect it. A citizenship ceremony is not required for these cases.

Residence Requirement Exemptions

General Exemptions You do not need to meet the residency requirement if:

  • You are under 16 years of age.
  • You were born to a former Australian citizen who lost citizenship before 4 April 2002.
  • You were born in Papua before 16 September 1975, with one parent who was an Australian citizen at the time.

Australian Defence Force Exemption Members of the Australian Defence Force and their families may be exempt from the residency requirement.

Ministerial Discretion Exemptions Ministerial discretion may apply to assist in meeting the residence requirement in specific cases, such as:

  • If you were an unlawful non-citizen or temporary resident due to an administrative error.
  • If you were confined in a prison or psychiatric institution and it would be unreasonable not to count that period towards the residence requirement.
  • If you spent time outside Australia as a temporary resident or as the spouse, de facto partner, or surviving partner of an Australian citizen, and maintained a close and continuing association with Australia.

Citizenship Test Requirements

Who Must Sit the Test Most applicants for citizenship by conferral aged 18 to 59 will need to attend an interview and sit the citizenship test. Some applicants aged 16-17 or those aged 60 and above may need an interview but will not be required to sit the test.

Who Is Exempt from the Test Applicants for citizenship by conferral are exempt from the test if they:

  • Are under 18 years old at the time of application.
  • Are 60 years or older at the time of application.
  • Were born to a former Australian citizen who lost citizenship as an adult.
  • Were born in Papua before 16 September 1975 to an Australian citizen.
  • Were born stateless in Australia and are not entitled to another country’s citizenship.
  • Have a significant or permanent hearing, speech, or sight impairment.
  • Have a permanent or enduring mental or physical incapacity affecting their ability to understand the application, speak basic English, or understand Australia’s responsibilities and privileges.

Citizenship Practice Test The Australian Citizenship Practice Test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions. To pass, you must answer all 5 Australian values questions correctly and achieve at least 75% overall.

Preparation Materials The official resource booklet, Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, contains all the information necessary to prepare for the citizenship test.

Checklist for Citizenship Application

  1. Identity documents (passport, birth certificate, proof of name change, etc.).
  2. Evidence of relationship status (e.g., marriage or divorce certificates, death certificates, or statutory declarations).
  3. Overseas police certificates for any country where you lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since age 16, military service records if applicable.
  4. Passport-sized photographs.
  5. Evidence of residential address (utility bills, rental contract, bank statements).
  6. Proof of first entry to Australia (e.g., passport stamps, travel documents, entry records).