Becoming an Australian Citizen: Test & Process

Most migrants become Australian citizens through 'citizenship by conferral'. This is the pathway for permanent residents who have lived here long enough and meet the character, residence and knowledge requirements. (People born overseas to an Australian parent usually use a different pathway, 'citizenship by descent'.)

To apply for conferral as an adult permanent resident, you generally need to: meet the residence requirement, be a permanent resident at time of application and decision, be likely to live in or maintain a close link with Australia, be of good character (for applicants 18 and over), and have an adequate knowledge of Australia and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship, usually demonstrated by passing the citizenship test.

New Zealand citizens on a Special Category (subclass 444) visa and certain other groups have their own arrangements, so always check your specific situation on the official page below.

Under the general residence requirement you must have been living in Australia on a valid visa for the 4 years immediately before the day you apply, AND have held a permanent visa (or a subclass 444 Special Category visa) for at least the last 12 months of that period.

There are two absence limits to watch. Across the whole 4 years you must not have been outside Australia for more than 12 months in total. And in the final 12 months before you apply, you must not have been outside Australia for more than 90 days.

• Time spent in Australia before you became a permanent resident (for example on a student or temporary work visa) can usually count towards the 4 years, as long as it was on a valid visa.

• The maths can be fiddly if you travel a lot, so use the Department's free Residence Calculator to confirm you qualify before you apply.

Some people qualify under different rules (for example certain spouses or partners of Australians overseas, people in particular occupations, or those with a special hardship). These are exceptions, not the norm, and they are worth professional advice if they apply to you.

The Australian citizenship test is a computer-based test of 20 multiple-choice questions, and you have 45 minutes to complete it. To pass you must score at least 15 out of 20 (75%) overall AND answer all 5 of the Australian values questions correctly. Getting a values question wrong means you do not pass, even if your overall score is high.

Everything in the test comes from the free official booklet 'Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond', which is available in English and many community languages. The test covers Australia's democratic beliefs, rights and liberties, government and laws, history, and national symbols, alongside the values section.

Practising helps a lot. The Department publishes a free online practice test you can take as many times as you like before your appointment.

• The test is taken in English.

• If you do not pass, you can retake it at no extra charge. After three attempts you may be invited to attend a free citizenship course.

• Most applicants aged 18-59 sit the test. If you are 60 or over, or under 18, you generally do not sit the standard test, and people with certain hearing, speech or sight impairments may be assessed differently.

Adults applying for conferral generally use Form 1300t, lodged online through an ImmiAccount. You create an account, complete the form, upload your identity and residence documents, pay the fee, and then attend an appointment that usually includes the test and an identity check.

The application fee is set in the Australian Citizenship Regulations and is indexed each year on 1 July in line with the consumer price index, so the exact dollar figure changes over time. Because this is a volatile figure, confirm the current amount on the official fees page before you pay, rather than relying on an old number. Concession fees apply to some applicants (for example certain low-income or humanitarian visa holders).

• Have your evidence ready: passport(s), evidence of your visa history and time in Australia, and identity documents. Incomplete applications are a common cause of delay.

• You can track progress in your ImmiAccount, and the Department publishes current citizenship processing times so you can set expectations.

Once your application is approved, the final step for most adults is making the Australian Citizenship Pledge at a citizenship ceremony. You are not a citizen until you make the pledge.

Ceremonies are usually run by local councils and are often warm, community occasions. You will typically be invited to a ceremony within around 6 months of approval, and you must attend within 12 months of approval, or the approval can be cancelled.

The pledge commits you to loyalty to Australia and its people, sharing their democratic beliefs, respecting their rights and liberties, and upholding and obeying their laws. There are two versions, one referring to God and one that does not, and you choose which to make.

After the ceremony you receive your citizenship certificate. Keep it safe, as it is your proof of citizenship and you will need its details to apply for an Australian passport.

Since 2002 Australia has allowed dual (and multiple) citizenship. From Australia's side, becoming an Australian citizen does not require you to renounce your existing nationality, and an Australian who later takes up another citizenship does not automatically lose their Australian citizenship.

The catch is the other country. Some nations do not permit dual citizenship and may consider you to have given up their citizenship when you naturalise elsewhere, or may require you to formally renounce it. Always check the rules of your country of origin with its embassy or government before you apply.

If you hold dual citizenship, be aware it can affect things like military service obligations, voting, tax and travel in your other country. None of that stops you becoming Australian, but it is worth understanding before the ceremony.

For straightforward conferral applications, many people apply themselves using the official forms and the Residence Calculator. If your case is complex (gaps in your residence, character issues, visa history problems, or you are simply unsure), it is worth getting professional help.

Only a migration agent registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) or an Australian legal practitioner can lawfully be paid to give you Australian immigration and citizenship advice. You can verify an agent's registration before you pay. Taking paid advice from an unregistered 'agent' is risky and the practice itself is unlawful.

• Be alert to scams. Australian government websites end in .gov.au. The Department will never ask you to pay a fee through gift cards, cryptocurrency or to a personal bank account.

• Never pay a third-party site to 'get' you a tax file number (TFN) or to lodge a free government form. A TFN is free and applied for through the Australian Taxation Office.

• Be wary of fake job offers, guaranteed-visa promises, and anyone who asks you to lie on your application. If something seems off, report it via the Department's reporting channels.

Because immigration and citizenship rules change frequently, always confirm current eligibility, fees and timeframes on homeaffairs.gov.au before acting, and seek registered advice for anything complex.