Homepage News PR Pathways in Australia Australian Citizenship Application Guide 2026: Residence, Test, Fees and Steps
Nov 12, 2026
PR Pathways in Australia

Australian Citizenship Application Guide 2026: Residence, Test, Fees and Steps

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Australian citizenship by conferral is the usual pathway for permanent residents who want to become citizens. According to the Department of Home Affairs, applicants aged 18 to 59 need to have lived in Australia on a valid visa for 4 years, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident, with no more than 12 months of absences in total and no more than 90 days in the final year. Most must also pass a 20-question citizenship test with a mark of at least 75%, including all 5 Australian values questions.

The general eligibility application costs AUD 595 on the Department's Form 1298i fee schedule (July 2026 edition); the amount shown in ImmiAccount when you apply is the one that counts. On processing times, the Home Affairs page updated on 13 November 2026 shows 90% of conferral applications decided within 5 months and 90% of applicants reaching a ceremony within 10 months of lodging.

This Australian citizenship application guide is based on the Home Affairs citizenship pages, fee schedule and processing-times page. It is general information only and does not assess anyone's individual eligibility. Information is current as at 13 November 2026.

Contents

1. Key facts at a glance

Item Detail
Pathway Citizenship by conferral; general eligibility covers ages 18–59
Status Permanent resident (or eligible New Zealand citizen) both when you apply and when a decision is made
Residence 4 years in Australia on a valid visa, last 12 months as PR; absences ≤ 12 months in 4 years and ≤ 90 days in the final 12 months
Test 20 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes; at least 15/20 (75%) and 5/5 on Australian values
Fee AUD 595 general eligibility (check the amount shown in ImmiAccount when you apply); no fee for children under 16 on a parent's form
Processing 90% decided within 5 months; 90% attend a ceremony within 10 months of applying
Final step You become a citizen when you make the pledge of commitment at a ceremony

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 13 November 2026

2. Who can apply for citizenship by conferral?

The legal framework is the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. For migrants, conferral is the main route: obtain permanent residence, live in Australia for the required period, then apply. The Home Affairs page for permanent residents says you must:

  • be a permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa, when you apply and when the Department decides your application;
  • be in Australia when the decision is made, in most cases;
  • intend to live in Australia, or maintain a close and continuing link with Australia while overseas.

That page is written for people aged 59 and under. Separate Home Affairs pages and a different form (Form 1290, "Other situations") cover applicants aged 60 or over, 16- and 17-year-olds, children applying on their own, and people with an incapacity or impairment.

If you do not hold a permanent visa yet, citizenship is a later step. For background on skilled migration pathways, see our 2026–27 state nomination overview and the October 2026 subclass 189 invitation round.

3. The general residence requirement and the Residence Calculator

Home Affairs sets out three parts to the general residence requirement. All three must be met on the day you apply:

Requirement What it means
4 years of lawful residence Living in Australia on a valid visa for the 4 years immediately before you apply (the wording is "valid visa", not only a permanent visa)
12 months as a permanent resident Holding a permanent visa for the last 12 months before you apply
Limits on absences No more than 12 months outside Australia in total during the 4 years, including no more than 90 days in the final 12 months

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 13 November 2026

When does permanent residence start? The Department counts it from the date your permanent visa was granted if you were in Australia at the time, or from the date you first entered Australia on that visa if it was granted while you were overseas.

You do not have to count the days by hand. The official Residence Calculator works out whether you meet the requirement once you enter your permanent residence date and your travel dates. Frequent travellers should pay particular attention to the 90-day limit in the final year.

Children under 16 do not need to meet the general residence requirement but must be permanent residents. There are limited statutory exemptions and ministerial discretions (for example for some Australian Defence Force members). Home Affairs states that eligibility for a discretion cannot be assessed before an application is lodged.

4. The character requirement

Applicants aged 18 or over must be of "good character". The Department looks at whether you are likely to uphold Australian law and the other commitments in the citizenship pledge. It may consider:

  • recorded criminal convictions;
  • obligations you have to a court in Australia or overseas;
  • your association with people of concern;
  • incidents of reported domestic violence;
  • whether you have been honest with the Australian community, including in visa and citizenship applications.

Permanent residents must provide an overseas penal clearance certificate (a police check) if all of the following apply: you have lived or travelled outside Australia since turning 18; this was in the last 10 years or since your first permanent visa was granted, whichever is more recent; you spent 12 months or more outside Australia in total; and you spent 90 days or more in any one country. The Department may also ask for a certificate directly.

5. The citizenship test: 20 questions, 45 minutes

People aged 18 to 59 on the day Home Affairs receives their application are generally required to sit the test, as explained on the Learn about the citizenship test page. It is taken on a computer or tablet and checks basic English, knowledge of Australia, and understanding of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

Item Rule
Format 20 multiple-choice questions, 45 minutes
Overall pass mark At least 15/20 (75%)
Australian values All 5 values questions must be correct (5/5)
Cost No extra charge; included in the application fee
If you do not pass No effect on your visa; a new appointment is booked at no cost; the application may be refused after three unsuccessful appointments

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 13 November 2026

Who does not sit the test?

Home Affairs lists these groups as generally exempt: applicants aged 17 or younger, applicants aged 60 or over, people with a permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity, people with a permanent loss or substantial impairment of hearing, speech or sight, and a few special categories such as people born in Australia who are stateless. Exempt applicants may still be asked to attend an interview so the Department can confirm their identity and discuss the application.

How to prepare

Questions are drawn from the testable section of the official booklet Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond. The Department also offers a podcast and an online practice test on its Prepare for the test page. It states that it does not endorse or recommend test packages from any other person or organisation. Home Affairs also says an appointment can come shortly after you apply, so you should be ready for the test before lodging.

6. Application fees (July 2026 fee schedule)

Fees are published in Form 1298i, Citizenship application fees. The current edition carries a design date of July 2026 (07/26) and lists:

Application type Fee (AUD)
Form 1300t, general eligibility (ages 18–59) 595
Form 1300t, concession (eligible Pensioner Concession Card holders) 85
Form 1290, other situations (for example ages 16–17 or 60 and over) 365
Form 1290, concession 40
Child under 16 on the same form as a responsible parent Nil

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, Form 1298i (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 13 November 2026

The schedule notes that fees are indexed to the consumer price index on 1 July each year and that a card surcharge may apply. As at 13 November 2026 the cost section of the Home Affairs "Permanent resident" page still displays older amounts that do not match Form 1298i, while the Department's fee concessions page names Form 1298i as the list of citizenship fees. The amount you actually pay is the one shown in ImmiAccount at the time you apply.

7. The process, step by step

  1. Check eligibility. Compare your situation with the residence and character requirements and run your dates through the Residence Calculator.
  2. Prepare documents. You need identity documents that together show your birth name, date of birth, photograph, signature and current address, plus photos and character documents. Documents not in English need an English translation; inside Australia, use a NAATI-accredited translator.
  3. Apply and pay online. Applicants aged 18 to 59 who are not claiming a concession can lodge in ImmiAccount and pay at lodgement. Paper forms are required in some cases, including 16- and 17-year-olds, concession or exemption claims and people without a passport.
  4. Attend your appointment. Home Affairs sends an appointment letter. Staff confirm your identity and take your photo before you sit the test. Bring original photo ID and the letter.
  5. Wait for a decision. Update your details and upload any requested documents through ImmiAccount. The outcome arrives in writing; a refusal letter explains the reasons and the time limit for seeking review by the Administrative Review Tribunal.
  6. Attend a ceremony and make the pledge. Invitations are sent about four weeks beforehand. Ceremonies are usually run by local councils and you cannot choose the date or venue. You become an Australian citizen when you make the pledge, and you receive your citizenship certificate.

People who were 16 or older when they applied generally must attend a ceremony. If you do not make the pledge within 12 months of approval without an acceptable reason, the approval may be cancelled.

8. How long does it take?

The Citizenship processing times page (last updated 13 November 2026) reports the following for citizenship by conferral:

Period counted 50% of applications 90% of applications
Application to decision 38 days 5 months
Approval to ceremony 4 months 6 months
Application to ceremony 6 months 10 months

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 13 November 2026

The same page shows 47,970 conferral applications on hand at 31 October 2026 and 22,723 received during October. These percentiles are a guide only. Home Affairs lists the main factors as whether the application is complete, how quickly you respond to requests, the time needed to verify information, and the time other agencies take on character and national security checks. Ceremony wait times also vary by local council.

9. Including children

Child's age How they apply Key points
15 or younger Can be included on a parent's application No fee; must be a permanent resident; no general residence requirement; not required to attend the ceremony and becomes a citizen at the same time as the parent
16 or 17 Must lodge their own application (Form 1290) AUD 365; must be a permanent resident and meet the general residence requirement; no test

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 13 November 2026

A child aged 15 or younger can also apply alone with a responsible parent's permission, but a fee then applies. Details for older teenagers are on the Persons 16 or 17 years of age page.

10. After the ceremony: your Australian passport

The Citizenship ceremony page explains that you can apply for an Australian passport once you have made the pledge. Because your citizenship details take time to appear in government systems, the Department suggests waiting at least 10 days before applying online. The Australian Passport Office asks applicants born overseas to provide their original citizenship certificate.

Home Affairs also reminds new citizens that Australians should use their Australian passport to enter and leave Australia. Before the ceremony, you must still travel on your existing passport with a visa that lets you return.

11. Dual citizenship: check your home country first

Australia permits dual or multiple citizenship. In the words of the Home Affairs citizenship overview, an Australian citizen may also hold another country's citizenship "if the laws of those countries allow". That condition matters: depending on the country, taking Australian citizenship may or may not affect the nationality you already hold, and the rules can change over time.

Readers from Latin America, South Africa and other regions should therefore ask their own government, embassy or consulate before lodging whether dual citizenship is allowed and whether any step is required on their side. This article does not summarise each country's rules. The Australian Government's Smartraveller page, Advice for dual nationals, sets out practical consequences to raise with your consulate:

  • another country may regard you as its national even if you do not accept that nationality;
  • Australian consular help can be limited in a country that regards you as its own citizen;
  • dual nationals may be liable for military service in their other country of nationality;
  • Australians, including dual nationals, should leave and enter Australia on an Australian passport.

12. Who can help if you need assistance?

You can lodge an Australian citizenship application yourself in ImmiAccount. If you want someone else to give immigration assistance (assessing your personal eligibility, preparing or lodging an application, or dealing with the Department on your behalf), Australian migration law allows only a registered migration agent (with a MARN) or an Australian legal practitioner to provide it. You can search the register on the OMARA website, mara.gov.au.

Level Up Studies can help with course planning and school applications. This article is general information and is not migration advice.

Frequently asked questions

Q1: Can I apply for Australian citizenship one year after getting PR?

Only if you also meet the rest of the general residence requirement. On the day you apply you need 4 years of living in Australia on a valid visa, with the last 12 months as a permanent resident, no more than 12 months of absences in those 4 years and no more than 90 days of absences in the final 12 months. One year of PR without 4 years of lawful residence is not enough. The Department of Home Affairs Residence Calculator lets you check your dates.

Q2: What is the pass mark for the Australian citizenship test?

The test has 20 multiple-choice questions and runs for 45 minutes. You need an overall mark of at least 15 out of 20 (75%) and you must answer all 5 Australian values questions correctly. There is no separate charge for the test because it is covered by the application fee.

Q3: What happens if I do not pass the test?

According to Home Affairs, it does not affect your visa and you can keep living in Australia. The Department books another appointment at no extra cost. If you have not passed after three appointments, your application may be refused.

Q4: Does Australia allow dual citizenship?

Yes. Home Affairs states that Australian citizens may also hold the citizenship of another country if that country's laws allow it. Whether you keep your original nationality depends entirely on the law of your home country, so check with its embassy or consulate before you apply.

Q5: Can I travel overseas while my application is being processed?

Yes, but tell Home Affairs first. In most cases the Department cannot approve an application while you are outside Australia, and you must make the pledge within 12 months of approval or the approval may be cancelled. Until you have made the pledge you travel on your current passport and need a valid visa, such as a Resident Return visa, to re-enter Australia.

Planning to study in Australia? Level Up Studies offers free study and course counselling:

  • Melbourne Head Office: +61 3 8590 3229 | contactus@levelupstudies.com | 1/105 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
  • LINE: add our official account

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Related reading

Sources

Disclaimer: 1. This article is general information only and is not migration or legal advice. 2. We have a qualified education agent counsellor (QEAC #2822) who can help with study planning, but visa decisions rest with the Australian Government. 3. Figures and rules reflect the official pages accessed on 13 November 2026. 4. Course details, fees, start dates, and migration policies are subject to change. Please check the latest announcements from the school and the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
For personalised study or migration planning, please contact our professional advisory team.
Registered Migration Agent MARA: 2519162
Qualified Education Agent Counsellor QEAC: 2822

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