Australia · Application requirements

Australia Citizenship Requirements 2026

Permanent residents who satisfy the general residence requirement: 4 years of lawful residence in Australia immediately before application, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident. Absences must not exceed 12 months total across the 4-year window and no more than 90 days in the final 12 months as a PR. Applicants 18 and over must be of good character (police checks for any country lived in 12+ months in the past 10 years), pass the citizenship test, intend to reside in or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia, and have a basic knowledge of English. Children under 16 can be included on a parent's application (Form 1300t) or apply separately (Form 1290). New Zealand citizens on the Special Category Visa (subclass 444) follow the same conferral pathway as other PRs since the 1 July 2023 direct-pathway changes.

Issued by Australian Passport Office (DFAT) · Last verified May 28, 2026 · Official source ↗

At a glance

Application fee

General application (Form 1300t): A$575
Concession (Pensioner Concession Card): A$80
Refugee / humanitarian / stateless: A$0 (exempt)
Child under 16 on parent's form: A$0 (included)
Child applying alone (Form 1290): A$240
Citizenship test: Included in application fee

as of May 28, 2026 · details

Processing time

Application decision (90%): ~8 months
Citizenship test (after lodgement): 2–4 months
Ceremony invitation (90%): Within 6 months of approval
Realistic end-to-end: 10–14 months

details

Issuing authority

Australian Passport Office (DFAT)

Who needs a Australia Citizenship?

Where to apply

Online via ImmiAccount at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au — the strongly preferred channel for Form 1300t (general eligibility). Paper applications are still accepted in limited circumstances (no internet access, complex character cases) by post to the Department of Home Affairs, but they take longer and are not recommended. After lodgement, you will be invited to a citizenship appointment at a Home Affairs office for the citizenship test, identity check, and interview.

Fees

General application (Form 1300t): A$575
Concession (Pensioner Concession Card): A$80
Refugee / humanitarian / stateless: A$0 (exempt)
Child under 16 on parent's form: A$0 (included)
Child applying alone (Form 1290): A$240
Citizenship test: Included in application fee

The base citizenship-by-conferral fee for general applicants on Form 1300t is A$575 (effective 1 July 2025; fees are CPI-indexed every 1 July). A concession fee of A$80 applies if you hold a valid Australian Government Pensioner Concession Card, or if you are under 18 and listed as a dependant on one. Refugees, humanitarian-visa holders, stateless applicants under s21(8) of the Citizenship Act, British/Maltese former child migrants, and former permanent-forces members with 90+ days of service are fee-exempt. Children under 16 included on a parent's Form 1300t pay nothing extra; a child applying alone on Form 1290 pays A$240. The citizenship test itself is included in the application fee — there is no separate sit-fee. All fees are paid via credit card in ImmiAccount when lodging and are non-refundable, even if the application is refused.

Fees as of May 28, 2026. Confirm current amounts on the official source before paying.

What to bring

Documents and items you'll need at the appointment or with your application.

Completed Form 1300t (or Form 1290 for under-16s applying alone) — auto-generated by ImmiAccount
Recent 35×45 mm photo uploaded to ImmiAccount (JPEG/PNG, 50 KB–1 MB, min 900×600 px)
Identity documents: passport (current and any previous), birth certificate, photo ID such as driver licence
Evidence of permanent residence (PR visa grant notice) and travel history
Police certificates for any country you lived in for 12+ months over the past 10 years (if requested)
Change-of-name documents (marriage certificate, deed poll) if applicable
Certified copies of any non-English documents with NAATI-accredited English translations
Application fee payment via credit card in ImmiAccount

Need the photo specs?

Exact size, head height, background, and what gets rejected.

Open photo requirements →

How long does it take?

Application decision (90%): ~8 months
Citizenship test (after lodgement): 2–4 months
Ceremony invitation (90%): Within 6 months of approval
Realistic end-to-end: 10–14 months

Department of Home Affairs publishes citizenship-by-conferral processing benchmarks: 90% of applications are processed in around 8 months from lodgement to decision (a marked improvement on the 18-month benchmark from 2023, driven by digital identity checks and a streamlined ImmiAccount workflow). After approval, you must attend a citizenship ceremony to make the pledge — 90% of approved applicants are invited within 6 months, though wait times vary significantly by local council (some monthly, others quarterly). Plan for a realistic 10–14 month end-to-end timeline from lodgement to becoming a citizen.

Times vary by location, season, and individual case. Always check the official source for the current backlog before you book travel.

Official source

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/become-a-citizen/permanent-resident

Last verified May 28, 2026

Verify before applying. We compile this from official government sources and re-verify regularly. Fees, processing times, and rules change without notice — always confirm current information on the official site before you apply or pay any fee.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about applying for a australia citizenship.

How much does Australian citizenship cost? +

The general application fee for citizenship by conferral (Form 1300t) is A$575 as of 1 July 2025 — fees are CPI-indexed every 1 July. Concession applicants with a Pensioner Concession Card pay A$80. Refugees, humanitarian-visa holders, and stateless applicants are fee-exempt. Children under 16 included on a parent's application pay nothing extra; a child applying alone on Form 1290 pays A$240. The citizenship test is included in the fee.

How long does Australian citizenship take? +

Around 8 months for 90% of applications from lodgement to decision, followed by up to 6 months for a ceremony invitation. Realistically expect 10–14 months end to end. Processing has sped up significantly from the 18-month benchmark of 2023 thanks to digital identity workflows in ImmiAccount.

Do I need to pass a citizenship test? +

Yes if you are aged 18–59. The test is 20 multiple-choice questions in English, 45 minutes, with a 75% pass mark (15 of 20 correct). You must also answer all 5 Australian Values questions correctly — missing even one is an automatic fail. The test is based on the booklet "Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond" and is included in your application fee. Applicants 60+ and those with permanent loss of hearing/speech/sight are exempt.

What is the residency requirement for Australian citizenship? +

You must have lived in Australia lawfully for 4 years immediately before applying, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident. Total absences cannot exceed 12 months across the 4-year period, and no more than 90 days in the final 12 months as a PR. Any period of unlawful status resets the 4-year clock. New Zealand citizens on subclass 444 visas follow the standard conferral pathway under the 1 July 2023 direct-pathway changes.

Can I keep my original citizenship when I become Australian? +

Yes — Australia has permitted dual citizenship since 4 April 2002. The Australian pledge does not require renouncing other nationalities. However, your country of origin may not permit dual citizenship (e.g. India, China, Japan, the Netherlands have restrictions or auto-loss rules), so confirm with that country's embassy before applying.

What is the Australian citizenship pledge? +

At the ceremony you make the pledge of commitment: "From this time forward, [under God,] I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey." You can choose to include or omit the words "under God". Making the pledge is the moment you legally become an Australian citizen.

Do I need to attend the ceremony to become a citizen? +

Yes for almost everyone over 16 — making the pledge in person at an official citizenship ceremony is a legal requirement, and you are not a citizen until you do so. Ceremonies are run by local councils or the Department of Home Affairs and typically held within 6 months of approval. Children under 16 included on a parent's application do not need to make the pledge.

Can I apply if I have been outside Australia recently? +

Only if your absences fall within the limits: max 12 months total in the 4-year residence period, max 90 days in the final 12 months as a PR. Use the official Home Affairs Residence Calculator before applying — exceeding either limit makes the application invalid and the fee is non-refundable.

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