Becoming an Australian citizen (conferral)

Department of Home AffairsVerified 22 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

Once you are a permanent resident (PR), you can apply for Australian citizenship by conferral if you meet the residence requirement, are of good character and pass the citizenship test. The general residence requirement is 4 years of lawful residence in Australia before you apply, with the last 12 months as a permanent resident, and limits on time spent outside Australia. The application fee is A$595 (2026–27 financial year); children aged 15 and under can be included in a parent's application for free. After approval you must attend a ceremony and make the pledge before you become a citizen. You must then enrol to vote and can apply for an Australian passport.

Key facts

General residence requirement: You must have lived in Australia on a valid visa for the 4 years immediately before the day you apply, and have held a permanent visa (PR) for the last 12 months. In those 4 years you must not have been outside Australia for more than 12 months in total, including no more than 90 days in the 12 months before you apply.¹
When your PR time starts: The date your permanent visa was granted while you were in Australia, or the date you first entered Australia on a permanent visa. The Home Affairs website has a Residence Calculator.¹
Application fee (2026–27 financial year): General application (Form 1300t): A$595. Concession fee for holders of an Australian Government Pensioner Concession Card: A$85. Children under 16 included on a parent's form: free. Fees are listed in Form 1298i (July 2026 edition) and are adjusted for CPI on 1 July each year.²
Children: Dependent children aged 15 and under can be included in a parent's application at no extra charge; the child must be a permanent resident. Children aged 16 or 17 must apply on their own. Children under 16 do not need to meet the residence requirement.¹
Where you can apply: You can apply from inside or outside Australia, but in most cases you must be in Australia when the decision is made. You must also intend to live in Australia, or keep a close and continuing association with Australia while overseas.¹
Citizenship test: Most applicants aged 18 to 59 must sit the test: 20 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes. You need at least 15 out of 20 (75%), and you must answer all 5 questions on Australian values correctly. There is no separate test fee; it is included in the application fee. Applicants under 18 or aged 60 and over usually do not sit the test and may instead have an interview to confirm their identity.⁴
Character requirement: Applicants aged 18 and over must be of good character. If, since turning 18 and in the last 10 years (or since you were granted your first permanent visa), you have spent a total of 12 months or more outside Australia, including 90 days or more in any one country, you must provide a penal clearance certificate from that country. Home Affairs obtains your Australian police record for you.¹
Processing times (Home Affairs figures as at 30 September 2026): Citizenship by conferral: 90% of applications are decided within 5 months; 90% of approved applicants are offered a ceremony within 6 months of approval; and 90% go from application to ceremony within 11 months. Updated monthly.³
Citizenship ceremony: Most people must make the pledge of commitment at a ceremony before they become citizens. After approval, your local council or Home Affairs sends an invitation, usually about 4 weeks in advance; you cannot choose the date or place. If you do not attend a ceremony within 12 months of approval without an acceptable reason, the approval may be cancelled. Children under 16 do not need to attend and become citizens at the same time as their parent.⁵
Citizenship certificate: You receive your citizenship certificate after making the pledge. You may need it to apply for an Australian passport or for a job. Do not write on it or alter it.⁵
Dual citizenship (Australia): Australia allows a person to hold dual citizenship. Some countries do not, so check with that country's embassy or consulate. Australian citizens should use their Australian passport to enter and leave Australia.⁶
Countries that do not recognise dual citizenship (for example, China): Some countries, for example China, do not recognise dual citizenship. The Chinese Embassy in Australia states that Chinese passports and travel documents are issued only to people who hold Chinese nationality under the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China, and that people who have acquired a foreign nationality must apply for a visa to travel to China. Check with your own country's embassy or consulate what Australian citizenship means for your nationality and passport.⁷
Enrol to vote: Australian citizens aged 18 and over must by law enrol and vote. To enrol you need one of these: an Australian driver licence number, an Australian passport number, Medicare card details or your citizenship certificate number. You can enrol at 16 or 17 so you are ready to vote at 18.⁸
Applying for an Australian passport: You can apply for an Australian passport only after you have made the pledge and become a citizen. It takes time for the records to update, so Home Affairs recommends waiting at least 10 days before applying online.⁵
If your application is refused: You receive the reasons in writing. You can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal for a review; the letter tells you where to apply and the deadline.¹
Travelling while you wait: If you need to leave Australia while your application is being processed or while you wait for a ceremony, tell Home Affairs first. Travel on your current passport and make sure the travel facility on your permanent visa is still valid. If it has expired, you must apply for a Resident Return visa before you can come back.⁵

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

You are a permanent resident (PR) both when you apply and when the decision is made. New Zealand citizens on a subclass 444 Special Category visa also qualify.
You meet the general residence requirement: 4 years of lawful residence before you apply, the last 12 months as a permanent resident, and time outside Australia within the limits (see the figures above).
You are of good character if you are 18 or over, and you pass the citizenship test if you are aged 18 to 59.
In most cases you are in Australia when the decision is made, and you intend to live in Australia.
People under 18, aged 60 and over, or with a permanent physical or mental incapacity have other application pathways that this page does not cover.

How do I do it? Steps and process

Use the Residence Calculator to check the residence requirement
Use the Residence Calculator on the Home Affairs website to work out when your PR time started, whether you have 4 years of lawful residence and whether your days outside Australia are within the limits. If you have been away for longer than allowed, discretion is available only in a few situations, for example if your spouse is an Australian citizen.
Prepare your documents
You need 3 identity documents that together show your name at birth, date of birth and gender, your photo, your signature and your current address, for example a birth certificate, a passport or driver licence, and a utility bill. If you have changed your name, you need evidence of the change. If required, get your overseas penal clearance certificate. If you are including children, prepare their birth certificates, passports and photos. Documents that are not in English must be translated.
Apply and pay online in ImmiAccount
Apply online and pay the A$595 fee online. Home Affairs says applications lodged online with all documents attached are processed faster. The paper Form 1300t is only for a few situations, such as having no passport or applying for a fee exemption.
Sit the citizenship test or attend an interview
When you receive your appointment letter, bring an original photo ID (driver licence, passport or an Australian proof of age card) and the letter. Tests are held at Home Affairs offices and some Services Australia offices, and children are not allowed in the test room. Before the test, read the official Our Common Bond booklet and try the practice questions on the Home Affairs website.
Wait for the decision and report any changes
Update ImmiAccount if you change your name or address or your children's details change. If you need to travel overseas during this time, tell Home Affairs first and make sure the travel facility on your permanent visa is valid.
Attend the ceremony and collect your certificate
After approval, wait for an invitation letter from your local council or Home Affairs. Bring the letter and one photo ID. You become a citizen only after you make the pledge; your certificate is given to you at the ceremony or posted later. You must make the pledge within 12 months of approval.
Enrol to vote and apply for a passport
At the ceremony you receive enrolment information from the AEC (with a QR code). If you are 18 or over you must enrol to vote. Wait at least 10 days after the ceremony, then apply online for an Australian passport through the Australian Passport Office.

What documents do I need?

3 identity documents: a birth certificate (or other documents such as an ImmiCard if you do not have one), a photo ID with your signature (passport or driver licence), and proof of address (utility bill, lease or bank statement)
Evidence of any change of name (marriage certificate, change of name certificate)
If required: an overseas penal clearance certificate
For children included in your application: birth certificate showing the parents' names, passport, evidence of any name change, one passport photo, and custody or adoption documents
For the concession fee: a copy of both sides of your Pensioner Concession Card
English translations of any documents not in English

What should I watch out for?

Days outside Australia are a strict test: no more than 12 months in total in the 4 years, and no more than 90 days in the 12 months before you apply. Business trips and visits home all count.
Children aged 16 or 17 cannot be included in a parent's application; they must apply separately and pay the fee. Children aged 15 and under are included free, but the child must be a permanent resident.
Failing the citizenship test does not affect your visa, and you can keep living in Australia. Home Affairs will book you another test for free. If you do not pass after three appointments, your application may be refused. There is no separate fee for the test.
Your ceremony invitation may arrive while you are overseas. If you miss it, you receive a non-attendance letter and must wait for the next invitation. If you do not make the pledge within 12 months without an acceptable reason, the approval may be cancelled.
If you travel before the ceremony, use your current passport and check that the travel facility on your permanent visa has not expired. If it has, apply for a Resident Return visa first.
Australia allows dual citizenship, but your own country decides whether you keep your original nationality. Some countries, for example China, do not recognise dual citizenship: the Chinese Embassy states that Chinese passports are issued only to people who hold Chinese nationality, and that people who have acquired a foreign nationality need a visa to visit China. Check with your own embassy or consulate. This site does not give opinions on nationality questions.
Once you are a citizen, use your Australian passport to enter and leave Australia. Using a foreign passport causes problems, and the airline may not let you board.
This page is a plain-language summary of public information. The Home Affairs website and the current fees in Form 1298i have the final say. It is not immigration or legal advice; for your own situation, ask a registered migration agent or a lawyer.

Common questions

How long after getting PR can I apply for Australian citizenship, and how is the 4 years counted?

You generally need 4 years of living in Australia on a valid visa immediately before you apply, with the last 12 months as a permanent resident. Your PR time starts on the date your permanent visa was granted in Australia, or the date you first entered Australia on a permanent visa. In those 4 years you can be outside Australia for no more than 12 months in total, and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months. The Residence Calculator on the Home Affairs website works it out for you.

How long can I be outside Australia before I apply for citizenship?

No more than 12 months in total in the 4 years before you apply, and no more than 90 days in the 12 months before you apply. Business trips and visits home all count. If you need to travel while your application is being processed or while you wait for a ceremony, tell Home Affairs first, travel on your current passport, and make sure the travel facility on your permanent visa is valid. If it has expired, apply for a Resident Return visa before you can return.

How much does the citizenship application cost, and do children pay?

The general application fee is A$595 for the 2026–27 financial year (Form 1298i). Holders of an Australian Government Pensioner Concession Card pay A$85. Dependent children aged 15 and under can be included in a parent's application for free, but the child must be a permanent resident. Children aged 16 or 17 must apply separately and pay the fee. Fees are adjusted for CPI on 1 July each year.

What is in the citizenship test, what is the pass mark, and do I need English?

Most applicants aged 18 to 59 sit the test: 20 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes. You need at least 15 out of 20 (75%) and must answer all 5 Australian values questions correctly. The questions are based on the official Our Common Bond booklet, and practice questions are on the Home Affairs website. There is no separate test fee. If you fail, your visa is not affected and Home Affairs books another test for free; after three failed appointments your application may be refused.

How long does citizenship take, and when is the ceremony?

As at 30 September 2026, 90% of conferral applications are decided within 5 months, 90% of approved applicants are offered a ceremony within 6 months of approval, and 90% go from application to ceremony within 11 months. After approval, your local council or Home Affairs sends an invitation, usually about 4 weeks in advance; you cannot choose the date or place. You must make the pledge within 12 months of approval.

Can I keep my original citizenship and passport after becoming an Australian citizen?

Australia allows dual citizenship, but your own country decides whether you keep your original nationality. Some countries do not recognise dual citizenship; for example, the Chinese Embassy in Australia states that Chinese passports are issued only to people who hold Chinese nationality, and that people who have acquired a foreign nationality need a visa to visit China. Check with your own country's embassy or consulate. Once you are a citizen, use your Australian passport to enter and leave Australia.

Can my children apply for citizenship together with me?

Yes, if they are 15 or under. Dependent children aged 15 and under can be included in your application at no extra charge, as long as the child is a permanent resident, and children under 16 do not need to meet the residence requirement. Children aged 16 or 17 must apply separately and pay the fee. For included children, prepare their birth certificate showing the parents' names, passport and one passport photo. Children under 16 do not attend the ceremony and become citizens with you.

Do I have to vote after I become a citizen, and how do I get an Australian passport?

Yes. Australian citizens aged 18 and over must by law enrol and vote. You receive AEC enrolment information at the ceremony, and to enrol you need an Australian driver licence number, Australian passport number, Medicare card details or your citizenship certificate number. You can apply for an Australian passport only after you have made the pledge. Home Affairs recommends waiting at least 10 days, then applying online through the Australian Passport Office.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

Become an Australian citizen (by conferral) – Permanent residentsDepartment of Home Affairs · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
Form 1298i – Citizenship application feesDepartment of Home Affairs · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
Citizenship processing timesDepartment of Home Affairs · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
Learn about the citizenship testDepartment of Home Affairs · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
Citizenship ceremonyDepartment of Home Affairs · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
Travelling as a dual citizenDepartment of Home Affairs · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
护照/旅行证简介中华人民共和国驻澳大利亚联邦大使馆 · au.china-embassy.gov.cn
Enrol to voteAustralian Electoral Commission · aec.gov.au

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