Requirements for Australian citizenship

To apply for Australian citizenship by conferral — the most common pathway for permanent residents — you need to meet several eligibility criteria. Here's what's required, and where the common stumbling points are.

The official eligibility checklist is maintained by the Department of Home Affairs: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/become-a-citizen

Eligibility at a glance

Requirement	Standard rule
Permanent residency	Must hold a valid permanent visa
Lawful residence	At least 4 years in Australia
As permanent resident	At least 12 of those months
Total absences	No more than 12 months over 4 years
Recent absences	No more than 90 days in the final 12 months
Good character	Required for applicants 18 and over
Citizenship test	Required for applicants aged 18–59 (exemptions apply)
Ceremony and pledge	Required for most conferral applicants

Use this as a pre-lodgement checklist. If any requirement is not clearly met, wait until it is or get advice before lodging.

1. Permanent residency

You must hold permanent resident status at the time you apply and when the Department makes its decision. Temporary visa holders — including those on partner visas that haven't yet been granted at the permanent stage — are not eligible for conferral.

Check your visa type, grant date, and current status before opening the application form.

2. Residency

You need to have lived lawfully in Australia for at least four years immediately before applying, including at least 12 months as a permanent resident.

During those four years, absences from Australia are limited:

• No more than 12 months total over the four-year period
• No more than 90 days in the 12 months immediately before applying

This is the requirement that catches people most often. Check your actual travel history — every trip overseas counts — before you lodge. A few days over the limit can affect your eligibility.

Calculate from the day you plan to lodge, not from today if you are still preparing. "Lawfully" means you held a valid visa throughout the relevant period, including any bridging visa periods.

3. Age and the citizenship test

Most applicants aged 18 to 59 must sit the citizenship test. The test covers Australia's history, democratic values, rights, responsibilities, and government.

To pass, you need:

• At least 15 of 20 questions correct (75%)
• All five Australian values questions correct — regardless of overall score

Exemptions apply for:

• Applicants aged 60 or over
• Children under 18 (whether applying separately or included in a parent's application)
• People with a permanent physical or mental incapacity that prevents them from participating

See Australian citizenship test exemptions for details on each category.

If you need to sit the test, start preparing before your appointment invitation arrives. Practice Test 1 is a good starting point after you have read the official booklet.

4. Good character

Applicants 18 and over must demonstrate good character — meaning a law-abiding history, no significant criminal record, and honesty in previous immigration dealings.

The Department assesses character through police checks and records. If you have anything complicated in your history — criminal matters in Australia or overseas, visa cancellations, or unresolved court proceedings — it's worth getting professional advice before applying.

5. English

There's no standalone English test for citizenship. Passing the citizenship test — which is conducted entirely in English — demonstrates sufficient English for the process. If you're exempt from the test due to age or incapacity, other assessment may apply.

6. Intention to reside

You should intend to live in Australia as a citizen, or — if you'll be living overseas — maintain a genuine and continuing connection with Australia.

Standard requirements vs exceptions

Situation	How requirements differ
Applicant aged 60+	Exempt from citizenship test; all other requirements apply
Child under 16 (included in parent's application)	Must be a permanent resident; no test required; no independent residence requirement
Child aged 16–17	Must apply separately; pays standard fee; exempt from test
Citizenship by descent	Different pathway — no test, no residence requirement, no ceremony
Permanent incapacity	May be exempt from test and/or ceremony; assessed case by case

For the descent pathway specifically, see Australian citizenship by conferral vs descent.

Supporting documentation

To complete your application, you'll need proof of identity, travel history, residency evidence, and any documents relevant to your circumstances. Non-English documents require translations from a NAATI-certified translator.

Prepare these before starting the form:

• Current and previous passports covering the residence period
• Full birth certificate, not a short-form extract
• Visa grant notice confirming permanent residency
• Travel records, including passport stamps or equivalent evidence
• Name change documents, if applicable
• Certified translations of any non-English documents

For the full document list, see Australian citizenship documents checklist.

Verify before you lodge

Meeting all of these requirements before you lodge gives your application the best chance of moving through the process smoothly. Check your travel history dates carefully, confirm your permanent visa is still valid, and make sure you're within the absence limits before submitting.

After lodgement, track your application through ImmiAccount. Check the inbox regularly because correspondence from the Department can appear there even when you do not notice a separate email.

Related guides

• Step-by-step Australian citizenship application process
• Australian citizenship documents checklist
• How to apply for Australian citizenship online
• Australian citizenship test exemptions
• Common mistakes that delay citizenship applications

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Eligibility requirements are set by the Australian Citizenship Act. Always verify your specific circumstances with the Department of Home Affairs before lodging.