Australian citizenship requirements for permanent residents, and where the test fits
Most people become citizens by conferral, applying as a permanent resident. Here are the main requirements Home Affairs lists for applicants aged 18 to 59, in plain English, and how the test fits in.
To apply as a permanent resident aged 18 to 59, you generally need: a permanent visa or SCV, 4 years of residence including 12 months as a permanent resident, good character, to pass the citizenship test, and a close and continuing link to Australia. You apply online in ImmiAccount and pay the fee in Form 1298i.
The main requirements
| Requirement | In plain English |
|---|---|
| Permanent visa | You hold a permanent visa, or a Special Category Visa (SCV) as a New Zealand citizen |
| Residence | The general residence requirement, below |
| Good character | Required if you are 18 or over |
| Knowledge and English | Most applicants show this by passing the citizenship test |
| Link to Australia | You are likely to live in Australia, or keep a close and continuing link with it while overseas |
This page covers the common case. Home Affairs lists more situations and exemptions, such as for members of the Australian Defence Force, and its own page is the one to follow.
The general residence requirement
When you apply, you must:
- have been living in Australia on a valid visa for 4 years immediately before the day you apply
- have held a permanent visa or an SCV for the last 12 months immediately before the day you apply
- not have been away from Australia for more than 12 months in total in those 4 years, including no more than 90 days in total in the 12 months before you apply.
Children under 16 do not need to meet the residence requirement, but must be permanent residents.
Where the test fits
Home Affairs must be satisfied that you understand what it means to be an Australian citizen, have an adequate knowledge of Australia, and have a basic knowledge of English. For most applicants, the citizenship test does this: score 75% or more and answer all 5 Australian values questions correctly, and you meet both the knowledge and the English requirement.
You sit the test after you apply, at an appointment Home Affairs gives you. Applicants who do not sit it, for example people aged 60 or over, may have an interview instead. See who sits the test and the test format.
Good character
If you are 18 or over, you must be of good character, which Home Affairs describes as your "enduring moral qualities". It considers whether you are likely to uphold and obey Australian laws and keep the other commitments of the pledge. It may look at things like criminal convictions, obligations to a court, and whether you have been honest in visa and citizenship applications. Home Affairs' page also lists situations in which it cannot approve an application.
A close and continuing link
Home Affairs must be satisfied that you are likely to live, or keep living, in Australia, or keep a close and continuing link with Australia while overseas. It looks at your living arrangements and migration status. Family in Australia on its own may not be enough.
The fee
Form 1298i, citizenship application fees (July 2026 edition) lists:
- Form 1300t, general eligibility: $595
- Concession, with a valid Pensioner Concession Card: $85
- Children under 16 on the same form as a responsible parent: no fee.
The test is included: there is no extra cost to sit it, and a second appointment after a fail is free too. Fees are indexed on 1 July each year. One Home Affairs eligibility page still shows an older, lower amount; the fee form is the newer document, so check it before you pay.
How to apply
- Check you are eligibleRead the Home Affairs eligibility page for permanent residents.
- Apply onlineIn ImmiAccount, if you are 18 to 59 and not asking for a concession. Attach your documents, and add any new ones later, such as a change of address.
- Wait for your letterIf you need to sit the test, Home Affairs sends the date, time and place. Ask for the Assisted Test in your application if it applies to you.
- Prepare and sit the testThen the decision, the ceremony and the pledge. See what happens after the test.
Start preparing early
You do not need to wait for your letter to start. The test is based on four short Parts of a free booklet, and a few weeks of steady practice is enough for most people.
Sources
Department of Home Affairs: Become a citizen: permanent resident (updated 6 October 2026), Form 1298i, citizenship application fees and Learn about the citizenship test. Read by us on 6 October 2026. This page is general information, not migration advice; for advice on your own case, ask Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.
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Common questions
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