Your citizenship test appointment: what happens on the day
You do not book the test yourself. After you apply for citizenship, Home Affairs sends you a letter with the date, time and place. Here is what to expect when you go.
Bring photo ID and your appointment letter, and arrive 10 minutes early. An officer talks with you about your application, confirms who you are and takes your photo. Then you sit the test: 20 questions in English, 45 minutes, on a computer or tablet. You see your result on screen when you finish.
1. Your letter
After you apply, Home Affairs sends you a letter with the date, time and place of your appointment. Cal Australia does not book tests and cannot change your appointment.
Tests are held at Home Affairs offices in most capital cities and at some Services Australia offices. If you applied from outside Australia, you are invited to the test after you return.
2. What to bring
- Photo ID: a driver licence, a passport or an Australian proof of age card. Certified copies and photos of ID are not accepted. Without photo ID, your appointment is moved.
- Your appointment letter, on paper or on your phone.
3. When you arrive
- Arrive 10 minutes earlyChildren cannot come into the test centre, so plan for them to be cared for.
- Talk with an officerThe officer discusses your application with you and confirms your identity.
- Your photoThe officer takes your photo.
- Then the testYou sit the test on a computer or tablet.
4. The test
| Questions | 20 multiple choice questions, in English |
|---|---|
| Values | 5 of the 20 questions are about Australian values, and all 5 must be right |
| Pass mark | At least 15 of 20 right (75%) and all 5 values questions right |
| Time | 45 minutes (90 minutes in the Assisted Test) |
| Help to listen | Text-to-speech can read the questions and answers to you. A Test Facilitator can help, for example with headphones |
| Cost | No extra cost: the test is included in your application fee |
Every question is based on Parts 1 to 4 of Our Common Bond. Our study guide covers each Part in plain English, and you can try the format for free.
5. The rules in the room
- No phones, smart watches, smart glasses, books or notes.
- No talking, except to the Test Facilitator, and no copying.
- Finish within the time.
Breaking the rules can lead to your application being refused.
6. The Assisted Test
The Assisted Test gives you 90 minutes instead of 45. You need to ask for it in your application, and it is for people who:
- have completed at least 400 hours of English classes in the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), or
- have a physical or cognitive impairment that stops them doing the standard test even with help, with evidence from a registered health practitioner.
Extra support can include a quiet room, a printed test with a different background or text colour, extra attempts and a rest break between attempts.
7. Your result
Your result shows on screen as soon as you finish.
- If you pass, Home Affairs keeps processing your application. If it is approved, you are invited to a citizenship ceremony, usually about 4 weeks before the date. At the ceremony you make the citizenship pledge.
- If you do not pass, your visa is not affected, and Home Affairs books another appointment for you at no extra cost. If you do not pass after 3 appointments, your application may be refused.
More: what happens after you pass, if you do not pass, and the ceremony and the pledge.
Who sits the test
Generally, people applying for citizenship by conferral who are aged 18 to 59 on the day Home Affairs receives the application. People aged 60 or over or under 18, and people with a permanent or enduring incapacity, or a permanent loss or substantial impairment of hearing, speech or sight, usually do not sit it and may have an interview instead. Not sure which applies to you? Ask Home Affairs, and read who sits the test and the citizenship interview.
Before the day
Read the four Parts of Our Common Bond, check yourself with the sample questions, and sit a full practice test or two. Give the values extra time: all 5 must be right.
Sources
The Department of Home Affairs pages Learn about the citizenship test (updated 30 September 2026) and Prepare for the citizenship test, read by us on 5 October 2026, and Form 1298i, citizenship fees (PDF). Rules can change: your letter and the Home Affairs pages come first.
Independent app, not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs or the Australian Government. Cal Australia does not book your test. Found a mistake? Write to hello@calaustralia.com.
Common questions
How do I book the citizenship test?
What ID do I need for the citizenship test?
What happens if I do not pass?
Does the test cost extra?
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