Becoming a citizen: the conferral path, in order

Seat 5AWho this path is for

This guide follows Home Affairs’ page for permanent residents, which covers people aged 59 and under. New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa count as permanent residents for citizenship purposes. People aged 17 or under, 60 or over, or with an incapacity or impairment have their own pages under become an Australian citizen.

Home Affairs also notes that some people born in Australia may already be citizens, for example if they lived here ordinarily for their first 10 years, and can apply for evidence of it instead.

Seat 5BThe general residence requirement

On the day you apply, Home Affairs’ general residence requirement asks that you have:

• been living in Australia on a valid visa for the 4 years immediately before that day
• held a permanent visa (or a Special Category visa) for the last 12 months of those 4 years
• been absent from Australia for no more than 12 months in total in those 4 years, including no more than 90 days in total in the final 12 months

Your permanent residence usually starts on the date a permanent visa was granted while you were in Australia, or the date you first entered Australia on a permanent visa. Children under 16 don’t need to meet this requirement, though they must be permanent residents. Exemptions and special circumstances exist, and different start dates apply to some New Zealand citizens; both are explained on Home Affairs’ permanent residents page.

The Residence Calculator estimates your days in Australia from the dates you enter. Home Affairs says its results are a guide only, and that the actual assessment uses the data in the department’s systems when you apply.

Seat 5CThe other requirements

• Good character, if you are 18 or over.
• Knowledge of Australia and basic English, which most applicants show by passing the citizenship test.
• A close and continuing link to Australia: the department must be satisfied you are likely to live here, or keep a close and continuing link while overseas.

Home Affairs also lists circumstances in which it must not approve an application, for example if it isn’t satisfied of your identity, or if you are assessed as a risk to Australia’s security. The full list is on the permanent residents page.

Seat 5DThe route, stage by stage

1. Apply. Online applications go through ImmiAccount, explained in Gate 02: using ImmiAccount. The fees are on form 1298i and usually rise on 1 July each year; a child 15 or younger on the same form as a responsible parent costs nothing extra.
2. Attend an appointment. Most applicants aged 18 to 59 sit the citizenship test; others may only have an interview. You get a letter with the date, time and place. Bring photo ID such as a driver licence, passport or proof of age card; certified copies and electronic images aren’t accepted.
3. Wait for the decision. Home Affairs updates its processing times every month. An application can take longer if it is incomplete, is missing documents, or takes time to verify.
4. Make the pledge. The invitation, from your local council or Home Affairs, comes about four weeks before the ceremony, and you can’t choose when or where it is. Allow at least two hours. You become a citizen when you make the pledge, and you should receive your citizenship certificate afterwards.

If the pledge isn’t made within 12 months of approval, the department may cancel the approval unless there is an acceptable reason with evidence. People who applied under 16, and some others, don’t need to attend a ceremony.

Seat 5EThe test, in numbers

• 20multiple choice questions
• 15/20the overall pass mark, which is 75%
• 5/5Australian values questions you must get right
• 45 minto finish; an Assisted Test allows 90

The test is in English only, and every question is based on the booklet Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, available in English and community languages, with a podcast and a practice test on the department’s site. Home Affairs says it doesn’t endorse or recommend outside courses that claim to prepare you, including paid apps. Sitting the test costs nothing extra, because the application fee includes it.

If you don’t pass, Home Affairs says it doesn’t affect your visa, you can keep living in Australia, and it books another appointment at no extra cost. If you don’t pass after three appointments, the application may be refused.

An Assisted Test may be offered to people who asked for it in their application and have completed at least 400 hours of English tuition in the Adult Migrant English Program, or who have a physical or cognitive impairment that stops them sitting the standard test even with help.

Seat 5FTravelling while you wait

Home Affairs asks to be told about plans to travel outside Australia while an application is processed or a ceremony is pending. In most cases it can’t approve an application while you are overseas, and you need a valid visa that lets you back in, which may mean a Resident Return visa. Your current visa’s travel dates show in VEVO: see Gate 01: checking a visa with VEVO.

Once you are a citizen, Home Affairs lists among the responsibilities voting in federal, state or territory elections and referendums, and serving on a jury if called. New citizens aged 16 and over get information on enrolling to vote at their ceremony.