Australian Citizenship: Who Can Apply and What Are the Requirements? Updated November 10, 2026

Verified November 10, 2026, at 10:32 a.m. UTC.

Most adults seeking Australian citizenship by conferral must be permanent residents or eligible New Zealand Special Category visa holders, meet residence and character requirements, and show a lasting connection to Australia. For many, the residence test means four years living in Australia on a valid visa, including the final 12 months as a permanent resident or Special Category visa holder, with limits on overseas travel.

The right pathway depends on your circumstances. Some people born overseas to an Australian citizen parent may qualify by descent, while others may already be citizens and need evidence of their status. The Department of Home Affairs assesses each application against the rules for its pathway.

Destaques

• The general residence rule looks at the four years immediately before an application, including the final 12 months.
• Absences generally cannot exceed 12 months in those four years or 90 days in the final 12 months.
• Most conferral applicants ages 18 to 59 take a citizenship test; different rules apply to children and older adults.
• New Zealand Special Category visa holders can apply directly if they meet the applicable citizenship requirements.

Who can apply for Australian citizenship by conferral?

Conferral is a common pathway for migrants who have settled in Australia. For the standard adult pathway, you must generally hold a permanent visa or, if you are a New Zealand citizen, a Special Category visa (subclass 444) when you apply and when Home Affairs makes its decision. You must also meet the applicable residence and good-character requirements and intend to live in Australia or maintain a close and continuing link with the country while overseas.

In most cases, you must be in Australia when the department decides your application. Meeting the residence calculation alone does not guarantee approval: Home Affairs must also be satisfied about identity and the other requirements. See the department’s eligibility guidance for permanent residents and New Zealand citizens.

How long do you need to live in Australia before applying?

Under the general residence requirement, immediately before applying you must have lived in Australia on a valid visa for four years, held a permanent visa or Special Category visa for the final 12 months, and stayed within both travel limits. Time on an eligible temporary visa can therefore count toward the four years; it does not all have to be time as a permanent resident.

The two absence limits work together. For example, someone who spent eight months overseas during the four-year period could still exceed the separate final-year limit if more than 90 days of that travel fell in the 12 months immediately before applying. Check both periods against the intended application date.

Use the official residence calculator to estimate eligibility using your visa and travel dates. Its result is a guide, not a decision; the department assesses the information it holds when you lodge. Certain exemptions, special residence rules and discretionary provisions may apply, including in some Australian Defence Force circumstances. Check the specific criteria before assuming an exception applies.

Can New Zealand citizens apply for Australian citizenship?

Yes. New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category visa are considered permanent residents for citizenship purposes and can apply by conferral if they meet the relevant requirements. They do not necessarily need to obtain another permanent visa first.

Special rules determine the permanent residence commencement date for certain Special Category visa holders and some holders of the New Zealand stream Skilled Independent visa. Those rules do not remove the need to check the applicable four-year residence and absence requirements. Home Affairs explains the details in its pathway guidance for New Zealand citizens.

Do you have to pass an Australian citizenship test?

Most conferral applicants ages 18 to 59 must take the test, which assesses basic English and knowledge of Australia, citizenship and Australian values. The standard test has 20 multiple-choice questions and takes 45 minutes. To pass, an applicant must answer all five Australian values questions correctly and score at least 15 out of 20 overall. The test is included in the application fee. See the official test information.

Applicants who are 60 or older when they apply do not sit the citizenship test, although they must understand the nature of their application and meet the other relevant criteria. Some applicants with an incapacity or impairment may follow a different assessment pathway. Home Affairs can require an interview to confirm identity or discuss an application.

What are the rules for children and citizenship by descent?

A responsible parent applying by conferral can generally include a dependent child age 15 or younger on the same application at no extra application fee. The child must be a permanent resident, but children under 16 do not need to meet the general residence requirement. A child age 15 or younger can also apply separately in appropriate circumstances. Applicants ages 16 and 17 must apply on their own rather than being included in a parent’s application.

A person born overseas may be eligible for citizenship by descent if a parent was an Australian citizen at the time of the person’s birth. If that parent acquired citizenship by descent or certain overseas adoption arrangements, the parent generally must have spent at least two years lawfully in Australia before the application. Applicants age 18 or older must also satisfy the good-character requirement.

Some people are already Australian citizens. For example, a person born in Australia on or after August 20, 1986, may have acquired citizenship at birth if at least one parent was an Australian citizen or permanent resident at that time. A person born in Australia who was ordinarily resident there throughout their first 10 years may also be a citizen. In such cases, the relevant application may be for evidence of citizenship, rather than a new grant.

What happens after eligibility is assessed?

Application fees vary by pathway, and concessions or exemptions may apply. Check the current fee linked from the relevant Home Affairs eligibility page before applying. For conferral, most successful applicants must then make the citizenship pledge at a ceremony to become Australian citizens; approval and citizenship are not always the same date. Processing and ceremony waits vary, so an eligible application does not establish a guaranteed completion date.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply immediately after getting permanent residence?

Usually not under the general conferral rule: the final 12 months before applying must generally be as a permanent resident or Special Category visa holder. Some special rules and exemptions apply.

Does marrying an Australian citizen automatically give me citizenship?

No. A spouse or partner must qualify under an applicable citizenship pathway. In some circumstances, a relationship with an Australian citizen may be relevant to a residence discretion, but it is not an automatic grant.

Can I travel overseas after applying?

Yes, but check your visa and re-entry arrangements and keep Home Affairs informed of relevant changes. Most conferral applicants must be in Australia when their application is decided, and travel can affect attendance at a ceremony.