The General Residence Requirement – Your 4 Year Timeline
Many people have asked, “Have I been in Australia long enough to apply for citizenship?” The residence rules are clear for most applicants. Immediately before you lodge your Australian citizenship by conferral application, you must usually:
- Have lived lawfully in Australia on a valid visa for the 4 years before you apply
- Have held permanent residency or an eligible special character visa (SCV) for the 12 months immediately before you apply
- Have not been outside Australia for more than 12 months in total during those 4 years and no more than 90 days in total in the final 12 months.
Including Children In Your Application
Children aged 15 or younger can be added to a parent’s citizenship application at no extra department fee, as long as they are permanent residents. Applicants aged 16-17 must apply separately, but can lodge at the same time as a parent.
New Zealand SCV holders
Eligible New Zealand citizens on a Special Category Visa (SCV) benefit from specific exceptions. For citizenship purposes, your permanent resident status can continue while you travel overseas, provided you still meet SCV requirements and policy settings at the time of application and decision.
The Australian Citizenship Test – Key Facts
If you’re aged 18-59, you will usually need to sit the Australian citizenship test. This is normally computer-based at a Department of Home Affairs office or a selected Services Australia centre.
The test is 20 multiple-choice questions with 45 minutes to complete. You must answer all 5 Australian values questions correctly and score at least 75% overall to pass
The test assesses basic English skills and your knowledge of Australia’s history, national symbols, democratic beliefs, rights and liberties, government and law, and the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship.
You may be exempt from the citizenship test if you are over 60 years old (although you must still meet residence and character requirements). If you are under 18 years of age, a stateless person born in Australia who meets specific criteria or a person with a permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity that affects their ability to sit the test (you may have an interview instead)
Good Character Requirement
To be approved for Australian citizenship by conferral, you must be of good character. The Department considers your ‘enduring moral qualities’ and whether you are likely to respect Australian laws and uphold the commitments made in the citizenship pledge.
You will usually need to provide an Australian National Police Check and overseas police certificates for any country where you’ve spent significant time since turning 18 as a permanent resident (generally a total of 12 months or more overseas, including 90 days or more in any one country)
New Zealand citizens often experience a streamlined process, as the Department of Home Affairs can obtain certain police information directly from New Zealand authorities where appropriate.
Why Work with True Blue Migration for Citizenship by Conferral?
If you’re ready to explore Australian citizenship by conferral, contact us for a free initial visa assessment, or get in contact with one of our Registered Migration Agents.
True Blue Migration will assess your eligibility under the latest Australian citizenship legislation and policy, carefully check your residence history and time spent outside Australia and prepare and lodge a strong, decision-ready application as well as liaise with the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) and help you respond to any further information requests.
Email: info@trubluemigration.com.
Phone: 03 9038 9070