Timeline for Australian Citizenship
Working towards Australian Citizenship is an exciting point in anyone’s migration journey. Whether you currently hold permanent residency, and want to explore your options and pathway for citizenship, or you are eligible for citizenship by descent you may want to plan your application around the expected processing times.
What impacts Australian Citizenship processing times?
There are a number of factors which may impact the time it takes for your citizenship application to be processed.
Some of these factors include:
- If you have provided all required information in your citizenship application
- If you have attached all required supporting documentation for your citizenship application
- How quickly you reply to requests for further information or documentation from the Department of Home Affairs
- How long it takes for the Department of Home Affairs to get information from relevant other agencies such as those related to Police Checks
Citizenship By Conferral Processing Times
If you are an Australian Permanent Resident, who is eligible for Australian Citizenship by conferral, below are the current expected processing times for citizenship applications (including the wait for a citizenship ceremony):
- 25% of citizenship applications are processed within 10 months
- 50% of citizenship applications are processed within 11 months
- 75% of citizenship applications are processed within 12 months
- 90% of citizenship applications are processed within 14 months
Note: processing times accurate as of December 2025
Citizenship By Descent Processing Times
If you are eligible for Australian Citizenship by descent, below are the current expected processing times for citizenship applications:
- 25% of citizenship applications are processed within 79 days
- 50% of citizenship applications are processed within 3 months
- 75% of citizenship applications are processed within 5 months
- 90% of citizenship applications are processed within 7 months
Note: processing times accurate as of date of publication, December 2025
Getting support with your Australian Citizenship application
Given the extended time it is taking for Australian Citizenship applications to be processed, you’ll want to make sure your application is completed accurately, with all required supporting documentation. Many people choose to use a Registered Migration Agent, such as True Blue Migration to manage their Australian Citizenship application to take away the stress of the process.