Australian Citizenship Test Guide

About This Guide

Welcome to the Australian Citizenship Test Guide, a free, independent resource for anyone preparing for the citizenship test or working through the citizenship by conferral process in 2026. Everything here is based on the official resource booklet Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, which the Department of Home Affairs uses as the sole source of test questions. We cover the full journey: checking your eligibility, lodging your application, sitting the test, and attending your citizenship ceremony.

This guide is updated for the 2026 rules. That includes the application fee of AUD $595 that applies from 1 July 2026, the current processing times, and the test format of 20 questions with a 75% pass mark. Use the cards below to jump to any topic, and work through the practice tests once you have read the study guide.

The 2026 Citizenship Test at a Glance

Before you start studying, it helps to understand exactly what you are preparing for. The Australian citizenship test is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam taken at a Department of Home Affairs office. The key facts for 2026:

• 20 questions drawn from Our Common Bond, covering Australian history, values, government, and the law
• 45 minutes to complete the test, with your result shown immediately on screen
• 75% pass mark — you need at least 15 correct answers out of 20
• English only, and the test is required for applicants aged 18 to 59
• AUD $595 application fee for general eligibility from 1 July 2026, with a concession rate of $85

You can re-sit the test as many times as needed if you do not pass, but every attempt should be backed by proper study. That is exactly what the guides and practice tests on this page are for.

How to Use These Guides

For the best results, follow a logical study path rather than jumping between topics. Start with the Test Overview to understand the format, then check Eligibility Requirements to confirm you can apply. Read the Study Guide for techniques, then work through the topic guides — Australia's Beginnings, Government and the Law, Australian Values, and National Symbols — before attempting Practice Test 1, 2, and 3.

Each practice test contains 20 questions in the same style as the real exam. Aim to score 15 or more on all three before booking your test appointment. Finally, read the Application Process and Citizenship Ceremony guides so you know what happens before and after the test itself.

What's New for 2026

If you are applying in 2026, three things are worth knowing before you begin. First, the standard application fee for citizenship by conferral (general eligibility) rose to AUD $595 from 1 July 2026, following increases from $540 (2023–24) to $560 (2024–25) and $575 (2025–26). Concession card holders pay $85. Second, processing continues to run at roughly 75% of applications finalised within 7 months and 90% within 14 months, so plan around those timeframes. Third, the test format itself is unchanged: 20 questions, 45 minutes, 75% pass mark, based on Our Common Bond.

Keep an eye on the Department of Home Affairs website for any mid-year changes, but the guides on this page reflect the rules that apply for most of 2026.