General Eligibility Criteria
To apply for Australian citizenship by conferral, you must meet several requirements. These are assessed at the time you lodge your application and must continue to be met through to the citizenship ceremony.
Permanent Residency
You must be a permanent resident of Australia at the time of application and at the time of the citizenship decision. Your permanent residency must not be subject to any conditions that would prevent you from meeting the residency requirements.
Residency Requirement (General Residence)
You must have been living in Australia on a valid visa and have:
- Lived in Australia for at least 4 years immediately before applying, including at least 12 months as a permanent resident
- Been absent from Australia for no more than 12 months in total in the 4 years before application, including no more than 90 days in the 12 months immediately before application
Special Residence for New Zealand Citizens
NZ citizens who hold a Special Category Visa (SCV) and arrived before 26 February 2001 are considered permanent residents. Those who arrived after this date may need to apply for permanent residency first.
Character Requirement
You must be of good character. The Department of Home Affairs will assess your criminal history, including:
- Any convictions in Australia or overseas
- Pending charges or legal proceedings
- Any association with persons or groups involved in criminal activity
- Your general conduct and associations
- Traffic offences and driving history
You may need to provide penal clearance certificates from countries where you have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.
Age Requirements
- 18 to 59: Must meet all requirements including the citizenship test
- 60 and over: Exempt from the citizenship test but must meet other requirements
- 16 to 17: Exempt from the citizenship test; may be eligible with a responsible parent
- Under 16: Included in a parent's application; exempt from the test
Knowledge of English
You must have a basic knowledge of the English language. The citizenship test is conducted in English, and the application process requires English communication. There is no separate English test for citizenship if you pass the citizenship test.
Knowledge of Australia and Citizenship Responsibilities
You must have an adequate knowledge of Australia and of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship. This is assessed through the citizenship test (if aged 18-59 at time of application).
Likelihood to Reside or Maintain a Close Association
You must intend to live in or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia. This means you should not be subject to any future travel limitations that would prevent you from residing in Australia.
Documents You Will Need
- Passport (current and expired)
- Birth certificate (with English translation if not in English)
- Change of name documents (if applicable)
- National identity card (if applicable)
- Drivers licence or proof of address
- Penal clearance certificates (for countries where you lived 12+ months in last 10 years)
- Evidence of permanent residency status
Can You Apply if You Have a Criminal Record?
It depends on the nature and severity of the offence. Minor traffic offences may not affect your application, but serious offences, particularly those involving violence, drugs, or dishonesty, can result in refusal. You must declare all offences, even those that have been spent.
What the Application Costs in 2026
Eligibility is not just about residency and character — you also need to budget for the application. Under the general eligibility pathway (Form 1300t), the standard fee is AUD $595 from 1 July 2026, with a concession rate of $85 for eligible card holders and no fee for children under 16 applying with a responsible parent. If you apply under "other situations" (Form 1290), the fee is $365 standard or $40 concession.
Allow extra funds for supporting documents: accredited translations, penal clearance certificates from countries where you have lived 12 months or more in the last 10 years, and certified copies of identity documents. These costs are not refundable, so it pays to confirm every eligibility requirement is met before you lodge.
Common Reasons Applications Are Refused
Understanding why applications fail helps you avoid the same mistakes. The most common reasons for refusal or delay are:
- Residency miscalculations — exceeding 12 months of absence in the 4-year period, or more than 90 days away in the final 12 months before applying
- Character issues — undisclosed convictions, pending charges, or associations that raise concerns, including serious driving offences
- Incomplete documentation — missing translations, expiring passports, or penal certificates from the wrong countries
- Identity discrepancies — name changes not supported by official documents
If any of these apply to you, seek professional advice before lodging. Being honest about your history is always better than leaving something out — the Department will discover it during the character assessment, and non-disclosure can itself be grounds for refusal.