BECOME AN AUSTRALIAN CITIZEN

An Australian citizen – Permanent residents or New Zealand citizens

• It is for people 59 years old and under.
• You can include a dependent child aged 15 or younger in your application. With permission from a responsible parent,
• a child 15 years or younger can apply on their own. The child must be a permanent resident.
• You cannot include a dependent child aged 16 or 17 on your application. They must apply on their own. The child must be a permanent resident.

An Australian citizen – Key Elements

you have lived in Australia in the last 4 years.

• living in Australia on a visa for the past 4 years
• a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen for the past 12 months
• away from Australia for no more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years, including no more than 90 days in total in the past 12 months

Your residency starts on the date:

• we granted the permanent visa when you were in Australia, or
• you first entered Australia on a permanent visa

Language requirement

You need a basic knowledge of the English language to become an Australian citizen.

If you score 75% or more on our citizenship test, then you meet the language requirement.

Some applicants do not have to sit the test but must have an interview to show they:

• understand what it means to become an Australian citizen
• have adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship

For more information, see Citizenship interview and test.