Applying for Australian citizenship

Australian Citizenship Application by Conferral

Navigating the migration process can feel overwhelming, but with MigrationBuro, you are never alone.

Australian citizenship by conferral is available to permanent residents who meet the residence requirement. The main requirement is four years of lawful presence in Australia immediately before the application date, with at least twelve months as a permanent resident, and no more than twelve months total absence in those four years (and no more than ninety days in the final twelve months).

The residence requirement is the most common source of confusion. The Department uses a calculator available on the Home Affairs website, and MigrationBuro recommends using it to confirm your exact eligibility date before lodging. Lodging before you are eligible results in refusal.

ELIGIBILITY: THE RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT IN DETAIL

Four-year rule: you must have been lawfully present in Australia for the four years immediately before the application date. Absences reduce your eligible period and push your eligibility date back.

Twelve-month permanent residence: at least twelve months of the four-year period must have been spent as a permanent resident. Time on a temporary visa counts toward the four years but not toward the twelve-month PR requirement.

Absence limits: no more than twelve months total absence in the four-year period, and no more than ninety days absence in the twelve months immediately before the application. Calculate using the Department calculator.

Character and identity: applicants must be of good character. A criminal history does not automatically disqualify an applicant but must be disclosed and will be assessed.

HOW TO APPLY FOR AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP

Step 1 Confirm your eligibility date

Confirm your eligibility date. Use the Department of Home Affairs residence calculator to confirm you meet the four-year residence requirement. Do not estimate. Use the calculator.

Step 2 Lodge the application online in ImmiAccount

Lodge the application online in ImmiAccount. Provide identity documents, passport-quality photographs, and residency evidence. The application fee is currently $490 for most adult applicants.

Step 3 Citizenship test

Citizenship test (if applicable). Applicants aged 18 to 59 must pass a 20-question multiple-choice test on Australian values, history, and civics. Five mandatory values questions must all be answered correctly. The overall pass mark is 75%. The test is free to resit.

Step 4 Citizenship interview

Citizenship interview (if required). Some applicants are invited to attend an interview. MigrationBuro prepares clients for any interview requirements.

Step 5 Citizenship ceremony

Citizenship ceremony. Citizenship is conferred at a ceremony administered by the local council. The ceremony must occur within a set period after approval. Attendance in person is required — there are no remote ceremonies.

Speak to a Migration agent

Call 1300 VISA OZ (1300 8472 69) to discuss employer sponsorship for your Brisbane business. Available Monday to Friday. Zoom consultations take 45-60 minutes and give you a clear answer on what is achievable.

Prefer to start in writing? Email info@migrationburo.com.au with the role title, the occupation, and the candidate's nationality and qualifications.

Skills in Demand (SID) Visa

(Subclass 482)
Custom migration pathways for businesses facing ongoing skills shortages, including DAMA’s, industry-specific Labour agreements and Company Specific Labour Agreements.

learn more

Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Subclass 186)

Secure permanent residency for skilled international employees, strengthening your workforce with long-term expertise.

learn more

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)
This visa provides a way for skilled workers in specific occupations, who are nominated by their employer in regional Australia, to live and work in Australia for 5 years. This visa contains two ‘streams’ with varying conditions and eligibility requirements. Click below to learn more, and contact us for professional advice and assistance.

Apply Now

Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa (Subclass 400)

The Subclass 400 visa allows individuals with highly specialised skills to undertake short-term, non-ongoing work or projects in Australia..

APPLY NOW

Your Australian Visa application

Some frequently asked questions

Answers to some questions we often hear from people in your situation.

When can I apply for Australian citizenship?

Once you have been a permanent resident for twelve months and have been lawfully present in Australia for four years immediately before the application date, with no more than twelve months total absence in those four years and no more than ninety days in the final twelve months. Use the Department calculator to confirm your exact date.

What is the citizenship test?

Twenty multiple-choice questions on Australian values, history, symbols, and civics. Five mandatory Australian values questions must all be answered correctly. The overall pass mark is 75%. Applicants aged 18 to 59 must pass. Free to resit.

Do I need a migration agent for a citizenship application?

Most straightforward citizenship applications can be self-lodged. MigrationBuro assists applicants with complex immigration histories, prior refusals, character matters, or citizenship applications that involve unusual circumstances.

Can children apply for Australian citizenship?

Yes, under different rules. A child born in Australia to a permanent resident parent becomes a citizen at birth in certain circumstances. Children can also be included in a parent citizenship application. The rules for children are specific — confirm with MigrationBuro at consultation.

What happens to my existing PR visa once I become a citizen?

Your permanent visa ceases on grant of citizenship. As a citizen, you no longer need a visa to remain in Australia. You can apply for an Australian passport.

Migration experience you can trust

MigrationBuro are your trusted migration agents in Brisbane. Founded and led by Andrew Heathcote, we specialise in Australian immigration services. With over 18 years of experience, Andrew is a registered migration agent (MARN) and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, ensuring expert guidance through every step of the immigration process.

[{ 0=”"@type":"Question","name":"When” 1=”I” 2=”apply” 3=”for” 4=”Australian” 5=”citizenship?%22,%22acceptedAnswer%22:{%22@type%22:%22Answer%22,%22text%22:%22Once” 6=”you” 7=”have” 8=”been” 9=”a” 10=”permanent” 11=”resident” 12=”for” 13=”twelve” 14=”months” 15=”and” 16=”have” 17=”been” 18=”lawfully” 19=”present” 20=”in” 21=”Australia” 22=”for” 23=”four” 24=”years” 25=”immediately” 26=”before” 27=”the” 28=”application” 29=”date,” 30=”with” 31=”no” 32=”more” 33=”than” 34=”twelve” 35=”months” 36=”total” 37=”absence” 38=”in” 39=”those” 40=”four” 41=”years” 42=”and” 43=”no” 44=”more” 45=”than” 46=”ninety” 47=”days” 48=”in” 49=”the” 50=”final” 51=”twelve” 52=”months.” 53=”Use” 54=”the” 55=”Department” 56=”calculator” 57=”to” 58=”confirm” 59=”your” 60=”exact” 61=”date.%22}},{%22@type%22:%22Question%22,%22name%22:%22What” 62=”is” 63=”the” 64=”citizenship” 65=”test?%22,%22acceptedAnswer%22:{%22@type%22:%22Answer%22,%22text%22:%22Twenty” 66=”multiple-choice” 67=”questions” 68=”on” 69=”Australian” 70=”values,” 71=”history,” 72=”symbols,” 73=”and” 74=”civics.” 75=”Five” 76=”mandatory” 77=”Australian” 78=”values” 79=”questions” 80=”must” 81=”all” 82=”be” 83=”answered” 84=”correctly.” 85=”The” 86=”overall” 87=”pass” 88=”mark” 89=”is” 90=”75%.” 91=”Applicants” 92=”aged” 93=”18″ 94=”to” 95=”59″ 96=”must” 97=”pass.” 98=”Free” 99=”to” 100=”resit.%22}},{%22@type%22:%22Question%22,%22name%22:%22Do” 101=”I” 102=”need” 103=”a” 104=”migration” 105=”agent” 106=”for” 107=”a” 108=”citizenship” 109=”application?%22,%22acceptedAnswer%22:{%22@type%22:%22Answer%22,%22text%22:%22Most” 110=”straightforward” 111=”citizenship” 112=”applications” 113=”can” 114=”be” 115=”self-lodged.” 116=”MigrationBuro” 117=”assists” 118=”applicants” 119=”with” 120=”complex” 121=”immigration” 122=”histories,” 123=”prior” 124=”refusals,” 125=”character” 126=”matters,” 127=”or” 128=”citizenship” 129=”applications” 130=”that” 131=”involve” 132=”unusual” 133=”circumstances.%22}},{%22@type%22:%22Question%22,%22name%22:%22Can” 134=”children” 135=”apply” 136=”for” 137=”Australian” 138=”citizenship?%22,%22acceptedAnswer%22:{%22@type%22:%22Answer%22,%22text%22:%22Yes,” 139=”under” 140=”different” 141=”rules.” 142=”A” 143=”child” 144=”born” 145=”in” 146=”Australia” 147=”to” 148=”a” 149=”permanent” 150=”resident” 151=”parent” 152=”becomes” 153=”a” 154=”citizen” 155=”at” 156=”birth” 157=”in” 158=”certain” 159=”circumstances.” 160=”Children” 161=”can” 162=”also” 163=”be” 164=”included” 165=”in” 166=”a” 167=”parent” 168=”citizenship” 169=”application.” 170=”The” 171=”rules” 172=”for” 173=”children” 174=”are” 175=”specific” 176=”—” 177=”confirm” 178=”with” 179=”MigrationBuro” 180=”at” 181=”consultation.%22}},{%22@type%22:%22Question%22,%22name%22:%22What” 182=”happens” 183=”to” 184=”my” 185=”existing” 186=”PR” 187=”visa” 188=”once” 189=”I” 190=”become” 191=”a” 192=”citizen?%22,%22acceptedAnswer%22:{%22@type%22:%22Answer%22,%22text%22:%22Your” 193=”permanent” 194=”visa” 195=”ceases” 196=”on” 197=”grant” 198=”of” 199=”citizenship.” 200=”As” 201=”a” 202=”citizen,” 203=”you” 204=”no” 205=”longer” 206=”need” 207=”a” 208=”visa” 209=”to” 210=”remain” 211=”in” 212=”Australia.” 213=”You” 214=”can” 215=”apply” 216=”for” 217=”an” 218=”Australian” 219=”passport.%22}}” _i=”10″ _address=”10″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” /]