Citizenship by Conferral

Citizenship by conferral is the pathway most permanent residents use to become Australian citizens. It's a formal application — citizenship isn't granted automatically just because you hold a permanent visa — and you need to meet a set of requirements before the Department will approve it.

This page covers the general conferral pathway for applicants aged 18 to 59. Different application forms and rules apply if you're 60 or over, 16 or 17, a child 15 or under applying without a parent, or if you have an incapacity or impairment that affects your ability to sit the citizenship test — worth flagging your circumstances with me if any of those apply so we use the right form from the start.

Eligibility

To apply for citizenship by conferral, you generally need to:

• be a permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa, both when you apply and when the Department decides your application;
• be in Australia when the decision is made, in most cases; and
• intend to live in Australia, or maintain a lasting connection with Australia if you plan to live overseas.

You'll also need to satisfy the residence requirement — broadly, having lived in Australia on a valid visa for the four years immediately before applying, including the most recent 12 months as a permanent resident or eligible Special Category visa holder, without exceeding the allowable limits on time spent outside Australia. Exactly how that plays out against your own travel history is worth checking carefully before you apply, since it's one of the more common reasons an application runs into trouble.

Character Requirement

If you're 18 or older when you apply, you need to satisfy the good character requirement. The Department looks at your overall conduct and history, not just whether you have a clean criminal record, so any past convictions, outstanding court matters or other character concerns should be disclosed and assessed before you lodge.

How the Application Works

1. Check your eligibility — confirm you meet the residence and other requirements before applying.
2. Prepare your documents — including original police certificates, and either scans (for an online application) or certified copies (for a paper application) of your other supporting documents. Each document only needs to be provided once, even if it's being used to prove more than one thing.
3. Apply and pay online through ImmiAccount — you can apply whether you're in or outside Australia, and lodging online with every required document attached generally helps the Department finalise your application faster.
4. Attend a citizenship appointment — most applicants aged 18 to 59 are invited to sit the citizenship test. The wait between applying and your appointment date varies and can run to several months. Some applicants are exempt from the test and are interviewed instead.
5. Wait for a decision — you may be asked for further documents during this stage, and you should tell the Department if your circumstances change while the application is on foot.
6. Receive the outcome in writing.
7. Attend a citizenship ceremony — most successful applicants need to attend a ceremony and make the Australian Citizenship Pledge before receiving their citizenship certificate. Invitation letters are usually sent about four weeks ahead of the ceremony, and wait times for a ceremony slot can vary by local council. If a ceremony isn't required in your case, the certificate is posted to you by registered mail instead.

Citizenship Fees

Conferral applications carry an application charge for adult applicants (the Department's Form 1298i sets out the current fee schedule). There's no charge for a child 15 or younger included on a parent's application, and other fee concessions and exemptions can apply depending on your circumstances. Fees typically go up on 1 July each year, so I'd always confirm the current amount before lodging rather than relying on a figure from an older source.

How I Can Help

I can assess whether you meet the residence requirement, review your travel history for anything that might affect eligibility, flag character issues before they become a problem, and prepare and lodge your application — including helping you get ready for the citizenship test or interview.

Ready to Apply for Citizenship?

Contact me to have your eligibility for citizenship by conferral assessed.

Important Information

The information on this page is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute migration advice for your individual circumstances. Citizenship requirements, fees and processing arrangements can change, and meeting the general requirements described above does not guarantee that an application will be approved. Professional advice should be obtained based on your individual circumstances before lodging a citizenship application.