What the Australian citizenship test actually is
The Australian citizenship test is a formal assessment set by the Department of Home Affairs for people applying for citizenship by conferral. It checks your knowledge of Australia's values, history, government and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship, drawn from the official study resource Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond. It is one step in a longer journey — the application, the test, the decision, then the ceremony. This door explains the journey; it holds no quiz of its own.
A 20-question, 45-minute assessment of your knowledge of Australian values, history and government, set by the Department of Home Affairs as part of a citizenship-by-conferral application.
Based on the official study resource, Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond.
The two marks you must both clear to pass
Passing is not one bar but two, and both must be cleared in the same sitting. You need at least 15 correct out of 20 overall, and separately you must answer all five Australian values questions correctly — one wrong values answer fails the whole test, no matter how well you did elsewhere. These figures are set by the Department of Home Affairs.
Who sits the test and who is exempt
People aged 18 to 59 on the day the application is received usually sit the citizenship test, per the Department of Home Affairs. Several groups are exempt and do not sit it:
17 or younger
Below the test age on the day the application is received.
60 or over
Above the test age on the day the application is received.
Medical exemptions
A permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity, or permanent loss or substantial impairment of hearing, speech or sight.
Special circumstances
A child of a former citizen who lost citizenship in specific circumstances; a person born in Papua before 16 September 1975 to an Australian-born citizen; or a person born in Australia and stateless.
What happens if you do not pass
Where to practise for the Australian citizenship test
This page explains the journey — it carries no practice test, mock or score of its own. To work through free practice questions, each with a written explanation of the answer, use the dedicated practice door. Practice is how you find the gaps in your own knowledge before the real sitting, especially on the five values questions where one wrong answer fails the whole test.
The journey from residence to ceremony
Citizenship by conferral follows a set path: meet the residence requirement, apply, sit the test if required, wait for a decision, then attend a ceremony. The general residence requirement is four years lawful residence immediately before applying, holding a permanent visa or SCV for the last 12 months, absent no more than 12 months across those four years and no more than 90 days in the final 12 — per the Department of Home Affairs. Fees usually rise on 1 July each year, so always re-check the current amount with Home Affairs rather than relying on an older figure. For detail on each stage, follow the guides below.
- 1
Meet the residence requirement
Four years lawful residence, a permanent visa or SCV for the last 12 months (per Home Affairs).
- 2
Apply
Lodge your application for citizenship by conferral with the Department of Home Affairs.
- 3
Sit the test
If aged 18 to 59 and not exempt, sit the 20-question test.
- 4
Wait for a decision
Processing times are a guide only — check the current figures with Home Affairs.
- 5
Attend the ceremony
Make the pledge at a citizenship ceremony to become a citizen.
Official sources
The rules on this page follow the official requirements published by Department of Home Affairs — Learn about the citizenship test; Department of Home Affairs — Become an Australian citizen (by conferral); Department of Home Affairs — Citizenship processing times. Always confirm current rules and fees with the authority before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do you pass the Australian citizenship test?
- You pass the Australian citizenship test by scoring at least 15 out of 20 (75%) overall and answering all five Australian values questions correctly, per the Department of Home Affairs. One wrong values answer fails the whole sitting, regardless of your overall score.
- What happens if you fail the australian citizenship test?
- Not passing the test is not the end of your citizenship application. The Department of Home Affairs sets the rules for re-sitting and what a non-pass means for your application. Confirm the current process directly with Home Affairs, as the rules can change.
- Where can I find a free Australian citizenship practice test?
- Free practice for the Australian citizenship test, with a written explanation for every answer, is available on the dedicated practice door. This journey page explains the test and process but carries no quiz; use the practice door to find the gaps in your knowledge.
- Who is eligible for Australian citizenship by conferral?
- For citizenship by conferral you generally need four years lawful residence immediately before applying, a permanent visa or SCV for the last 12 months, and limits on time absent, per the Department of Home Affairs. Children under 16 are exempt from the residence requirement but must be permanent residents.
- How long does Australian citizenship take?
- Home Affairs publishes processing times as percentile guides, not promises. For a current guide to each stage, from application to decision to ceremony, see the processing time page and confirm against the Department of Home Affairs figures, which are updated regularly.
- What is the Australian citizenship ceremony?
- The citizenship ceremony is the final step: you make the Australian citizenship pledge to become a citizen. Home Affairs publishes guide times from approval to ceremony as percentiles. See the ceremony and processing time pages for detail, and confirm current waits with Home Affairs.