From PR to Australian Citizenship: Requirements and Process
Australian citizenship is the final step in many people’s settlement journey — and the step that brings the greatest long-term stability. Understanding the path from permanent residence (PR) to citizenship will help you prepare properly and avoid unnecessary mistakes.
Basic eligibility to apply
Residence requirement
This is the core condition — you need to have lived lawfully in Australia for a certain period before applying, with the most recent part of that time as a permanent resident, while staying within limits on time spent absent from Australia. This requirement has many exceptions and a complex way of being calculated, so rather than memorising a single figure, use the Department of Home Affairs’ official Residence Calculator (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/tools/residence-calculator): enter your residence history and absences and the tool will tell you whether you have met the residence requirement. This is information that changes with policy, so it must always be checked at the official source.
Time spent overseas while you are a PR holder will affect whether you meet the residence requirement. This is why many people try not to go overseas for too long during the period of preparing for citizenship.
Age
Applicants aged 18 or over must meet all the requirements. Children under 18 may be included on a parent’s application in certain cases.
Visa status
You need to be a valid permanent resident at the time of applying. A temporary visa is not eligible.
Fees
The citizenship application fee (and the concessions or exemptions for certain groups) is published by the Department of Home Affairs in Form 1298i — Citizenship application fees and is adjusted annually in line with the price index. Because the fee varies by application type and by year, check the current figure directly in Form 1298i at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au rather than relying on old figures.
The Citizenship Test
This is a test of general knowledge about Australia — its history, values, political system, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. The test is taken in English, in a multiple-choice format on a computer.
The Department of Home Affairs provides official study material — a resource called “Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond” — which can be downloaded free from the official source. Reading this resource is the most effective and the only officially recommended way to prepare.
Some groups are exempt from the test — for example people under 18 or people with certain disabilities. Details on test exemptions are available on the Department of Home Affairs pages.
The Pledge of Commitment
After your application is approved and you have passed the test (if applicable), the final step is to attend a citizenship ceremony. At this ceremony you make the “Pledge of Commitment” — a commitment to become an Australian citizen and to uphold the country’s values.
The ceremony is usually run by the local council and held according to each area’s schedule. Australian citizenship only officially takes effect after you complete this ceremony — not from when the application is approved.
After becoming a citizen
Right after the ceremony, you can:
- Apply for an Australian passport
- Enrol to vote
- Travel freely without worrying about losing residence status
- Sponsor additional family members under citizen categories (if applicable)
A note on dual citizenship
As mentioned in the article on PR and citizenship — Australia allows dual citizenship, but the law of your country of origin is the deciding factor in whether you can keep that citizenship. Some countries automatically revoke citizenship when a citizen naturalises in another country. If this is a concern for you, check with the relevant authority in your country of origin before applying.
Full information on the conditions, process and required documents is available on the official Department of Home Affairs source.