# Australian citizenship by conferral

Ordinary adult conferral combines lawful residence, a final permanent-residence period, absence limits and a citizenship test. Approval and the citizenship pledge remain separate steps.

Scope: General adult migrant conferral, principally applicants aged 18–59; separate age, disability, defence and special-residence provisions are not substitute ordinary routes.

Jurisdiction: Commonwealth of Australia. Sources reviewed 2026-09-17; review due 2026-12-16.

General information, not legal advice or a finding of eligibility. Requirements depend on the route, applicant and filing date. Verify the official instructions before applying.

## Four-year residence baseline

Normally, live in Australia lawfully for the four years immediately before applying, including the final 12 months as a permanent resident. These are qualifying residence requirements, not a four-year processing promise.

Evidence: conditional. [Australian Department of Home Affairs: Form 1300t — Application for Australian citizenship, general eligibility; June 2026](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/1300t.pdf). Source location: Form 1300t, page 2, Step 2 — Residence requirement.

## Absences and New Zealand status

Ordinary absences must total no more than 12 months in the four years, including no more than 90 days in the final year. New Zealand Special Category Visa holders can count as permanent residents for citizenship; the form specifies their qualifying dates and separate subclass 189 backdating rules.

Evidence: conditional. [Australian Department of Home Affairs: Form 1300t — Application for Australian citizenship, general eligibility; June 2026](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/1300t.pdf). Source location: Form 1300t, pages 2 and 8–9, general residence and New Zealand citizens.

## Status, character and continuing connection

Permanent-resident status is required at application and decision. Applicants must be of good character and likely to live in Australia or retain a close, continuing connection. Ordinary applicants generally must be in Australia for approval; statutory exceptions are limited.

Evidence: conditional. [Australian Government — Federal Register of Legislation: Australian Citizenship Act 2007 — compilation 37, 4 June 2026](https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2007A00020/2026-06-04/2026-06-04/text/original/epub/OEBPS/document_1/document_1.html). Source location: Sections 21(2)(b), (g)–(h) and 24(5).

## English and citizenship knowledge

The general route requires basic English and knowledge of Australia and citizenship responsibilities, demonstrated through successful completion of the approved citizenship test. Separate provisions cover applicants aged 60 or over and specified impairments or incapacity. No CEFR equivalence is established here.

Evidence: conditional. [Australian Government — Federal Register of Legislation: Australian Citizenship Act 2007 — compilation 37, 4 June 2026](https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2007A00020/2026-06-04/2026-06-04/text/original/epub/OEBPS/document_1/document_1.html). Source location: Sections 21(2)(d)–(f), 21(2A), 21(3)–(4) and 23A.

## Approval and pledge

Eligibility does not guarantee approval. Under the ordinary route, citizenship begins after approval and the required pledge; qualifying incapacity and other statutory exceptions have different pledge rules.

Evidence: conditional. [Australian Government — Federal Register of Legislation: Australian Citizenship Act 2007 — compilation 37, 4 June 2026](https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2007A00020/2026-06-04/2026-06-04/text/original/epub/OEBPS/document_1/document_1.html). Source location: Sections 20, 24(2), 26 and 28.

## Other citizenship may be retained

Australia permits its citizens to hold another citizenship when the other country's law allows it. Australian permission does not establish retention under that other law.

Evidence: conditional. [Australian Department of Home Affairs: Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond — testable section](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship-subsite/files/our-common-bond-testable.pdf). Source location: Printed page 38 (PDF page 40), Loyalty to Australia.

## Scope and limitations

- Descent, adoption, resumption, defence service, special-residence and detailed ministerial-discretion cases require their own assessment. The ordinary residence figure must not replace their separate rules.
- This is general legal information, not an eligibility decision or a processing-time guarantee. Home Affairs must assess identity, character, security and other statutory refusal grounds.

## Explore this passport

- [Passport rank and travel access](https://multipassrank.com/passport/australia)
- [Tax residence & income](https://multipassrank.com/passport/australia/taxes)
- [Country-profile JSON, including sources and scoped requirements](https://multipassrank.com/api/v1/country-profiles/AU)
- [Multiple-citizenship policy guide](https://multipassrank.com/dual-citizenship-countries)

[Canonical page](https://multipassrank.com/passport/australia/citizenship)