Australian Citizenship Test 2026: The Complete Guide

Who has to sit the citizenship test?

If you are applying for Australian citizenship by conferral and you are aged 18 to 59, you almost certainly have to sit the test. It is the standard pathway for permanent residents becoming citizens, and you must pass it before you can be approved and invited to a ceremony.

The main exemptions are:

• Under 18 at the time you apply.
• Aged 60 or over at the time you apply.
• A permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity that means you cannot understand the nature of the application or demonstrate the required knowledge.
• A small number of narrower categories, for example people who have already been Australian citizens, or who are applying under specific provisions. Check your situation with the Department.

Being exempt from the test does not mean skipping the appointment entirely. Exempt applicants normally still attend an interview to confirm their identity and eligibility. If you have a disability, hearing or vision impairment, or literacy difficulty, ask the Department about the Assisted Test, which gives you 90 minutes and reads the questions aloud, rather than assuming you are exempt.

Format and pass rules

The test is computer-based and you sit it at a Department of Home Affairs office. The structure is fixed:

• 20 multiple-choice questions, drawn from a larger bank.
• 45 minutes to finish (the Assisted Test allows 90 minutes).
• 75% to pass, meaning at least 15 of the 20 questions correct.
• All 5 Australian values questions must be correct. These count towards your 20 and are also assessed separately. Miss one and you fail even if your overall score is 90%.

The values questions have been a mandatory, must-pass component since 15 November 2020, when the current version of the test was introduced. They are the single biggest reason well-prepared people still fail, so treat them as their own section. Our guide to the Australian values questions explains exactly what is tested.

How booking the test works

You cannot book the citizenship test the way you would book a driving test. It is scheduled for you once your application is far enough along. Here is the sequence:

1. Lodge your citizenship application. Most people apply online through ImmiAccount; our guide to how to apply for Australian citizenship covers the steps, or see the official myGov guidance. You pay the application fee at this point.
2. Wait for your file to be picked up. The Department reviews your documents and eligibility. This is usually the longest wait. See current processing times.
3. Receive your test and interview invitation. It arrives by post or in your Home Affairs appointments account and tells you the date, time and location, plus what to bring.
4. Attend on the day. Your identity is checked, you sit the test on a computer, and you get your result on the spot.

Tests run at Home Affairs offices and some regional locations. You can see where, using the official citizenship test locator. If the date you are given does not work, contact the Department to reschedule rather than simply not turning up. Our citizenship test booking guide walks through the invitation, rescheduling and what to bring.

The fee: AUD $575

There is no charge for the test on its own; it is bundled into your citizenship by conferral application. The general application fee is AUD $575 (2025–26, Form 1300t). A concession rate of $80 applies to eligible applicants, including some pensioners and people experiencing financial hardship. The fee is indexed to the Consumer Price Index every 1 July, so it typically rises a little each financial year. Always confirm the current figure before you pay. The amounts here are current as at June 2026.

The four sections of the test

Every question comes from the official booklet, Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond. The testable content falls into four parts, and the real test mixes questions from all of them, weighted heavily towards government and the values must-pass section.

1. Australia and its people

Geography, the states and territories, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, European settlement, immigration and Australia's national symbols. Expect factual questions: capital cities, flags, national colours, important national days. Practise with Australia and Its People questions or read the Australia and Its People section guide.

2. Democratic beliefs, rights and liberties

The principles behind Australian society: parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, freedom of speech and religion, equality before the law, and the responsibilities that come with rights. Questions here test understanding rather than dates. Practise them with Democratic Beliefs and Rights questions or the Democratic Beliefs, Rights & Liberties guide.

3. Government and the law

The section most people find hardest, especially if they grew up under a different system. It covers the three levels of government, the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Constitution, voting and how laws are made. It is also the largest share of the question bank, so it is worth the most study time. Use the Government and the Law questions and the Government and the Law guide.

4. Australian values

The make-or-break section. Five questions on every test ask about mutual respect, a fair go, freedom of religion, equality of opportunity, and resolving differences peacefully. You must get all five right. Practise them in isolation with Australian values questions and read the dedicated values questions guide until you can spot the correct answer every time.

How hard is it, really?

You will see "90%+ pass rate" thrown around online. The honest picture needs two numbers, because they answer different questions.

Around 95% of applicants ultimately pass. Home Affairs data for calendar 2023 put it at 95.8%. That number is high because if you fail you can resit, so most people get there in the end.

But only about two-thirds of individual sittings are passes. Official Senate data shows the per-attempt pass rate was 68.0% in 2021, 63.7% in 2022 and 65.4% to August 2023, down sharply from the 80–87% range seen in 2017–2019, largely because of the values section added in November 2020. You can see the per-attempt figures in the official answer to a Senate question on notice.

So is it easy or hard? Neither label really fits. What decides which group you land in is preparation. People who study the booklet and practise consistently tend to pass first time; people who wing it make up most of that one-in-three failed-sitting figure.

Sample questions, one from each section

These four are real practice questions, one per category, taken from our free question pool. Try to answer before opening the explanation.

Want more? Work through 25+ citizenship test questions and answers grouped by section, or take them as interactive free practice tests.

A 7-day prep plan

You do not need months. A focused week is enough for most people who already have everyday English. Here is a simple structure.

• Days 1–2: Read the free Our Common Bond study guide: start with Australia and its people, then democratic beliefs. Take a short practice test on each before moving on.
• Days 3–4: Tackle government and the law, the densest section. Re-read anything you got wrong and retry the Government and the Law test.
• Day 5: Practise the values section until you score 5/5 repeatedly. This is non-negotiable.
• Days 6–7: Sit full 20-question practice tests under time pressure. Aim to clear 85% comfortably before your appointment.

Test day in brief

Arrive at least 15 minutes early with valid photo ID (your passport is easiest) and your appointment letter. Leave notes and phones in your bag; you cannot use them. Staff verify your identity, give you a short walkthrough of the computer, and then you have 45 minutes for the 20 questions. You can move back and forth and change answers before you submit, and you get your result immediately. For the full walkthrough, read what to expect on citizenship test day.

What happens after you pass

Passing the test is a milestone, not the finish line. Your application goes for final approval, and once approved you are invited to a citizenship ceremony, where you make the pledge and officially become a citizen. The wait from approval to ceremony, and the application timeline before it, are covered in detail in our Australian citizenship processing times guide.