You must have lived in Australia on a valid visa for at least 4 years (1,460 days), including the last 12 months as a permanent resident. During the 4-year period, your total absences must not exceed 12 months, and absences in the final 12 months must not exceed 90 days. The guide includes four worked examples showing exactly how to count these days, including tricky scenarios like bridging visa periods and border-day calculations.
You can retake the test as many times as needed. However, the test has become harder — the failure rate has risen from 6% to 16%. The critical trap is the values section: you must answer all 5 values questions correctly or you fail automatically, even if your overall score exceeds 75%. The guide identifies which sections of "Our Common Bond" are actually testable and provides a priority-ranked study strategy.
Yes, Australia has allowed dual citizenship since 2002. However, your home country may not. India and China do not permit dual citizenship — becoming Australian means losing your Indian or Chinese nationality and passport rights. The Philippines allows re-acquisition under RA 9225. Vietnam has conditional retention rules under 2025 legislation. The guide provides country-specific roadmaps covering the exact steps, fees, and timelines for managing your home-country citizenship status.
The standard government application fee is non-refundable — if your application is refused due to a residency miscalculation or identity error, you lose the amount paid. Children under 16 included on a parent's application are free. Additional costs may include a national police check and, if required, a health examination. Migration agents charge $1,000 to $2,000 on top of these fees.
Current research reports 17 to 21 months from lodgment to ceremony for standard applications. The approval-to-ceremony stage is reported separately at 9 to 12 months for the stated coverage levels. Australia Day (26 January) ceremonies are the largest — if you want to be part of one, plan your application accordingly. The guide includes a complete timeline from eligibility check through to passport receipt.
For the vast majority of applicants, no. Citizenship by conferral is one of the more straightforward immigration applications — the complexity is in the preparation (residency calculation, document audit, test study), not the form itself. An agent is worth considering only if you have character concerns (criminal history, security issues) or complex residency gaps. This guide covers every step an agent would handle, including the document audit process based on ANAO audit findings.
Yes, you can travel on your permanent resident visa while your application is being processed. However, you must return to Australia for the citizenship test and for the ceremony. Extended absences during processing do not affect your application (the residency calculation is locked at the date of application), but you must ensure your permanent resident travel facility has not expired or you may not be able to re-enter Australia.