Do I need to sit the citizenship test?
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Most people applying for citizenship will need to pass the test before they lodge their citizenship application.
People who lodged an application for citizenship before 1 October 2007 will not need to sit the citizenship test.
Test eligibility
To sit the test you must:
- be an Australian permanent resident, and
- satisfy the department of your identity during the process of registering for the test, and
- allow the department to take a photograph of you or provide one yourself.
The following persons are not required to sit a test:
- those who lodged their citizenship application before 1 October 2007, or
- those aged under 18, or
- those aged 60 and over, or
- those who suffer from a substantial impairment or loss of hearing, speech or sight, or
- those who can provide specialist medical evidence of a permanent physical or mental incapacity which means you are not capable of understanding the nature of your application, or
- those who were born to a former Australian citizen, or
- those who were born in Papua before 16 September 1975 to an Australian citizen born in Australia as currently defined, or
- persons who are stateless and were born in Australia.
Assistance with the test
People with a disability
If you have a disability and do not fall into a category listed above, you will need to sit the test. If your disability means you are unable to read the computer screen, or operate a computer mouse, a government officer may provide assistance by reading the questions and possible answers, or operating the mouse for you. This will still require you to have the understanding and knowledge to meet the requirements for citizenship.
If you are not sure whether or not you need to sit the test, please contact the department for more information.
Telephone: 131 880
People with low levels of English literacy skills
It is expected that most people will have the basic English literacy skills necessary to complete the citizenship test without assistance. For those who require some help because of low literacy skills, a government officer at the test centre will provide assistance by reading the questions and possible answers. This will still require you to have the understanding and knowledge to meet the requirements for citizenship.
To be eligible for this assistance, you will need to have completed at least 400 hours of English language tuition under the Adult Migrant English Programme (AMEP), and be assessed by the AMEP provider as not having the English language reading skills necessary to complete the test unassisted.
For more information on the assisted test, please contact the department.
Telephone: 131 880
More information on the AMEP is also available.
See: Learning English with the AMEP
See also: Where can I sit the test and how do I make a booking?