Application, fees, times
After the citizenship test: from a pass to the ceremony
Enter the month you passed to see when most approved applicants reach their ceremony, then follow each stage that comes after the test room.
Independent, non-government site: tests, applications and appointments are handled only on the Home Affairs website.
From test day to ceremony
Ceremony for half of approved applicants by
March 2027
| Invitation sent about | 4 weeks before |
| Nine in ten by | May 2027 |
| Pledge deadline after approval | 12 months |
Counted from approval, which often follows the test closely.
After the citizenship test, a pass shows on the screen straight away and Home Affairs carries on processing the rest of your application, including character and security checks; it writes to you if it needs more information and again when it decides. If you are approved and applied at 16 or over, you become a citizen only at a ceremony, usually held by the local council for your residential address, which you cannot choose. The invitation arrives about 4 weeks before the date. In the Home Affairs table updated on 16 October 2026, a quarter of approved applicants reached their ceremony within 71 days of approval, half within 4 months, and nine in ten within 6 months; counted from lodging, half took 7 months. The pledge must be made within 12 months of approval or the approval may be cancelled. A failed test leads instead to a new appointment at no cost, with a possible refusal after 3 appointments without a pass.
How long do I have to make the pledge?
Pledge by the end of
September 2027
| Rule | within 12 months of approval |
| If you miss it | approval may be cancelled |
| Typical wait to a ceremony (90%) | 6 months |
Questions, dates and fees by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How questions and dates are built
Stage by stage after the test
| Stage | What happens | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| Test result | shown on screen at the end | immediately |
| Remaining checks | character, security, any extra documents | half of decisions within 42 days of lodging |
| Decision | approval or refusal in writing | nine in ten within 5 months of lodging |
| Invitation | letter from council or Home Affairs | about 4 weeks before the ceremony |
| Ceremony | pledge, then certificate | half within 4 months of approval |
| Deadline | pledge made | within 12 months of approval |
Between the pass and the decision
A pass meets two requirements at once: knowledge of Australia and basic English. It does not settle the rest. Home Affairs keeps checking identity, good character and national security, and it may ask for extra or original documents. Answer quickly, since the department names slow replies among the causes of delay, and report any change of name, address or contact details. If the test was close to the end of processing, the decision can follow soon after; the processing times page shows how decisions are spread.
If you did not pass
Failing does not affect your permanent visa. The department books another appointment and there is nothing extra to pay. The risk is cumulative: after 3 appointments without a pass, it may refuse the application. Use the time on the part of Our Common Bond that cost you points, and train with the timed mock test.
The invitation and your council
Ceremonies are usually organised by local government councils, and which one you attend is set by your current residential address. You cannot pick the date or place. The invitation, from your council or Home Affairs, comes about 4 weeks ahead and states whether you can bring guests. Waits vary with local demand; the ceremony wait times search gives figures for each council, calculated from approval to 30 September 2026. Moving house after approval can change the council, so tell the department.
The pledge deadline
You must make the pledge of commitment within 12 months of approval. If you do not attend a ceremony in that time and cannot give an acceptable reason, supported by evidence, the approval may be cancelled. Missing one ceremony is not fatal: you receive a non-attendance letter and later a new invitation, without needing to contact anyone, but places are limited. The panel under the summary gives the month your deadline falls in. Plan any travel with this in mind, as the travel page explains.
Who skips the ceremony
Children under 16 on a parent's application become citizens at the same time as the parent and may make the pledge if they wish. People assessed as having a permanent or enduring incapacity, and a few other groups set out on the ceremony page, are not required to attend. They become citizens on approval and receive the certificate by registered post; Home Affairs suggests allowing about 2 weeks for printing and postage in Australia.
On the day and after
Allow at least 2 hours; the ceremony itself takes about 1. Bring the invitation and photo identification. You become a citizen when you make the pledge, and the certificate is handed over or posted. Only then can you apply for an Australian passport, and if you are 18 or over you must enrol to vote. The ceremony guide, the pledge wording and the first steps as a citizen cover each part.