Who can apply
Australian citizenship for applicants aged 60 and over
Enter your age on the day Home Affairs will receive your application to see whether you sit the test, then check how you can lodge.
Independent, non-government site: tests, applications and appointments are handled only on the Home Affairs website.
Do I have to sit the citizenship test?
Citizenship test
Yes, you sit the test
| Ages who sit it | 18 to 59 |
| Test fee | included in the application fee |
| Interview | at the test appointment |
An applicant who is 60 or older on the day Home Affairs receives a citizenship by conferral application does not sit the citizenship test. The general eligibility form 1300t is written for people aged 18 to 59, so older applicants use the other situations application, form 1290. Form 1298i of July 2026 sets its fee at $365, or $40 for the primary holder of a valid Pensioner Concession Card; the Home Affairs permanent resident page still shows the older $180. Age removes the test, not the residence requirement: you still need 4 years living in Australia on a valid visa, the last 12 months as a permanent resident, and no more than 365 days away, 90 of them at most in the final year. Character, identity and a close link with Australia are assessed as for everyone, an interview may be held to confirm identity, and you must be in Australia when the decision is made.
Online or on paper?
How to apply
Online in ImmiAccount
| Online allowed for | ages 18 to 59 |
| Paper also for | fee exemption, no passport, no travel since July 1990, defence or stateless cases |
| Concession card | pages differ: the fee concessions page says online with a scan of both sides |
Questions, dates and fees by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How questions and dates are built
What changes at 60
Home Affairs lists applicants aged 60 or over at the time they apply among those who do not sit the citizenship test. For you, the knowledge and English requirements are not checked through the 20 questions on Our Common Bond, so there is no booklet to learn and no appointment to pass. The exemption is automatic and needs no medical evidence; your date of birth on your identity documents is the proof.
What does not change
Everything else in the conferral checklist applies. The general residence requirement is the same as for a 30-year-old. Good character is assessed, and Home Affairs requests an Australian police check from age 16. Overseas police certificates are needed if, since turning 18 and within the last 10 years, you spent 12 months or more outside Australia with 90 days or more in one country, which can catch retirees who spend long seasons abroad. A close and continuing link to Australia is assessed too, from where you live, your property and your family.
The form and the fee
| Situation | Form | Fee (form 1298i, July 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 18 to 59 | 1300t | $595 |
| Aged 60 or over | 1290 | $365 |
| Aged 60 or over, Pensioner Concession Card | 1290 | $40 |
| Fee exemption (for example 90 days in the permanent forces) | 1290 | nil |
Form 1298i says fees are indexed on 1 July each year, so check the current fee form on the day you pay. The concession page explains who counts as a primary cardholder.
Online or on paper
The Home Affairs pages we read describe online lodgement in ImmiAccount for applicants aged 18 to 59 who are not claiming a concession, and send people aged 60 or over to a separate page for their situation. Plan on following the instructions on form 1290 itself; a paper application goes with certified copies of your documents, and the fee is prepaid through ImmiAccount’s My Payments section unless you claim an exemption. The second tool on this page shows the lodging route for your age.
The interview
Instead of a test, Home Affairs may invite you to an interview. Staff confirm who you are, take your photo and talk through the application. Bring an original photo identity document such as a passport or an Australian driver licence; certified copies and phone images are not accepted. The interview page describes the appointment step by step.
Being in Australia for the decision
For applications made on the basis of being aged 60 or over, the criteria page says Home Affairs must not approve while you are outside Australia, with two exceptions: a special residence requirement or the spouse and interdependent partner discretion. Long family visits abroad are best planned after the ceremony, where you make the pledge and become a citizen.
Documents to gather
Identity is assessed from birth, which can be harder for people who migrated decades ago. Home Affairs asks for 3 documents that together show your birth name, date of birth and sex, a photograph, a signature and your current address. A full birth certificate is preferred; when it cannot be found, documents issued before your arrival that together confirm your identity can be used. British migrants who arrived before 1 January 1975 without proof of entry can send employment, tax or school records instead, and the National Archives of Australia can help with older papers. The documents page lists the rest.