Australian Citizenship Interview Questions: What to Expect

At an Australian citizenship interview, the Department of Home Affairs confirms your identity and discusses your citizenship application. It is not a second test: Home Affairs describes the interview as something for applicants "who do not need to sit the citizenship test", and it does not publish a list of interview questions.

This post explains who has an interview, what Home Affairs says it covers, how it relates to the test appointment, and what happens afterwards. Everything here comes from the Home Affairs page Learn about the citizenship interview and test, the citizenship application form 1300t and other official Home Affairs pages linked below.

What happens at a citizenship interview in Australia?

Home Affairs gives two reasons for the interview. Its interview page says applicants who do not sit the test may have an interview "so we can confirm their identity and ask about their application."

The same page puts it this way:

"At your interview, we will confirm your identity and discuss your citizenship application."

So, according to Home Affairs, the interview covers two things:

1. Your identity. You show photo ID and Home Affairs confirms you are the person who applied.
2. Your application. Home Affairs discusses the citizenship application you lodged.

Home Affairs does not publish sample interview questions, a script, or a time limit for the interview. If you see a list of interview questions somewhere else, it does not come from Home Affairs.

Who has a citizenship interview instead of the test?

Home Affairs' citizenship interview and test page says: "Most applicants for citizenship by conferral aged between 18 and 59 years will have an appointment to sit the citizenship test. Others may only have an interview with us."

The permanent resident citizenship page says the same thing in a different way: "Some applicants do not have to sit the citizenship test but may have an interview with us."

Note the word "may". Home Affairs says that if it needs to interview you, "we will contact you with the details."

Australian citizenship interview questions: what Home Affairs may ask you to show

The interview page has extra notes for some groups of applicants. This is the closest thing Home Affairs publishes to "interview questions": it describes what you may need to show, not the exact questions.

For the groups aged 60 or over, with an impairment, or with an incapacity, Home Affairs says a family member or support person can come with you, and it can arrange an interpreter if you need one.

Is the citizenship interview hard?

Home Affairs does not rate how hard the interview is. What it does say is what the interview is for: to confirm your identity and discuss your application. It does not describe the interview as a test with a pass mark. The citizenship test, by contrast, has published rules: 20 multiple-choice questions and a two-part pass mark (see how the Australian citizenship test pass mark works).

Home Affairs does give preparation advice for the interview. On the learn about the test and interview page, it says that to prepare "you should read the Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond (OCB) resource booklet". You can also:

• listen to the Our Common Bond podcast
• use the AMEPOnline citizenship modules.

It also suggests considering the general AMEP program (the Adult Migrant English Program) if you want to improve your English before the interview.

Are the citizenship interview and test on the same day?

Home Affairs does not describe a separate interview appointment for people who sit the test. Its pages describe the interview as being for applicants who do not need to sit the test.

If you are sitting the test, the identity check and the discussion of your application happen at your test appointment. Step 7 of form 1300t, "Attend your citizenship test appointment", says:

"At your appointment we will discuss your citizenship application, and confirm your identity and eligibility to sit the citizenship test."

The form also says: "Allow up to an hour for your appointment." The test itself gives you 45 minutes, according to the citizenship test page.

Here is how the two appointments compare, using only what Home Affairs publishes:

Where are citizenship appointments held, and when?

Form 1300t says: "Citizenship appointments are conducted at selected offices of Services Australia (Centrelink)."

On timing, Home Affairs says it will send you an appointment letter with the details, and that "The time from when you apply to your appointment date varies, but can take several months." If you need to reschedule, form 1300t says to follow the instructions in your appointment letter. It also warns: "Your application may be refused if you do not attend your appointment."

What to bring to the citizenship interview

Bring a photo ID, such as an Australian driver licence, a passport or an Australian issued proof of age card. Home Affairs says it will not accept certified copies or electronic images of your photo ID, and if you do not bring one, "your appointment will be changed to a later date."

What happens after the citizenship interview?

According to the learn about the test and interview page:

1. Processing of your application continues.
2. Home Affairs writes to you if it needs more information, and lets you know when it makes a decision.
3. If your application is approved and you need to attend a ceremony, you get an invitation letter about four weeks before the ceremony.
4. If you do not need to attend a ceremony, Home Affairs sends your citizenship certificate by registered post when it approves your application.

Home Affairs notes that wait times for citizenship ceremonies can vary.

How to prepare if you are sitting the test

Home Affairs says most applicants aged 18 to 59 will have an appointment to sit the test, so for them the test is where the preparation matters. Home Affairs says Our Common Bond is "all you need to prepare for the test", and it offers a free official practice test. The department also states that it "does not endorse or recommend any external courses that claim to help you prepare for the citizenship test, including paid external apps."

If you want extra practice on top of the official resources, our free Australian citizenship mock exams are marked with both pass rules (15 out of 20, and 5 out of 5 values questions). There is a second free mock exam too. The AU Citizenship Test: Values app has 630+ questions written from Our Common Bond and mapped to its four testable parts, a Values Drill that tracks every Australian values question, and 40 timed mock exams.

Frequently asked questions

What questions are asked at the Australian citizenship interview?

Home Affairs does not publish a list of interview questions. It says that at the interview it will confirm your identity and discuss your citizenship application. Some applicants, such as 16 and 17 year olds, may also need to show they understand their application, have basic English, and understand the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

What happens at a citizenship interview in Australia?

Home Affairs confirms your identity using your photo ID and discusses your citizenship application. After the interview, processing continues and Home Affairs contacts you in writing.

Is the citizenship interview hard?

Home Affairs does not rate its difficulty or describe it as a test with a pass mark. It describes the interview as a check of your identity and a discussion of your application, and suggests reading Our Common Bond to prepare.

Is the citizenship interview a second test?

No. Home Affairs describes the interview as being for applicants "who do not need to sit the citizenship test". If you sit the test, your identity and application are checked at the test appointment.

Are the citizenship interview and test on the same day?

If you sit the test, form 1300t says your application is discussed and your identity and eligibility are confirmed at your test appointment. Home Affairs does not describe a separate interview appointment for people who sit the test.

How long is the citizenship appointment?

For the test appointment, form 1300t says to allow up to an hour. Home Affairs does not publish a length for the interview.

Can I bring an interpreter or family member to the interview?

Home Affairs says yes for applicants aged 60 or over, with a hearing, speech or sight impairment, or with a permanent or enduring incapacity: a family member or support person can come, and it can arrange an interpreter. Its interview pages don't say either way for other applicants.

What happens if I miss my citizenship appointment?

Form 1300t says your application may be refused if you do not attend. To reschedule, follow the instructions in your appointment letter.

Sources

• Department of Home Affairs, Learn about the citizenship interview and test: who has an interview, notes for applicants aged 16 or 17, 60 or over or with an impairment or incapacity, preparation resources, photo ID, what happens at and after the interview.
• Department of Home Affairs, Learn about the citizenship interview: purpose of the interview, what happens at the interview, photo ID.
• Department of Home Affairs, Citizenship interview and test: most applicants aged 18 to 59 sit the test, others may only have an interview, Our Common Bond and the statement on paid external apps.
• Department of Home Affairs, Become a citizen: permanent resident: appointment letter, time to appointment, some applicants have an interview instead of the test.
• Department of Home Affairs, Learn about the citizenship test: 20 questions, 45 minutes.
• Department of Home Affairs, Prepare for the test: test conducted in English only, official practice test.
• Department of Home Affairs, Form 1300t Application for Australian citizenship: General eligibility (design date 09/26): what happens at the test appointment, allow up to an hour, Services Australia offices, rescheduling, non-attendance.

All quotations were checked against these pages in October 2026.