Who Is Exempt From the Australian Citizenship Test? (60+, Under 18)

You generally do not sit the Australian citizenship test if, when you apply, you are 17 or younger, 60 or over, or have a permanent or enduring incapacity or a permanent loss or substantial impairment of hearing, speech or sight. A few smaller groups are also listed. People aged 18 to 59 on the day Home Affairs receives their application generally must sit the test. Some people who skip the test may have an interview instead.

This post sets out each group and what happens instead. Everything below is taken from the Department of Home Affairs page Learn about the citizenship test and the other official pages linked as we go. These rules are for citizenship by conferral, the application type the test is part of.

Who has to sit the Australian citizenship test?

Home Affairs states the rule in one sentence:

"If you are aged between 18 and 59 years on the day we receive your application for citizenship by conferral, you are generally required to sit the test."

Two details matter here:

• Your age is counted on the day Home Affairs receives your application. It is not your age on the test day.
• The word is "generally". Even inside the 18 to 59 group, an applicant with a qualifying incapacity or impairment may not need to sit the test (see below).

If you do need to sit it, Home Affairs says it will send you a letter with the details of your test appointment. For the test format and the two pass rules, see our post on the Australian citizenship test pass mark and values questions.

Who is exempt from the Australian citizenship test?

On its citizenship test page, under "Who doesn't sit the test", Home Affairs says you generally do not need to sit the test if you:

1. are aged 17 years or younger at the time you apply
2. are aged 60 years or over at the time you apply
3. are the child of a former Australian citizen who lost their Australian citizenship under specific circumstances
4. were born in Papua before 16 September 1975 to an Australian citizen born in Australia (as Australia is now)
5. were born in Australia and are stateless (have never been the citizen of another country and are not entitled to the citizenship of another country)
6. have a permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity
7. have a permanent loss or substantial impairment of hearing, speech or sight.

The same page adds that applicants who do not need to sit the test "may have an interview so we can confirm their identity and ask about their application."

Test or interview: the full table

Citizenship test over 60: do you need to sit it?

No. Home Affairs' page for applicants aged 60 or over says: "You do not need to sit the citizenship test." Its age requirement reads: "You must be aged 60 years or over at the time of the application."

The same requirement adds that you need to understand the nature of your application. At an interview, Home Affairs says, "If you are aged 60 years or over, or have a hearing, speech or sight impairment you may be required to show you understand the nature of your application." A family member or other person can attend with you, and Home Affairs can arrange an interpreter at the appointment.

The other requirements still apply. The 60 or over page lists residence, character and close and continuing link requirements, and says you must make the pledge of commitment at a citizenship ceremony.

Do children sit the citizenship test?

No. Home Affairs lists everyone aged 17 or younger at the time they apply as not needing to sit the test. The rules after that depend on the child's age.

Children 16 or 17

A 16 or 17 year old cannot be included in a parent's application and must apply on their own. Home Affairs' 16 or 17 page says they may be invited to an interview and asked to show that they understand the nature of the application, have a basic knowledge of the English language, and have an adequate knowledge of Australia and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. The page also says: "You do not have to sit the citizenship test."

Children 15 or younger

A responsible parent applying for citizenship can include a child aged 15 or younger on their application form. A child 15 or younger can also apply on their own with permission from a parent or guardian. Home Affairs' page for children 15 or younger applying on their own goes from applying to waiting for a decision with no test or interview step listed, and it says: "You do not need to attend a citizenship ceremony to make the pledge of commitment."

If a parent is sitting the test, note this line from the test page: "Children are not permitted in the test centre." Home Affairs says it has no childcare facilities at its centres.

Hearing, speech or sight impairment, or an incapacity

Home Affairs covers both on its page for a person with an incapacity or impairment. That page is for people 18 and over, and in both cases you must give medical evidence with your application.

Permanent loss or substantial impairment of hearing, speech or sight. If you have this at the time you apply, you do not need to sit the test. A health practitioner must confirm the impairment in a letter, and a specialist must assess it while you use any aids or assistive technology you normally use. You must still understand the nature of your application and make the pledge of commitment at a citizenship ceremony.

Permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity. This applies if the incapacity means you are not capable of sitting the test to show your understanding of the application, basic English, or adequate knowledge of Australia and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. In that case you may not need to sit the test or make the pledge at a ceremony. The page is clear on one limit: "Temporary or short-term medical conditions do not apply." Home Affairs may need to verify your claim of incapacity at an interview.

Home Affairs also warns that if you do not give satisfactory evidence, it may refuse your application.

What if you have to sit the test but need support?

If you are in the group that sits the test, Home Affairs describes two kinds of help on the citizenship test page.

Test Facilitator support. You must sit the test on your own, but a Test Facilitator can, for example, use the computer for you, read the questions aloud, or select your answers if you respond verbally.

The Assisted Test. "If you sit an Assisted Test, you will have 90 minutes instead of the standard 45 minutes." Home Affairs may offer it if you asked for it in your application and you either:

• have completed at least 400 hours of English language tuition under the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), or
• have a permanent or temporary physical or cognitive impairment that prevents you from sitting the Standard Test, even with support from the Test Facilitator.

For the impairment route, you need evidence from your registered health practitioner on the Assisted Test request form. If you also request additional accommodations in your application and the Department approves them, you may get things such as a quiet room, extra test attempts or a rest break between attempts. Some test centres may not be able to provide certain accommodations.

How to practise if you do sit the test

Home Affairs says Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond is all you need to prepare, and its Prepare for the citizenship test page links to a free official practice test. It also states that it "does not endorse or recommend any external courses" for the test, including paid external apps. Start with those free official resources.

If you want extra practice on top of them, our free Australian citizenship mock exams are marked with both pass rules (15/20 overall and 5/5 values). The AU Citizenship Test: Values app has 630+ questions written from Our Common Bond, a Values Drill, and 40 timed mock exams.

Frequently asked questions

Who is exempt from the Australian citizenship test?

Generally, people who are 17 or younger or 60 or over when they apply, people with a permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity, and people with a permanent loss or substantial impairment of hearing, speech or sight. Home Affairs also lists children of certain former citizens, some people born in Papua before 16 September 1975, and people born in Australia who are stateless.

Is there a citizenship test exemption at age 60 in Australia?

Yes. Home Affairs says applicants aged 60 or over at the time of the application do not need to sit the citizenship test. They may have an interview to show they understand the nature of their application.

Do children sit the citizenship test?

No. Applicants aged 17 or younger when they apply generally do not sit the test. A 16 or 17 year old may be invited to an interview and asked to show basic English and knowledge of Australia.

What if I turn 60 while my application is being processed?

Home Affairs counts the age "on the day we receive your application". If you were between 18 and 59 on that day, Home Affairs says you are generally required to sit the test.

Does a temporary illness exempt me from the test?

No. For the incapacity exemption, Home Affairs says temporary or short-term medical conditions do not apply. A temporary impairment may instead make you eligible for an Assisted Test.

If I don't sit the test, will I definitely have an interview?

Not necessarily. Home Affairs says applicants who do not sit the test "may have an interview", and that it will contact you with the details if it needs to interview you.

How long is the Assisted Test?

90 minutes, instead of the standard 45 minutes.

Sources

• Department of Home Affairs, Learn about the citizenship test: who sits the test (18 to 59), who doesn't, test appointment, Test Facilitator support, Assisted Test and accommodations, children not permitted in test centres.
• Department of Home Affairs, Learn about the citizenship interview: who may have an interview, what applicants 60 or over and with an impairment or incapacity may be asked, support person and interpreter.
• Department of Home Affairs, Person 60 years or over: no test, age requirement, other requirements, pledge at a ceremony, including children 15 or younger.
• Department of Home Affairs, Persons 16 or 17 years of age: applying on your own, interview, no test.
• Department of Home Affairs, Child 15 years or younger applying on their own: application steps, no ceremony needed.
• Department of Home Affairs, Person with an incapacity or impairment: incapacity and hearing, speech or sight impairment rules and medical evidence.
• Department of Home Affairs, Prepare for the citizenship test: official practice test.
• Department of Home Affairs, Citizenship test and interview: Our Common Bond as the preparation resource, statement on external courses and paid apps.

All quotations were checked against these pages in October 2026.