VisaChief Australian citizenship (by conferral) — interview questions & preparation
Applying for Australian citizenship by conferral almost always involves attending an appointment that combines an interview and, for most applicants aged 18 to 59, the citizenship test. The interview confirms your identity and the details of your application rather than testing knowledge, while the test is 20 multiple-choice questions in English where you must score at least 75% overall and correctly answer all five Australian values questions. Bring your original identity and residence documents.
Common Australian citizenship interview questions
1. Can you confirm your full name, date of birth and address?
How to answer: The interview starts with identity verification, so ensure these match your application and your documents exactly.
2. Can you present your original identity documents?
How to answer: Bring passports, your permanent visa evidence and photo ID; the officer checks originals against your application.
3. How long have you lived in Australia and what is your travel history?
How to answer: You must meet the residence requirement, so know your dates of travel and absences to confirm you satisfy it.
4. Have you spent long periods outside Australia during your qualifying years?
How to answer: Absences affect the residence requirement, so be able to account for time abroad consistently with your records.
5. Have you ever been in trouble with the police or had any offences, including traffic matters?
How to answer: Answer honestly, as character is assessed and you may be asked to consent to a police check.
6. Do you consent to a police or character check?
How to answer: Agreeing is expected; be upfront about anything on your record rather than risk it emerging later.
7. Why do you want to become an Australian citizen?
How to answer: Speak sincerely about your commitment to Australia and your intention to make it your home.
8. Do you understand the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship?
How to answer: Show you understand duties like obeying the law and voting, and privileges like an Australian passport.
9. Do you understand and share Australian values?
How to answer: The five values questions on the test must all be answered correctly, so study the values in the official booklet.
10. Is the information in your application still accurate and complete?
How to answer: Confirm nothing has changed, such as your name, address or travel, and update the officer if it has.
11. Do you intend to reside in, or maintain a close association with, Australia?
How to answer: Confirm your genuine intention to stay connected to Australia, which is a requirement for conferral.
12. Can you read and understand basic English (for the interview and test)?
How to answer: The interview also gauges your English; for most applicants the test is in English, so prepare to understand and respond clearly.
How to prepare
- Study the official 'Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond' booklet, as every test question comes from it.
- Bring all original identity and residence documents to your appointment.
- Know your travel dates and absences so you can confirm you meet the residence requirement.
- Be honest about any police or traffic matters and consent to character checks.
- Learn the five Australian values questions thoroughly, since you must answer all of them correctly.
- Practise the multiple-choice test format to reach the 75% overall pass mark comfortably.
- Check that your application details are still current and flag any changes to the officer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the citizenship interview hard?
No. The interview mainly verifies your identity, residence and application details rather than testing knowledge. The knowledge component is the separate multiple-choice citizenship test.
Who has to sit the citizenship test?
Most conferral applicants aged 18 to 59 must sit it. Applicants outside that age range, or in certain categories, may have an interview to confirm identity without the test.
What score do I need to pass the test?
You need at least 75% overall across 20 multiple-choice questions, and you must correctly answer all five questions on Australian values.
How can I prepare for the interview and test?
Study the official booklet and run through the likely questions using VisaChief's free AI interview, which helps you rehearse identity, residence and values questions.
See more visa interview guides, or browse all Australian visas and visa forms.