Australian citizenship costs vary by application type, with the standard Citizenship by Conferral (Form 1300t) costing $575 AUD, a Concession fee of $80 AUD, and Children under 16 applying with a parent are free, while Citizenship by Descent (Form 118) costs around $370 AUD for the first applicant as of mid-2025 fee changes, all set by the Department of Home Affairs.
Australian citizenship processing times vary, but generally, the Department of Home Affairs aims to process 90% of citizenship by conferral applications within around 14 months, with significant variation depending on individual circumstances, application completeness, and council ceremony schedules, with some sources showing up to 20 months from application to ceremony. Applications for citizenship by descent are quicker, with 90% processed within 7 months, while evidence of citizenship takes about 17 days.
The "10-year rule" in Australian citizenship primarily refers to a rule for children born in Australia to non-citizen parents, allowing them to gain citizenship on their 10th birthday if they've lived in Australia for most of their life; it also relates to criminal deportation protections for long-term permanent residents (after 10 years). For general citizenship by conferral, adults usually need 4 years of residency (with at least 1 year as a permanent resident).
Submit $760 if filing by paper, or $710 if filing online.
Application Fees for Citizenship Range from $380-$760
If you file a paper application (form N-400) your cost will be $760. If you file an online application the fee is reduced by $50 and you will pay $710.
Who qualifies for citizenship fee waiver? To qualify for a fee waiver, you must demonstrate one of the following: Your total annual household income is at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. You have significant financial hardship, such as medical expenses or unemployment.
To be eligible for U.S. citizenship, you must:
Citizenship application processing times vary significantly by country (e.g., Australia can take 9-11 months for conferral), but generally range from several months to over a year, depending on the nation, application completeness, individual circumstances (background checks), and current demand, with steps like interviews, tests, and ceremonies adding to the total duration. For Australia, 90% of conferral applications are processed in about 11 months, with the ceremony adding several more months, while by descent is faster.
Indian passport or birth certificate. A copy of marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriage. before the offices specified in the Citizenship Rules, 1955 i.e. Collector/ DM/ DC. 3 Form IV, Section 5 (1) (d) • A copy of valid Foreign Passport of the child or parent or which has/ her name is entered.
First, you may be eligible for a fee waiver if your spouse, the head of your household, or you are receiving a government benefit because of your low income or assets. This is known as a means-tested benefit. Examples of means-tested benefits include food stamps, Medicaid, and Supplemental Security Income.
For Australian citizenship, you'll generally need documents proving your identity (birth certificate, passport, driver's license), date of birth, name, gender, current address (utility bills, bank statements), and potentially evidence of name changes (marriage certificate) or police checks, with all documents needing to be in English or officially translated. Use the Department of Home Affairs' Document Checklist tool for a personalized list when you apply.
Despite the five years of permanent residence requirement, you are actually allowed to submit your naturalization application to USCIS within the 90 days before your 5-year anniversary has arrived. The reason has to do with timing.
If you are eligible to apply, here's how to start your naturalization application: Create a USCIS online account at myaccount.uscis.gov. Prepare your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and submit your application to USCIS.
The U.S. citizenship interview usually lasts between 20-30 minutes. The length of the interview can vary depending on how long it takes to verify the information in your application and assess your English and civics skills.
Some of the most common reasons for the denial of an Application for Naturalization (Form N-400) include failing the tests for citizenship, which relate to a foreign national's command of the English language and knowledge of U.S. government.
The most common ways to becoming a citizen are when you: are a permanent resident living in Australia. were born overseas to a parent who is an Australian citizen. were born overseas and adopted by an Australian citizen outside Australia.
Filing too early, making errors on Form N-400, or failing to prepare for your tests can delay or derail your citizenship application. Disclosing criminal history honestly and attending every appointment on time is essential for avoiding denials or removal proceedings.
These are: by birth, by descent, by naturalization, and by marriage. These core categories form the foundation for how most individuals acquire their legal status within a nation.
To pass the test you must:
Make sure any travel does not affect your ability to attend the ceremony, or it will delay you in becoming an Australian citizen. If you plan to travel outside Australia before your ceremony, tell us at your citizenship appointment, or call the Global Service Centre.
FAMILY HISTORY
The processing time for naturalization (citizenship) averages 5.5 months (Boundless updates this information monthly based on our analysis of government data). During this time, as the government works to process the Application for Naturalization, applicants must complete several steps before becoming citizens.
You lied or committed fraud to get your green card, or you weren't originally eligible for your green card when you got it. You left the United States for 30 days or more while you were receiving public benefits. You have been arrested or convicted of a crime or you have committed a crime.
On August 15, 2025, USCIS implemented a new policy for evaluating good moral character (GMC) for naturalization applications. Prior to this change, USCIS primarily assessed GMC by checking for disqualifying criminal convictions or other express disqualifiers.