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Citizenship Residency Calculator

Thinking about applying for Australian citizenship? Enter your lawful residence and permanent residence dates, and your trips overseas, and our free citizenship residency calculator checks whether you appear to meet the general residence requirement, or the earliest date you will.

Key points

  • You must generally have lived in Australia on a valid visa for the 4 years before you apply.
  • The last 12 months of that period must be as a permanent resident.
  • You can be absent from Australia for no more than 12 months in total in the 4 years.
  • No more than 90 days of that can be in the 12 months before you apply.
  • The residence requirement is only one part of citizenship eligibility.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
The date you first arrived in Australia on any visa, if you have lived here lawfully since then.
The date your permanent visa was granted while you were in Australia, or the date you first entered Australia on it.
Leave blank to check as at today.
Trips outside Australia in the last 4 years
Departure date (DD/MM/YYYY)
Return date (DD/MM/YYYY)
 
Add one row for each trip. Use the plus button to add more rows.
Have you been in Australia without a valid visa at any time in the last 4 years?

Answer the questions above to see your result here.

Would you like help with your result?

Leave your details and one of our registered migration agents can contact you about your situation.

Advice

This tool gives general information only, based on the answers you enter. It is not legal advice, it does not guarantee a decision, and the rules can change. For advice on your situation, book a consultation with one of our registered migration agents.

The general residence requirement

To apply for Australian citizenship by conferral, most permanent residents must meet the general residence requirement on the day they apply:

  • 4 years of lawful residence in Australia immediately before applying, which can include time on temporary visas;
  • 12 months as a permanent resident immediately before applying;
  • no more than 12 months in total outside Australia in the 4 year period;
  • no more than 90 days outside Australia in the 12 months before applying.

Time on a bridging visa generally counts as lawful residence, but time in Australia without a valid visa does not.

How this calculator counts your trips

For each trip, the day you leave and the day you return are both counted as days in Australia, and only the days in between count as absences. Only the parts of your trips that fall within the relevant 4 year and 12 month periods are counted. If you are not eligible yet, the calculator shows the earliest date you appear to meet the requirement, assuming you do not travel again.

Other citizenship requirements

Meeting the residence requirement is only one step. You also generally need to be of good character, pass the citizenship test (with a few exceptions), and intend to live in or keep a close connection with Australia. Some people, such as certain partners of Australian citizens and people in specified occupations, may be eligible for special residence rules. See our Australian citizenship guide or complete our citizenship assessment.

Frequently asked questions

No. It gives an estimate based on the dates you enter. The Department of Home Affairs assesses your residence using your travel records when you apply.

Yes. Lawful time in Australia on a temporary visa, including a bridging visa, counts toward the 4 year period, but the last 12 months must be as a permanent resident.

Use the date your permanent visa was granted if you were in Australia, or the date you first entered Australia on your permanent visa if it was granted while you were overseas.

You can be absent for up to 12 months in total in the 4 years, including no more than 90 days in the last 12 months. If you are over either limit, the calculator shows the earliest date you appear to meet the requirement.

No. You also generally need to be of good character, pass the citizenship test and intend to live in or keep a close connection with Australia.

Time in Australia without a valid visa does not count as lawful residence, and it may affect your eligibility. Get advice before you apply.

Related guides

Other free tools

Need help with your visa? Book a video consultation with one of our registered migration agents.