Citizenship application processing times

If you have applied for Australian citizenship by conferral:

• 90% of applications are processed within 11 months
• 90% of approved applicants will have the opportunity to attend a ceremony within 7 months of approval.

If you have applied for Australian citizenship by descent, 90% of applications are processed within 5 months.

If you have applied for Evidence of Australian citizenship, 90% of applications are processed within 22 days.​

This table shows how long it is currently taking to process citizenship applications.

Application type	Period counted	25% of applications are processed in:	50% of applications are processed in:	75% of applications are processed in:	90% of applications are processed in:
Australian citizenship by conferral (general eligibility and other situations)1	From date of application to decision2	5 months	6 months	8 months	11 months
	From date of approval to ceremony	4 months	4 months	6 months	7 months
	From date of application to ceremony	10 months	12 months	15 months	20 months
Australian citizenship by descent	From date of application to decision2	42 days	55 days	88 days	5 months
Evidence of Australian citizenship	From date of application to decision2	1 day	3 days	7 days	22 days

_{¹ The processing times presented for the citizenship by conferral process include applications for which, in the reporting month, either:}

• _{a decision outcome was reached, or}
• _{person/s who were included in the application acquired Australian citizenship by conferral by attending a citizenship ceremony and making the pledge of commitment.}

_{² A ‘decision’ includes applications that have been approved, refused, withdrawn and those that cannot be considered (invalid).}

These percentile figures are intended to provide a guide only.

Percentile reports can be interpreted as follows:

• The 25th percentile – for 24 applications out of every 100, the timeframe was less than the figure shown.
• The 50th percentile – for 49 applications out of every 100, the timeframe was less than the figure shown.
• The 75th percentile – for 74 applications out of every 100, the timeframe was less than the figure shown.
• The 90th percentile – for 89 applications out of every 100, the timeframe was less than the figure shown.

Note: if processing of your application is within the advertised processing times there is no further information that the Department can provide at this stage.

Factors that can affect the processing time of your application include:

• whether you have given us a complete application, including all the supporting documents
• how promptly you respond when we ask for more information or documents
• the time it takes to check the information you have given us
• the time it takes for information from other agencies, usually for character and national security requirements
• the impact of COVID-19 disruptions in your area. This has varied in different locations over time and, as a result, wait times for a citizenship test appointment and a citizenship ceremony vary.

If you applied for Australian citizenship by descent or Evidence of Australian citizenship, we will print and post your Australian citizenship certificate after your application is approved.

For applicants in Australia, allow an extra two weeks for printing and postage of your Australian citizenship certificate.

If you are outside Australia and you did not provide an Australian postal address, printing and postage may take about six weeks. If possible, provide us with an Australian postal address before your application is finalised. This allows us to send your Australian citizenship certificate quickly and securely through registered post.

If you applied for Australian citizenship by conferral, you will generally receive your Australian citizenship certificate at a citizenship ceremony after you have made the pledge of commitment.

³The numbers are correct at time of publication. The numbers come from a dynamic system environment and may differ slightly from previous or future reporting.

⁴Includes children aged 15 years or younger who were included in their parent’s application.