Form 1300t — Application for
Australian Citizenship

Form 1300t is the Department of Home Affairs paper application form for Australian citizenship by conferral under the general eligibility criteria. This guide explains who can use it, what the eligibility requirements are, and the common mistakes that cause applications to fail.

Form 1300t — officially titled Application for Australian Citizenship — General Eligibility — is the Department of Home Affairs paper form for applying for Australian citizenship by conferral. It is used by adults aged 18 to 59 who meet the general eligibility criteria: permanent residency, the residence requirement, and good character.

The Department of Home Affairs strongly encourages online applications through ImmiAccount, which are processed faster and provide real-time status updates. Form 1300t is the paper alternative for those who cannot or prefer not to apply online. Both pathways lead to the same outcome — assessment against the same eligibility criteria and, if approved, an invitation to a citizenship ceremony.

The application process involves nine steps: confirming eligibility, verifying the residence requirement, gathering certified documents, completing the form and paying the application fee, lodging the application, preparing for the citizenship test, attending the test appointment with photo identification, awaiting the Department's decision, and finally attending a citizenship ceremony to make the Australian Citizenship Pledge.

The residence requirement is the most commonly misunderstood aspect of the citizenship application. It is also the most common reason for applications to be refused or returned.

To meet the requirement, you must have been lawfully present in Australia for at least 4 years in the period immediately before you apply. Within those 4 years, you must have held permanent residency for at least 12 months. You must not have been absent from Australia for more than 12 months in total during the 4-year period, and not more than 90 days in the 12 months immediately before applying.

Time spent in Australia on a temporary visa counts toward the 4-year requirement but does not count toward the 12-month permanent residency requirement. Time spent outside Australia does not count toward either requirement.

Calculating your residence correctly requires careful review of your travel history and visa grant dates. I have seen many applications refused because the applicant miscalculated their absences or incorrectly counted time spent on a temporary visa as permanent residency time. If you are close to the threshold, seek advice before applying.