How do you get your Australian citizenship test appointment, and can you change it?

How do you get your Australian citizenship test appointment, and can you change it?

You do not book the test yourself. Home Affairs books it for you and sends a letter with the date, time and place. If you need a different time, you follow the steps written in that letter.

When does the letter come?

First you lodge your application for citizenship by conferral. Most people aged 18 to 59 on the day Home Affairs receives the application must sit the test, and they get the letter. You sit the test after Home Affairs has confirmed your identity and that you are eligible to sit it.

The wait for an appointment varies. We cannot give you a number, and we will not guess one. Home Affairs publishes citizenship processing times on its website, and that is the place to look.

If you apply from outside Australia, the order changes a little. You are invited to an appointment after you return to Australia. In exceptional cases, Home Affairs may arrange it at an Australian Embassy or Consulate.

What should you check in the letter?

Read the whole letter on the day it arrives. Look for:

• the date and the time
• the full address of the place
• any other documents you must bring
• the steps to reschedule

Write the date in your phone calendar and on paper. Then work out the trip. If the place is far, see where the test is held.

Can you change the appointment?

Yes, if you need to. The rule is simple: follow the instructions in your appointment letter. That is the way to ask for a new time. We do not know any other route, so do not rely on a friend's story or a forum post.

Do this early. You also need time to arrange childcare or leave from work.

If you turn up without photo ID, the appointment is changed to a later date. So bring your ID.

What should you do before the day?

Make sure all your documents are attached to your application in ImmiAccount. If something changed since you applied, such as a new address or a new name, attach the new documents there too. Home Affairs asks for this before the appointment, not on the day.

If you want extra help on the test, such as the Assisted Test, you must have asked for help in your application. The letter will not do this for you.

What if you fail?

You do not need to book anything. Home Affairs books another appointment for you, with no extra cost. You can have up to three appointments in total. See how many times you can sit the test.

A simple next step

When the letter comes, put the date on your calendar, then count the days. Use them well. Take our free practice test this week to find your weak parts in Our Common Bond, and read what to bring so your bag is ready early.