Fees and retakes
What the Australian Citizenship Test costs
The Australian Citizenship Test costs A$490 per attempt. You pay when you book, the fee is not refunded if you fail, and every retake costs the same again. Preparing for it is free.
One attempt
A$490
If you fail once
A$490 × 2
Preparing here
Free
The pass mark is 15 out of 20, which is 75%, so you can afford 5 mistakes. Sit a timed mock and find out where you are before you spend anything.
Common questions
- How much does the Australian Citizenship Test cost?
- A$490. That is the fee for one attempt. It is charged when you book, and it covers the permitted attempts rather than a single sitting.
- Do I pay again if I fail?
- Not for the permitted retakes — the test is administered as part of your citizenship application rather than booked and paid for per sitting. What failing costs you is time and a further appointment, and the number of attempts is limited, so practise until you clear 15 out of 20 consistently.
- Is there a cheaper way to prepare?
- Preparation here is free. The whole question bank, every answer and explanation, and the chapter summaries cost nothing and need no account. The only thing you cannot avoid paying for is the official test itself, because only the government can administer it.
- Does the fee include the study guide?
- No. The fee covers sitting the test. Our Common Bond is sold separately by its publisher. You do not need to buy it to prepare: the facts it tests are not copyrightable and every one of them is summarised on this site for free.
The fee and any exemptions above were read from Department of Home Affairs in August 2026. Fees change and only Department of Home Affairs is authoritative. This site is independent and is not affiliated with any government.