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 is not refunded if you fail, so the real cost of the test is A$490 multiplied by however many attempts you need.
- Do I pay again if I fail?
- Yes. Each attempt is booked and paid for separately at A$490, so a second sitting doubles what the test has cost you and a third triples it. Practising until you clear 15 out of 20 consistently is the only way to keep it to one payment.
- 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.