Applicants for Australian citizenship by conferral who are 18 years of age or older must demonstrate that they are of good character. This requirement is separate from — and assessed differently to — the visa character test under s501 of the Migration Act. Under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, "good character" generally refers to the enduring moral qualities of a person: whether they are likely to uphold and obey Australian law and honour the commitments they make through the pledge of commitment. A criminal record does not automatically disqualify an applicant — the assessment is holistic and considers the nature of offences, sentences, rehabilitation, and all other relevant factors. Applicants disclose their character history through Form 1563 (Statement of Character) and police certificates, and the application undergoes security and identity checks. This page explains how the citizenship character requirement works, how it differs from the visa character test, and what happens when a character concern arises.

For current character requirement information for citizenship applications, refer to the DHA character requirements for Australian citizenship page.

• Australian Citizenship Act 2007, s 21(3) — citizenship applicants must be of good character at the time of the application and any approved interview
• Australian Citizenship Act 2007, s 24 — the Minister must not approve an application if the applicant is not of good character
• Australian Citizenship Act 2007, s 34 — the Minister may cancel citizenship granted on the basis of information that should have been disclosed, including character-related information
• DHA: Character requirements for Australian citizenship — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship-character

What "good character" means for citizenship

Good character for citizenship purposes refers to the enduring moral qualities of a person — not just their current conduct, but the overall pattern of behaviour and values that characterise them. DHA assesses whether the applicant is likely to:

• Uphold and obey the laws of Australia
• Honour the commitments made in the pledge of commitment at the citizenship ceremony
• Contribute positively to the Australian community

The concept of "enduring" is significant — it means the assessment is not based solely on a snapshot of current behaviour but on the overall moral qualities the person has demonstrated over time. A person who has committed offences in the past but has genuinely rehabilitated may still be of good character; a person who has no criminal record but has engaged in persistent dishonest or harmful conduct may not be.

How the citizenship character assessment differs from the visa character test

The citizenship character requirement operates differently from the visa character test under s501 of the Migration Act:

• No specific threshold: the visa character test under s501 sets specific thresholds — for example, a "substantial criminal record" (sentences totalling 12 months or more) triggers the s501 test. Citizenship character has no equivalent fixed threshold — any relevant character information can be considered
• Holistic assessment: citizenship character is a broader, more holistic assessment that considers the overall moral qualities of the applicant, not just criminal history. Conduct that does not constitute a criminal offence may still be relevant to the citizenship character assessment
• No automatic refusal: there is no category of offence that automatically disqualifies a citizenship applicant (unlike the mandatory cancellation trigger in s501(3A) for visas). All cases are considered on their merits
• Different purpose: visa character is concerned with whether a person should be in Australia; citizenship character is concerned with whether a person should become an Australian — reflecting the higher and more permanent commitment involved in citizenship

What information is assessed

DHA considers the following when assessing citizenship character:

• Criminal history: convictions and sentences in Australia and overseas; the nature and severity of offences; the circumstances; any pattern of offending; whether the applicant has offended since becoming a PR
• Pending charges: criminal charges that have not yet been resolved; an application may be deferred pending the outcome of proceedings
• Association: association with criminal elements, persons of concern, or organisations engaged in harmful activities
• Overall conduct: patterns of dishonesty, violence, exploitation, or conduct harmful to others — even where not resulting in criminal convictions
• Rehabilitation: evidence that the applicant has addressed past conduct — including completion of community service, participation in rehabilitation programs, employment, positive contributions to the community, and character references

Form 1563 — Statement of Character

Citizenship applicants may be required to complete Form 1563 (Statement of Character). This form asks applicants to disclose:

• Criminal charges, convictions, and sentences in Australia and overseas
• Whether they have been refused entry to or deported from any country
• Whether they are subject to any pending charges or criminal proceedings

Failure to disclose relevant information on Form 1563 can constitute misrepresentation — which is separately a ground for refusal and, if discovered after citizenship is granted, a potential basis for citizenship cancellation under s34.

Police certificates and security checks

All citizenship applicants undergo:

• Australian National Police Check (ANPC): conducted as part of the citizenship application processing; the applicant does not need to separately obtain this
• Overseas police certificates: applicants are typically required to provide police clearances from countries where they have lived for 12 months or more (beyond Australia) since turning 16 — the specific requirements are set out in the citizenship application guide
• ASIO security assessment: security agencies are consulted as part of citizenship processing; concerns about national security can result in referral for further assessment or refusal

If the character requirement is not met

If DHA determines that an applicant does not meet the good character requirement, the citizenship application is refused. The refusal does not permanently bar the applicant from citizenship. Options after refusal include:

• Seeking merits review of the decision where review rights exist — citizenship refusals may be reviewable by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)
• Reapplying once the circumstances that gave rise to the character concern have changed — for example, after completion of a sentence, after a period of demonstrable rehabilitation, or after any applicable disqualification period

For current citizenship character requirements, the police certificate guide, and Form 1563, refer to the DHA citizenship character requirements page.

The citizenship character requirement occupies a distinct position in Australian immigration law — it is assessed at a different stage (citizenship, not visa) and applies a broader standard than the s501 visa character test. Applicants who have had visa character issues (including s501 proceedings) and who subsequently apply for citizenship should be aware that the citizenship character assessment will consider their full history, including the circumstances that gave rise to visa character proceedings. Obtaining citizenship after a period of visa character difficulty is not impossible, but it requires demonstrating genuine and lasting rehabilitation — and the strength of that demonstration matters. DHA assesses the totality of the circumstances; a single old conviction that has been fully served and where rehabilitation is well-evidenced is treated very differently from recent, serious, or repeated offending. Character references from community members, employers, and professional contacts can meaningfully support a citizenship application where character is at issue. For current guidance on the citizenship character assessment and disclosure obligations, refer to the DHA citizenship character requirements page.