Form 1290: Australian Citizenship by Conferral — Other Situations

Who uses Form 1290 instead of 1300t

Form 1290 covers three main cohorts. First, applicants aged 60 or over on the day Home Affairs receives the application — age alone moves you onto this form. Second, applicants aged 16 or 17 who are applying independently: children 15 or under are generally included on a parent or guardian's application, but 16- and 17-year-olds must apply in their own right and can't be added to someone else's form, which is why they use 1290 rather than 1300t (they still need parental consent and undergo the same character checks). Third, applicants with a permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity, or a permanent loss or substantial impairment of hearing, speech or sight, that affects their ability to sit the citizenship test — 'permanent or enduring' means a long-term condition where recovery isn't expected in the foreseeable future.

Test exemptions — why they apply

Each 1290 cohort is generally exempt from sitting the standard citizenship test, but the exemption isn't automatic in the sense of requiring nothing further. Applicants aged 60 and over still need to demonstrate they understand the nature of their application and make the pledge of commitment at a citizenship ceremony. Applicants claiming an incapacity-based exemption are typically interviewed about their incapacity before the exemption is accepted, and the Act still requires that they understand the nature of the application at the time they apply. The exemption removes the formal test, not the requirement to genuinely understand what citizenship means.

Documents and what's assessed

Beyond the cohort-specific eligibility criteria, Form 1290 applicants are assessed against broadly the same underlying requirements as Form 1300t applicants — residence, character, and (except where the age or incapacity exemption specifically removes it) the language and values understanding requirements. Applicants relying on the incapacity exemption should expect to provide supporting evidence of the condition, since it's the basis for skipping a statutory requirement rather than a formality — medical or specialist documentation supporting the diagnosis and its permanence is the kind of evidence typically requested. As with 1300t, applying through ImmiAccount is the recommended path, with a paper fallback available for anyone who genuinely can't use it. Standard identity documents (passport, permanent residence evidence, and any prior visa or citizenship records) are required regardless of which 1290 cohort you fall into.

16-17 year olds applying alone

This is a cohort easy to miss in general citizenship guides, most of which are written around the standard adult pathway. A 16- or 17-year-old permanent resident who wants Australian citizenship can't simply wait to be included on a parent's application once they turn 18 if the family wants to apply now — Home Affairs requires them to lodge their own Form 1290, separate from any parent or guardian's application, with parental consent and the standard character checks that apply to any applicant. They must hold permanent residency both when they apply and when a decision is made.

Fee — as at 2026

Public figures for the current Form 1290 charge aren't consistent across sources at time of writing, and none we found were clearly dated to the post-1-July-2026 indexation that lifted the standard Form 1300t fee to $595. What is consistent: the 1290 charge has historically sat below the standard conferral fee, and the same $80 concession applies for primary Pensioner Concession Card holders as on 1300t. Because this figure moves with annual indexation and the public sources disagree, confirm the exact current charge on Home Affairs' Visa Pricing Estimator or your ImmiAccount checkout before paying, rather than relying on a number quoted elsewhere.

Common mistakes

The recurring issues are cohort-specific: applicants assuming the 60+ exemption removes every requirement rather than just the formal test; 16-17 year olds mistakenly waiting to be added to a parent's application instead of lodging their own; and incapacity-based applicants under-documenting the condition the exemption relies on, which can trigger delays while Home Affairs seeks more evidence or arranges the interview. A less obvious mistake is applying under 1290 when the applicant will actually turn 60, or turn 18, before a decision is likely to be made — worth thinking through which form genuinely fits the timeline, not just the situation on the day you lodge. As with any conferral application, using the current ImmiAccount checklist rather than an older third-party guide is the safest way to confirm exactly what your specific situation needs.

Who should use Form 1290 instead of Form 1300t?

Applicants aged 60 or over on the day the application is received, 16- or 17-year-olds applying independently of a parent or guardian, and applicants with a permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity (or permanent loss/substantial impairment of hearing, speech or sight) that affects their ability to sit the citizenship test.

Do Form 1290 applicants sit the citizenship test?

Generally no — all three 1290 cohorts are exempt from the standard test. Applicants aged 60+ still need to show they understand the nature of their application and make the pledge at a ceremony; incapacity-based exemptions are typically confirmed via an interview before being accepted.

Can a 17-year-old apply for citizenship without their parents?

Yes — 16- and 17-year-old permanent residents apply independently using Form 1290, with parental consent and the standard character checks, rather than being included on a parent's application. They must hold permanent residency at both application and decision.

How much does Form 1290 cost?

Public figures for the current fee are inconsistent and none confirm the post-1-July-2026 indexed rate. It has historically been lower than the standard Form 1300t charge, with the same $80 pensioner concession available. Confirm the exact current amount via Home Affairs' fee estimator or ImmiAccount before paying.

What counts as an incapacity that exempts someone from the citizenship test?

A permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity, or a permanent loss or substantial impairment of hearing, speech or sight, that affects the person's ability to sit the test. 'Permanent or enduring' means recovery isn't expected in the foreseeable future, and applicants are typically interviewed about the condition before the exemption is accepted.