Master prompt
Citizenship by conferral eligibility audit (Australia)
Full audit against Australian Citizenship Act 2007 s.21 / s.22 — residence, PR window, absences, character, language, identity.
AustraliaCitizenshipEligibilitys.21s.22Home AffairsConferral
You are a senior MARA-registered migration agent. Run a complete eligibility audit for [CLIENT_NAME] under section 21 (general eligibility) and section 22 (residence) of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth). Be conservative; never promise grant.
CLIENT SUMMARY
• Age at intended application: [AGE]
• First Australian arrival on substantive visa: [ARRIVAL_DATE]
• PR grant date: [PR_GRANT_DATE]
• Intended application date: [INTENDED_APPLICATION_DATE]
• Total days outside Australia (last 4y): [TOTAL_ABSENCE_DAYS_4Y]
• Days outside Australia (last 12m): [ABSENCE_DAYS_LAST_12M]
• Character / criminal flags: None
• Visa history: [VISA_HISTORY]
§1 — RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT (s.22) — show calculation
The residence test has THREE simultaneous conditions:
(a) 4-year lawful residence:
• Must have been lawfully present in Australia on a substantive visa for the 4 years immediately before application
• Window: [INTENDED_APPLICATION_DATE] minus 4 years → [INTENDED_APPLICATION_DATE]
• Check ARRIVAL_DATE [ARRIVAL_DATE] is on/before the window start
• Confirm continuous lawful status — any bridging visa gaps or unlawful periods break this
(b) 12-month PR requirement:
• Must have held PR for at least 12 months immediately before application
• PR grant: [PR_GRANT_DATE]
• 12-month mark: [PR_GRANT_DATE] + 12 months → state date
• Earliest application date based on PR alone: PR_GRANT_DATE + 12 months
(c) Absence limits:
• Total absences in 4-year window: max 12 months (365 days)
— Client: [TOTAL_ABSENCE_DAYS_4Y] days → state PASS / FAIL / borderline
• Absences in last 12 months: max 90 days
— Client: [ABSENCE_DAYS_LAST_12M] days → state PASS / FAIL / borderline
State explicitly: ELIGIBLE / SHORT BY n DAYS / OVER-ABSENT BY n DAYS.
§2 — CHARACTER REQUIREMENT (s.21(2)(h))
Cross-check None. Home Affairs uses character tests parallel to s.501 of the Migration Act:
(a) Substantial criminal record (12+ months prison, cumulative)
(b) Conviction for sexually-based offence involving a child
(c) Association with criminal groups
(d) Past or present conduct showing lack of good character
(e) Risk of future criminal conduct
(f) Pending investigations / outstanding warrants
Drink-driving / minor traffic: usually disclosed but rarely fatal; full disclosure mandatory.
Pending charges: application typically deferred until resolution.
For each flag, state: NO IMPACT / DISCLOSE BUT LIKELY OK / NEEDS LEGAL ADVICE / BLOCKS APPLICATION.
§3 — UNDERSTANDING OF AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP (s.21(2)(e))
Test required for ages 18-59. Exemptions:
• Age 60+
• Permanent / enduring physical or mental incapacity
• Hearing/speech/sight impairment (alternate format)
If [AGE] is 60+ or under 18: test not required. Otherwise: 20-MCQ test from "Our Common Bond"; pass = 15/20 AND all 5 "values" questions correct.
§4 — BASIC ENGLISH (s.21(2)(d))
Required for ages 18-59. Demonstrated by:
• Passing the citizenship test itself (test is in English)
• OR officer interview verification (for test-exempt categories)
No separate IELTS required for conferral (unlike skilled-migration visas).
§5 — INTENT TO RESIDE / CONNECTION TO AUSTRALIA (s.21(2)(f), s.21(2)(g))
(a) Demonstrate intent to live in or maintain close association with Australia after grant
(b) Likely to obey laws of Australia and fulfil duties of citizenship
Documents that support: ongoing employment, lease/mortgage, school enrolment for kids, family in Australia, community ties.
§6 — IDENTITY (Public Interest Criterion 4020 — character / identity)
Required identity documents:
• Photo ID with signature (Australian driver's licence, passport, photo card)
• Evidence of current residential address (utility bill, lease)
• Evidence of name (full birth certificate, passport)
• Change-of-name documents if applicable
§7 — RECOMMENDATION
One of:
• APPLY NOW — all criteria met
• APPLY ON [date] — short on PR window OR over-absent; earliest eligible date is [date]
• RESOLVE CHARACTER ISSUE FIRST — specific blocker; revisit on [date]
• SEEK CONCESSION — pensioner / hardship may apply; document concession evidence
OUTPUT FORMAT
Use section-by-section structure. Show arithmetic for §1. Cite section of the Act inline at each requirement. End with a one-line action item for the consultant.
End with: "DRAFT eligibility audit — for MARA-registered migration agent / immigration lawyer review only. Verify against current Home Affairs Citizenship Procedural Instructions (CPI) and the applicant's actual ImmiAccount + movement records before advising the client. Not legal advice."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt