Help completing your Census Test

We’re testing our paper and online forms as part of the Census Test. If you got a paper form, we would appreciate you completing this form even if you would normally go online. This will help us make improvements for the 2026 Census.

However, if you got instructions to complete online but would prefer a paper form, you can request one.

You can complete your Census Test separately from other household members. You'll need the Census number displayed on the front of your form.

If you got a paper form but would prefer to complete the Census Test online, go to census.abs.gov.au, select ‘Continue to Census form’ and select ‘Get a Census number’. You’ll need to use a mobile phone to complete this process. 

If you got both a letter to complete the Census Test online and a paper form, please complete it in your preferred way.

You don’t have to complete the Census Test form all at once. If you’re completing the Census Test online, you can save and return to the form after you've created a password. You can set a password recovery option in case you forget your password.

You'll need to use the 16-digit Census number and the password you created to return to the last saved section of your form. 

You can find out more about how to answer questions in the Census Test, why we ask each question and how data on these topics can help inform important decisions and services.

You can ask a trusted person to help you fill out your Census Test form. This could be a family member, a carer or a friend.

Census Pop-up Hubs will be open in selected areas for the Census Test to answer questions about the Census and to help you assist completing the Census Test.

Find out more about getting help near you.

Census staff, including Census Field Officers, make contact with households when dropping off forms or when conducting reminder visits.

Census staff can be identified by the following items:

• Census or Australian Bureau of Statistics identification card
• Census field staff (those who are contacting households) carry a yellow satchel.

You can get support in your preferred language to help complete the Census Test. For more information, visit our language support page.

If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech or communication difficulty, the National Relay Service (NRS) can help you to contact us. Visit the NRS website for further assistance.

Households selected for the Census Test got instructions on how to complete the Census Test.

If you need help logging in, try the steps below.

Your Census number and temporary password are in the Census letter delivered to your household. Your Census number is 16 digits and your temporary password is 9 characters.

Your Census number and temporary password need to be entered exactly as they appear on your letter. Passwords are case sensitive:

• Check caps lock isn’t on.
• Do not put a space at the end of your password. This will prevent your password from being accepted.
• Check you’re using correct upper case (e.g. A) and lower case (e.g. a) letters.
• Check the first letter has not been automatically changed to upper case.

If you’re still having trouble with your provided Census number and temporary password, go to census.abs.gov.au, select ‘Continue to Census form’ and select ‘Get a Census number’.

Once you’ve entered your Census number and temporary password, for security reasons and to protect your privacy, you’ll then be asked to set a new password.

The new password you choose must meet all the following requirements:

• contain at least one lower case letter (a-z)
• contain at least one upper case letter (A-Z)
• contain at least one number (0-9)
• be a minimum of 9 characters.

Your new password must not have more than three consecutive or repeated numbers or letters (e.g. 1234, ABCD, 1111, AAAA).

Passwords must not contain spaces, the Census number, or your temporary password.

You can select 'Show' to check your password while you type it.

Remember that passwords are case sensitive. Make sure caps lock isn't on.

You can choose a way to recover your password in case you forget it and need to reset by selecting either: 

• ‘use my email address’
• ‘use my mobile number’.

We’ll only use your email or mobile number for password recovery, to send a one-time PIN and to send a receipt once you’ve completed your form.

If you prefer, you can choose not to select a password recovery option, by selecting ‘I do not want to provide a recovery option’.

However, if you forget your password and didn't provide a recovery option, you'll need to start a new Census form.

If you’ve set your own password and recovery option, you can reset your password. If you don't have a recovery option, or have forgotten your Census number, you cannot reset your password and will need to start a new form.

To start a new form, go to census.abs.gov.au, select ‘Continue to Census form’ and select ‘Get a Census number’.

If you’ve set your own password and recovery option, you can reset your password. If you don't have a recovery option, or have forgotten your Census number, you cannot reset your password and will need to start a new form.

To start a new form, go to census.abs.gov.au, select ‘Continue to Census form’ and select ‘Get a Census number’.

One-time PIN (OTP)

The Census online form uses a two-factor verification process to set up password recovery, start the form without a Census number, report no one is at your address and get a paper form. It sends a one-time PIN (OTP) to your mobile number or email address.

It may take up to 5 mins to get your OTP. Your OTP will expire after 20 minutes.

To get an OTP to your mobile, your phone number must:

• be an Australian or Norfolk Island mobile number
• start with, +614, 614 or 04
• be 12, 10 or 9 digits in length
• be entered without spaces.

You won’t be allowed to proceed if more than 12 digits are entered.

To get an OTP to your email, make sure your email address includes:

• a @
• at least one full stop followed by a character after the @.

Please check your junk or spam folder if the OTP email doesn’t appear in your inbox.

If you’re still having problems logging into your form, visit our technical support page. You can also complete a technical enquiry form or get in touch with us.

Please contact us to make an enquiry or provide feedback.