The guide will be modelled on a British booklet called Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey To Citizenship, News Ltd papers report.

The booklet, which will be printed in English, will be compulsory reading for anyone preparing to take the proposed citizenship test.

New legislation outlining citizenship requirements is due to be introduced this year by Andrew Robb, the parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

A new test will comprise a written English language exam and 30 multiple choice questions dealing with Australian life and values.

The questions will be randomly generated from a pool of 200.

A recent Newspoll found 85 per cent of Australians support the idea of a test that requires applicants to have a working level of English.