The Labor opposition will reject the Turnbull government's proposed changes to Australian citizenship unless key elements are scrapped, Fairfax Media understands.

On Monday night, Labor's shadow cabinet resolved to oppose the introduction of stricter English language testing and a four-year wait for permanent residents before they can become citizens, it is understood.

The position, to be taken to a meeting of Labor's caucus in Canberra on Tuesday morning, will placate MPs in the party's left faction who were particularly concerned about those two elements of the package.

Labor MP Anne Aly previously told Fairfax Media the proposed English test was "unfair and unreasonable" and should be opposed by Labor, while others including Linda Burney and Lisa Singh have also questioned its fairness.