Citizenship

Citizenship in New Zealand

Citizenship is a technical term used in New Zealand for a specific status that can be obtained by permanent residents after they have lived in New Zealand for a number of years.

In comparison to the resident visa it will give you limited additional rights: Once you are a New Zealand citizen, you can live in New Zealand indefinitely, travel on a New Zealand passport and stand for parliament.

Other than that however, a resident visa will be the right visa for you when you start your life in New Zealand. It will give you comprehensive cover and full entitlement to live in New Zealand.

There are four ways of becoming a New Zealand citizen, only one of them is relevant for migrants: Citizenship by Grant.

1.Citizenship by birth in New Zealand

You are a New Zealand citizen by birth if you were born in New Zealand before 1 January 2006. If you are born here on or after 1 January 2006, you are a citizen only if at least one parent is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.

2.Citizenship by descent

You are a New Zealand citizen if you are born overseas to a mother or father who is a New Zealand citizen otherwise than by descent, or if a mother or father is a New Zealand citizen by descent and you would otherwise by stateless.

3.Adoption

You are a New Zealand citizen if you are legally adopted by a New Zealand citizen.

4.Citizenship by grant

As immigrant to New Zealand you can apply to the New Zealand government to be granted citizenship.

Become an New Zealand citizen by grant

You will have to meet the following criteria to be granted citizenship:

you already have the right to be in NZ indefinitely (you're a permanent resident of NZ or Australia, or you’re Australian)
you’ve lived here for at least the last 5 years
you intend to keep living here
you speak English, and
you're of good character

Please note that citizenship is different to permanent residence. You can ask our Licensed Immigration Advisers if you are unsure about the process of becoming a New Zealand citizen.

Citizenship ceremony

If your application for citizenship is successful, you will need to attend a citizenship ceremony and take an oath or affirmation in English, at the ceremony you will get your certificate of citizenship.

New Zealand passport

You don't automatically get a New Zealand passport when you are made a citizen, but you can apply for one after you have received your citizenship certificate.

Can you have dual citizenship?

Dual citizenship is available in New Zealand, but whether or not it is applicable in your particular case will depend on the law of your home country.

If you are a German citizen and want to apply for New Zealand citizenship you might lose your German citizenship. A Beibehaltungsgenehmigung has to be obtained from the German state before an application for New Zealand citizenship can be lodged, to ensure that you will be allowed to remain a German citizen. Ask us how we can help you with your Beibehaltungsgenehmigung: Email Dr.Carsten Hallwass.

If you want to move to New Zealand and live here permanently, you need to apply for a permanent resident visa.

Find out more about working in New Zealand:

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Ask our Licensed Immigration Advisers

If you want to find out more about obtaining the right visa for New Zealand, contact Julia Cooke, Licensed Immigration Adviser at NZIC.

Ask Julia for a Free Assessment