# New Zealand Citizenship Requirements

New Zealand's usual citizenship-by-grant route requires five years as a qualifying resident, specific physical presence, basic English and good character.

Scope: Selected usual adult citizenship-by-grant requirements; not citizenship by birth or descent, special Samoan provisions or discretionary waivers.

Jurisdiction: New Zealand: citizenship by grant. Sources reviewed 2026-09-17; review due 2026-12-16.

General information, not legal advice or a finding of eligibility. Requirements depend on the route, applicant and filing date. Verify the official instructions before applying.

## Five years as a qualifying resident

Ordinarily, the preceding five years must be under status allowing indefinite residence. Any resident-visa conditions must be met or cancelled. Australian citizens and permanent residents also need five years living in New Zealand under this guidance.

Evidence: conditional. [New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs / Govt.nz: Presence in NZ requirements](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/requirements-for-nz-citizenship/presence-requirements/). Source location: Presence requirement 1: residence visas, multiple permits and Australian residents.

## 1,350 days and a yearly minimum

Within the five years counted back from application, presence as a resident must reach 1,350 days overall and at least 240 days in each twelve-month period. Meeting only the overall total is insufficient.

Evidence: conditional. [New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs / Govt.nz: Presence in NZ requirements](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/requirements-for-nz-citizenship/presence-requirements/). Source location: Presence requirement 2: overall and each twelve-month period.

## Intention to remain connected

Applicants normally intend to keep living in New Zealand. Specified overseas employment or accompanying a New Zealand spouse or partner on Crown service can qualify instead; ordinary plans to settle abroad are not automatically equivalent.

Evidence: conditional. [New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs / Govt.nz: Presence in NZ requirements](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/requirements-for-nz-citizenship/presence-requirements/). Source location: Presence requirement 3; planning to live outside New Zealand.

## Basic conversational English

Applicants need basic conversational English. Non-native speakers provide accepted evidence such as school, employment or language-test records; a case officer may interview them. No fixed IELTS score or CEFR level is asserted by this guidance.

Evidence: conditional. [New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs / Govt.nz: Language requirements](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/requirements-for-nz-citizenship/language-requirements/). Source location: Opening requirement; if English is not your first language.

## Character and disclosure

Good character is assessed separately. Pending charges, recent convictions, imprisonment, protection orders and other specified conduct can affect approval. Required disclosures and any requested overseas police clearances must not be omitted.

Evidence: conditional. [New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs / Govt.nz: Character requirements](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/requirements-for-nz-citizenship/character-requirements/). Source location: Crimes and investigations; declarations; overseas residence.

## Citizenship test planned for late 2027

Currently applicants declare that they understand citizenship responsibilities and privileges. A test is planned for most grant applications from late 2027, not current applications. The reviewed announcement does not yet fix the exact start date or final procedural details.

Evidence: documented. [New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs / Govt.nz: Citizenship test: planned introduction in late 2027](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/citizenship-test/). Source location: Opening announcement; about the citizenship test.

## Scope and limitations

- Residence, physical presence and processing time are different measures. Individual waivers, children and special Samoan routes require separate assessment.
- Recheck the announced 2027 test before applying; no exact effective date is invented and it is not presented as a current requirement.

## Explore this passport

- [Passport rank and travel access](https://multipassrank.com/passport/new-zealand)
- [Tax residence & income](https://multipassrank.com/passport/new-zealand/taxes)
- [Country-profile JSON, including sources and scoped requirements](https://multipassrank.com/api/v1/country-profiles/NZ)
- [Multiple-citizenship policy guide](https://multipassrank.com/dual-citizenship-countries)

[Canonical page](https://multipassrank.com/passport/new-zealand/citizenship)