New Zealand Citizenship & Passport

Obtaining New Zealand citizenship and a passport could be the final goal of your immigration journey. The good news is that New Zealand allows dual or multiple citizenships, meaning you may not need to give up your current nationality. However, it’s important to check the rules of your home country, as not all nations permit dual citizenship.

One of the key criteria for citizenship is the presence in New Zealand requirements.

You need to have been physically present in New Zealand, as a resident, for a certain amount of time during the last 5 years. The 5 years are counted backwards from the day you apply for citizenship. To meet this requirement, you need to have been in New Zealand for at least 240 days in each 12-month period, and 1,350 days across the 5 years.

For example, if you’ve been overseas for more than 4 months in any one year, or more than 15 months total over the five-year period, you may not meet the requirement.

Children may be eligible for New Zealand citizenship by birth or descent, depending on:

• When and where they were born, and

• Their parents’ immigration status at the time of birth.

Each case is different, so it’s important to check specific criteria based on your family’s situation.

More information is available at the New Zealand government website: https://www.govt.nz