Becoming a citizen of New Zealand is a long, involved process. However, it is worth it to those who want to live in a country that is known for its friendly people, pristine environment, and robust economy.

The first step to becoming a citizen of New Zealand is to obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). You can apply for this online at the New Zealand Immigration website. This will allow you to enter New Zealand without applying for a visa. Once you have the ETA, you must book your flight or boat ticket before traveling to New Zealand. You cannot apply for citizenship until you have been in the country at least six months after obtaining your ETA.

To become a citizen of New Zealand, you must be able to prove that you are able to support yourself financially and provide proof of health insurance coverage while living there. You must also prove that you have no criminal record in any other countries where you have lived before coming to New Zealand.

You will need to take several tests when applying for citizenship: one on general knowledge about the country; one on reading, writing and speaking English; and one on understanding New Zealand history and culture.

How To Become Citizen Of New Zealand

To apply for citizenship, you must have been a resident for at least 5 years, and only travelled out of New Zealand for a short amount of time each year. You must therefore have been present in New Zealand with a Resident visa for a total of at least 1,350 days and for at least 240 days in each of those 5 years. You must also be able to understand and speak English and meet character requirements.

Citizenship applications are assessed by the Department of Internal Affairs, not Immigration New Zealand. These involve an application in the prescribed manner, followed by an official ceremony where the applicant takes an oath or affirmation of allegiance to New Zealand. Once you get your certificate of citizenship, usually during the ceremony itself, you may then apply for a New Zealand passport.

Most New Zealand citizens can also live and work in Australia: see this link for more details.

Can I get dual citizenship?

While New Zealand allows dual/multiple citizenship, your country of origin may not. This would mean you might have to renounce your citizenship of birth in order to become a New Zealand citizen.

Each person’s situation is different. Discuss you case with a Licensed Immigration Adviser today.

Different steps

In most cases, people will become New Zealand citizens through several steps:

1. a temporary (work) visa
2. a resident visa
3. a permanent resident visa after 2 years as a resident
4. eventually apply for New Zealand citizenship after 5 years on a New Zealand resident visa.

Follow these steps when you apply for New Zealand citizenship.

1. Step1Understand the types of citizenshipThere are 3 main types of New Zealand citizenship. The type you can get depends on your situation.Types of citizenship: birth, descent and grant
2. Step2Check you meet the requirementsUse the self-check tool to find out if you are eligible for New Zealand citizenship.Check you meet the requirements for NZ citizenship
3. Step3Get your documents readyWhen you apply for New Zealand citizenship by grant, you need to provide documents to prove your identity, such as:
   • your birth certificate or birth record
   • your passport or travel document.
   Depending on your situation, you may need to provide additional documents.You also need to get an identity referee or witness to support your application.What to get ready before you apply for NZ citizenship
4. Step4Apply and payYou can apply online, in person, or by post.Applying for citizenship by grant costs:
   • $470.20 for adults aged 16 and over
   • $235.10 for children aged 15 and under.
   Apply for NZ citizenship
5. Step5Wait to find out if your application is approvedIt takes about 12 months to find out if your application to become a New Zealand citizen has been approved.After you apply for NZ citizenship
6. Step6Get your citizenship certificateOnce your New Zealand citizenship is approved, you may need to attend a citizenship ceremony. Citizenship ceremonies
7. Step7Get your NZ passportYou need New Zealand citizenship to apply for a passport.Once you are a citizen, you can apply for your New Zealand passport. This is a separate process.