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NZ Citizenship
Gaining NZ citizenship can be a confusing process, but it can change your life for the better. We at ASIC are committed to helping you understand the pathways to citizenship to determine the best option for you. New Zealand allows dual citizenship, so you may be able to apply for New Zealand citizenship without having to give up citizenship with your home country.
To become a citizen, you must meet all the requirements set out by the Citizen Act 1977. Separate rules also apply to children under 16, and special cases may be handled by the Minister of Internal Affairs. If your child was born in another country, they may be eligible for dual citizenship.
New Zealand Citizenship Requirements for Dual Nationality
To be eligible to be an NZ citizen, you will need to meet these requirements:
- Be a NZ resident by holding a permanent visa for residency.
- You lived in New Zealand as a resident for at least five years before you applied. You must have spent at least 240 days in New Zealand during each of those five years, with your total number of days spent in NZ being 1,350 days or more.
- Be able to speak and understand basic English.
- Be of good character.
- You must intend to live in NZ as a New Zealander once your citizenship is granted.
Why Become a New Zealand Citizen? - Advantages Of Dual Citizenship
Dual citizenship has plenty of benefits, ranging from being able to travel with a New Zealand passport to having access to certain educational scholarships. Please note that New Zealand does recognise dual nationality, meaning you can be a citizen of New Zealand and another country at the same time. So, you will be able to keep your current country’s passport as well as your New Zealand passport. There are no restrictions to New Zealand citizens also holding citizenship of another country, so you do not have to stress about extra regulations for your dual citizenship.
However, not all countries recognise dual citizenship, so you will want to check if your current country does or not. While you have the right to hold a passport from both countries in New Zealand, your home country may not allow it. If your country does not allow for dual passport holders, then you will need to decide whether to become an NZ citizen or remain with your country.
How We at ASIC Can Help
The road to citizenship can be complex, so our team is here to help. We invite you to contact our team to tell us about your goals and situation or to continue exploring our ASIC website to learn more about how we can assist you with your journey.