How to Get Citizenship in New Zealand: Expat’s Guide

Have you ever thought about the process of gaining citizenship in New Zealand? 

I’ve been fortunate to live in many different countries – 18 and counting – from Italy to Switzerland and Morocco, but I’ve never fallen in love with a country as quickly as I did with New Zealand.

After finding a super cheap flight back in 2018, I moved to the land of the Kiwis and stayed for an entire year on their New Zealand Working Holiday Visa. My time there was incredible, and to this day, NZ is arguably the best place I’ve ever lived. 

If I ever leave Canada and pursue citizenship in another country, NZ is where you’ll find me! I’ve looked in depth into the process so I can start the plans the moment I save enough to move my dog.

But can anyone get citizenship in New Zealand? I’ve done a deep dive for you! 

The process is easier than you’d expect, and there are 4 different paths to becoming a New Zealand citizen. Here’s everything you need to know! 

Why Become a New Zealand Citizen? 

Quality of Life  

New Zealand citizens are some of the happiest people in the world due to a combination of beneficial governmental policies and the citizens living there. 

For example, education is totally free for residents from preschool up to their first year in college. 

Healthcare is accessible and nearly free for everyone.

New Zealand has a strong sense of community, and people report feeling secure in the support they receive from society. 

It’s also the second-safest country in the world, so you don’t look over your shoulder when walking around Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, or any small towns on the islands. The only reason to glance back is to take another look at the stunning scenery! 

No wonder New Zealanders report a life satisfaction score of 7.7/10!

Business Freedom 

Countries with an exceptionally high quality of life usually come with a higher tax rate, and while that is true for NZ, that doesn’t stop it from being a stable place for investment and economic growth.

New Zealand is ranked 5th in the world on the index of economic freedom and 3rd regionally. New Zealand ranks high in trade freedom, labor freedom, and government integrity.

The government shows that integrity by welcoming foreign investors, but not at the expense of its citizens. Foreign investors are not allowed to buy residential properties, which stops the housing market from inflating.

Therefore, starting a business or working as a digital nomad in New Zealand comes with a low bar of entry and a lot of opportunity for growth. 

Strong Passport

Obtaining a New Zealand passport is a huge benefit of becoming a citizen and will open new doors for travel. 

It’s the 5th strongest passport in the world, ranking above the U.S. and Canada, getting you into 187 countries visa-free. 

New Zealand also has citizenship programs with 10 other countries and special golden visas that allow residents to obtain EU residency quickly through investment. 

How to get NZ Citizenship: 4 Pathways

There are 4 ways to get citizenship in New Zealand: 

• Birth/descent
• Marriage
• Investment
• Grant. 

Expats usually gain citizenship by grant, but if you have a solid net worth, relatives from NZ, or a lifelong partner from New Zealand, you should explore the less common paths to see if they are a better fit. 

1. Birth or Descent 

To gain citizenship this way, you must have been born in NZ and have at least one parent who is an NZ citizen. 

You also qualify if you were born outside of New Zealand to a NZ citizen or a foreign national living in New Zealand with a permanent residence visa.  

2. Marriage 

Gaining New Zealand citizenship by marriage is a bit of a stretch if you don’t already have a NZ citizen as a partner, but here’s the information, just in case you do! 

Marriage is not technically required, but it does help with getting your citizenship approved. 

The only requirement to apply is that you and your partner live together full-time for at least 12 months.

3. Investment

This is technically a grant citizenship, but I’ve separated it because of its unique requirements. 

It’s officially called an Active Investor Plus Visa. Obtaining this visa allows you, your partner, and any children under 24 to study, work, and live in New Zealand. 

To apply for this Visa, you must: 

• Invest $15 million NZD ($9.1 million USD) in NZ stocks, bonds, or property. 
• Spend 117 days in New Zealand in a four-year period
• Keep your money invested for at least 48 months.

If you have the funds, this visa gives you more freedom to travel in and out of NZ while applying for citizenship.

4. Grant

Grant citizenship is specifically for people without relational ties to New Zealand and limited funds. 

It’s by far the most common path to citizenship for foreigners. 

Therefore, I’ll cover this in more detail below, but here are the basic requirements: 

• Speak Conversational English
• No criminal record or pending investigations
• Live in New Zealand for 5 Years

Next, I’ll cover the grant citizenship application process, citizenship requirements, and the best types of visas to fulfill those requirements.

Requirements for NZ Grant Citizenship

What are the requirements for Grant Citizenship in New Zealand? The three requirement categories are language, character, and physical presence. 

Language 

New Zealand’s national languages are Maori and NZ sign language, but 95% of the citizens use English. You must prove that you have a conversational level of English for grant citizenship. 

If you are from a majority English-speaking country, you’re set. Non-native speakers are still eligible but must provide one of the following documents: 

• School certificate or report
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) form
• Employer reference letter
• University academic record
• University certificate: bachelor’s, diploma, master’s, PhD

Non-native speakers might also need to interview with a case officer if there are any concerns or questions about their English level.

Character

New Zealand is looking for upstanding citizens, so any dings on your criminal record could be an issue. Speeding and parking tickets are okay, but anything over 100 demerit points on your license will raise red flags. 

A more significant concern is if you have any crimes or pending investigations against you, including, but not limited to:

• charges pending against you in any country
• been convicted of a crime in the last 3 years
• any prison time in the previous 7 years
• a prison sentence of 5 plus years
• an undischarged protection order

Physical Presence

You must live in New Zealand for 5 years to meet the physical presence requirements. 

In each of these years, a complete 240 days must be spent in NZ, totaling 1,350 days across the 5 years. 

Now the question is, how can you stay in New Zealand for 5 years? That’s where you’ll need to get a temporary visa.

For more information, read New Zealand’s Citizenship Guidance Document or take a NZ citizenship eligibility check on their website to see if you meet all the requirements!

How to become NZ citizen: Visa Types

New Zealand visas are divided into two classes: Temporary and Permanent Residence. 

The first step to gaining citizenship in New Zealand is getting a Temporary Visa (that’s what I had when I lived here). This temporary visa helps you meet the physical presence requirement before applying for permanent residence. 

There are a ton of different temporary visas available in New Zealand! 

Student Visa 

The Student Visa generally allows you to stay for 4 years while you study, during which you can hold a part-time job for up to 20 hours a week.

You must be able to prove that you have paid for at least 1 course or 1 full year of study when applying. 

You also have to prove that you have $20,000 NZD ($11,800 USD) per year for living expenses and enough to buy a ticket home if you haven’t already purchased one. 

Cost: Starts at $375 NZD ($220 USD)

Visitor Visa

The Visitor Visa is for people who want to do sightseeing, travel, or visit friends in New Zealand. 

You can’t work, but you can take a short-term study or training program, as long as it’s less than 3 months. 

The maximum stay is 12 months, but typically, people stay about 9 months (just long enough to meet the 240-day requirement to continue in the citizenship process.

Cost: $211 NZD ($125 USD)

Student and Visitor Visas are particularly suitable for people who can live in New Zealand with little to no supplementary income. If you don’t have disposable income for living costs, you should apply for a Working Visa! 

Working Visas

Working Visas allow people to work while in New Zealand. These visas cover everything from seasonal jobs to long-term careers, so you just need to find the right one! 

The most relevant working visas for expats are a Working Holiday Visa (that’s what I got!), an Accredited Employer Work Visa, an Entrepreneur Work Visa, a Post-Study Work Visa, and a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. 

These are the most common work visas, but check out New Zealand’s Immigration website for a complete list. They have unexpected categories like “Thai Chefs Work Visa,” so you never know what you could qualify for!

Most of these visas allow you to stay up to 3 years or more, putting you well on your way to getting NZ citizenship.

Working Holiday Visa

If you’re looking for a fun, laid-back year rather than a career, the Working Holiday Visa is the visa for you!

You can travel around New Zealand while working short-term jobs or taking short-term education programs for up to a year. 

The only catch is that you must be under 30 years old and prove that you have enough money to buy your ticket out of NZ when applying.

This way my experience with it.

Cost: $35 NZD ($20 USD)

Entrepreneur Work Visa

This visa is for people who want to buy or start their own business in New Zealand. 

You can stay for 1 year while setting up your business and another 2 years after showing proof of its establishment for a maximum of 3 years. 

A minimum capital investment of $100,000 NZD ($59,000 USD) is required, and you’ll need to submit a detailed business plan when applying.

This visa operates on a points scale, with successful applicants needing at least 120 points. You can get points based on your age, investment, business experience, the location of your business, and the benefits your business brings to New Zealand.

Cost: Starts at $3920 NZD ($2300 USD)

Post-Study Work Visa

The Post-Study Work Visa allows people who studied in New Zealand to roll straight from University into a career. 

New Zealand immigration ranks fields of study on their complexity on a scale from 1 to 10. 

Degrees ranked 7 or higher allow you to get any job in NZ. If you studied in a field below a 7, like engineering, construction, or teaching, you must get a job in your industry.

You can stay up to 3 years on this visa.

Cost: Starts at $700 NZD ($410 USD)

Accredited Employer Work Visa

The Accredited Employer Work Visa is for people who have obtained a job with an accredited employer that guarantees at least 30 hours a week. 

Also, your wage must exceed the New Zealand median wage, currently $29.66 NZD ($17.47 USD) an hour. 

A drawback of this visa is it’s tied to your employer. So, if something changes in your employment status, you must re-apply for a new visa. 

However, one benefit is that if your job is considered skilled work, you could apply this work experience towards getting the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.

This visa is valid for up to 3 years. 

Cost: $750 NZD ($440 USD), but the company often covers the cost.

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

The Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa may be the most difficult to obtain, but if you meet the requirements, it’s worth it.

You can stay in New Zealand indefinitely on this visa, as long as you are working.

To register for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, you will need an invitation to apply, a qualified job offer, and higher education (preferably a Ph.D. or Doctorate). 

The visa selection operates on a point system, similar to the Entrepreneur Work Visa, and to be considered, you must have 180 points or above. These points come from your amount of work experience, your qualifications, and the skill and demand of your industry. 

Anyone between 20 and 55 can apply, but the preferred age group is 20-39. 

Application periods are not indefinite and open monthly, so be aware of the deadlines.

Cost: Starts at $4880 NZD ($2870 USD)

Permanent Resident Visa

Acquiring a New Zealand Permanent Residence Visa is the next step on your journey to citizenship. You only need to spend 2 years in NZ to apply. 

On this visa, you can live, study, and work in New Zealand permanently! 

There are no travel restrictions either, so you can come in and out as you please. 

This visa affords you many of the same benefits as citizenship, so many people stop here. 

The biggest difference between being a resident and a citizen is that citizenship gets you a New Zealand passport. 

Application Process

Once you have met all the requirements, here’s how to apply for NZ citizenship.

For the NZ citizenship application, you must prepare the following documents: 

• birth certificate, 
• passports/travel documents,
• a witness to support your application

Cost: $470 NZD ($275 USD) for adults aged 16 and over

Here is the citizenship application form for NZ. The process is the same when applying for NZ citizenship from permanent residency. 

After you’re approved, you will receive your certificate in the mail or in person at a citizenship ceremony. Only then can you apply for a passport!

Rights and Responsibilities of a New Zealand Citizen

Another reason to change your permanent resident status into citizenship is to truly become a part of this country. Citizens are provided certain rights and responsibilities. 

Citizenship of New Zealand includes benefits like: 

• New Zealand passport
• Social security benefits
• Access the publicly funded healthcare system
• Ability to sponsor a family member’s visa application
• Ability to run for a public office

Citizen responsibilities include:

• Registering to vote
• Paying taxes in New Zealand
• Abiding by New Zealand laws

Does New Zealand Have Dual Citizenship

The good news is that New Zealand allows dual citizenship for all countries! 

Therefore, as long as your home country allows dual citizenship, you won’t have any issues! 

But if your home country is okay with it, and you aren’t ready to renounce your citizenship, you can still enjoy many benefits of living in New Zealand under a permanent resident visa! 

FAQs

How long does it take to get New Zealand citizenship after permanent residency?

Getting New Zealand citizenship takes about 3 years after getting permanent residency. Permanent residency has a 2-year requirement, and citizenship takes 5 years. 

Is it easy to get citizenship in New Zealand? 

Yes, it is easy to get citizenship in New Zealand. The steps you must take are clearly explained on the immigration website, and the language, monetary, and physical presence requirements are more lenient than those of most counties.

Can a foreigner become a New Zealand citizen? 

Yes, a foreigner can become a New Zealand citizen through Grant Citizenship.

Does the US allow dual citizenship with New Zealand? 

Yes, the US allows dual citizenship with New Zealand.

Can I apply for NZ citizenship before 5 years? 

No, you can’t apply for NZ citizenship before 5 years. You must have already spent 5 years in New Zealand to start the application process.

Do I qualify for a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa? 

The most common ways you can qualify for a critical Purpose Visitor Visa are the following: 

• partner or dependent child of a New Zealand citizen or resident without a relationship-based visa
• critical health worker
• humanitarian exception

Final Thoughts

Whew, that’s a ton of info! 

It’s clear that there isn’t one single path to meeting the requirements to apply for citizenship in New Zealand, and the process can seem long and arduous. 

But don’t let that deter you. 

All you have to do is pick one of the 4 paths to citizenship, choose the proper visa to get you in the door, and in just 5 years, you’ll walk away with a passport from one of the safest and happiest countries on earth.

Still trying to decide if New Zealand is the right country for you? Check out my ultimate list of the Pros and Cons of Living in New Zealand! 

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