New Zealand · Citizenship
New Zealand Citizenship by Grant
New Zealand grants citizenship to residents who have lived in the country for five years and meet presence, English and character tests. Dual citizenship is permitted, and there is no citizenship-by-investment program.
- Startup route
- Business Investor Work Visa
- Minimum capital
- NZD 1 million in an established business
- Permanent residence
- Resident visa in 1–3 years; PRV after 2 more
- Citizenship
- 5 years as a resident, 240 days a year
Citizenship by grant
Adults apply for citizenship by grant after living in New Zealand as a resident for at least the last five years. They need at least 1,350 days in the country across those five years and at least 240 days in each 12-month period, and every visa or permit held during that time must have allowed them to live in New Zealand indefinitely. Applicants must intend to keep living in New Zealand, be able to hold a basic conversation in English and be of good character. The adult application fee is NZD 641. In rare cases, the Minister of Internal Affairs can grant citizenship to someone who does not meet every requirement.
- Residence
- 5 years as a resident with an indefinite right to stay
- Days present
- 1,350 in 5 years; 240 in each 12 months
- Language
- Basic conversational English
- Government fee
- NZD 641 for adults
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed by New Zealand
- Citizenship test
- Required for most applicants from late 2027
Requirements
- Have lived in New Zealand as a resident for at least the last five years.
- Spend at least 1,350 days in New Zealand over five years and 240 days in each 12-month period.
- Hold only visas or permits that allowed an indefinite stay during that period.
- Be able to hold a basic conversation in English.
- Be of good character and intend to keep living in New Zealand.
How to apply
- Check your days present against travel records.
- Prepare identity, residence and character documents.
- Apply to the Department of Internal Affairs and pay the NZD 641 fee.
- Await the decision on the grant.
Dual citizenship and the coming citizenship test
New Zealand allows dual or multiple citizenship, but the other country's law decides whether an existing citizenship survives. Some countries end citizenship when a national naturalizes elsewhere, and some require permission in advance, so applicants are advised to check with their country's representative in New Zealand before applying. No route grants New Zealand citizenship in exchange for investment; investors on Active Investor Plus or Business Investor visas naturalize through the same presence-based rules as other residents.
From late 2027, most people applying for citizenship by grant will need to pass a test instead of relying on the current declaration. It will have 20 multiple-choice questions in English, taken in person, with a pass mark of 15. People under 16 or aged 65 and over, and some others, will be exempt, and those who apply before the test becomes a requirement will not have to sit it. The exact start date and fee have not yet been set.
Questions and answers
Will I lose my current citizenship by becoming a New Zealander?
Yes. The government states that New Zealand allows dual or multiple citizenship, but some other countries do not. Applicants whose current country forbids it may lose that citizenship when they become New Zealanders, so checking with the other country's representative beforehand is advised.
Does time on a work visa count toward New Zealand citizenship?
No. The presence requirement looks at the last five years, and each visa or permit in that period must have allowed an indefinite stay, so time on a temporary visa such as the Business Investor Work Visa does not count. The five-year clock effectively starts once a resident visa is granted.
Can a large investment lead to New Zealand citizenship?
No. Large investments can lead to a resident visa through Active Investor Plus, but citizenship by grant still requires five years as a resident with at least 1,350 days in New Zealand, English, good character and an intention to keep living there. The presence demands are far higher than those of Active Investor Plus.
Official sources
- Presence requirements (govt.nz)www.govt.nz
- Requirements for NZ citizenship (govt.nz)www.govt.nz
- Dual citizenship (govt.nz)www.govt.nz
- Citizenship fees (govt.nz)www.govt.nz
- Citizenship test (govt.nz)www.govt.nz
Reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current requirements with the official authority or a licensed adviser before applying.
Your path in New Zealand.
Startup visa
No startup visa; Business Investor Work Visa replaced the Entrepreneur route
02Temporary residence
Work visa of up to 4 years while running a business with 5+ FTE staff
03Permanent residence
Resident visa after 12 months or 3 years; PRV after 2 years as resident
04Citizenship
Grant after 5 years' residence with 1,350 days present; dual allowed