One of the most common questions migrants ask after securing their New Zealand resident visa is: When can I become a New Zealand citizen?
While obtaining a resident visa is a significant milestone, it’s just the first step toward citizenship. Before applying for citizenship, you must meet specific eligibility requirements, including residence duration for five years, presence in New Zealand, English proficiency, and character requirements.
Step 1: Ensure you meet all visa conditions
Before applying for citizenship, residents must ensure that any visa conditions are either met or removed.
- Residence Visa Holders: Check if your visa has conditions (e.g., Parent Category conditions lasting 5–10 years) and apply for their removal before proceeding.
- Permanent Resident Visa Holders: No conditions need to be met.
- Parent Visa Holders: Must submit a request to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) for condition removal, along with a cover letter and passport copies.
- Skilled Migrant Visa Holders: Must follow INZ’s process to remove Section 49(1) conditions.
- Investor Residence: If the 4-year investment has been maintained, apply to INZ to have the “section 49(1) conditions” removed so that you can be issue a Permanent Resident Visa.
Step 2: Meet the Citizenship eligibility criteria
To qualify for New Zealand citizenship, you must meet the following key requirements:
- Presence in New Zealand – You must have spent a minimum number of days in NZ over the past five years.
- English Language Ability – Basic conversational English is required.
- Good Character – A police check will assess your background.
Presence in New Zealand: How your time is calculated?
One of the most overlooked requirements for citizenship is the presence requirement—how many days you have physically spent in New Zealand over the last five years. You must have been in New Zealand for:
- At least 240 days in each 12-month period within the past five years.
- At least 1,350 days in total over the five-year period.
Common mistakes that can affect your Citizenship Application:
- Being overseas for more than 4 months in any 12-month period will disqualify that year.
- If you miss a year due to excessive travel, you must wait longer to make up the time.
For Example:
If you apply for citizenship on 3 February 2025, the Citizenship Office will count back five years to 3 February 2020. If you were overseas for more than four months between February 2021 and February 2022, that year will not count. You would need to wait and apply at a later date to meet the presence requirement.
Time spent overseas working for the NZ Government (Crown service) may still count toward your presence requirement.
English Language Requirement
You need to demonstrate basic conversational English. If English is not your first language, you must provide proof, such as:
✔ School certificates or reports
✔ IELTS results
✔ Employer reference letters
✔ University degrees or academic records
If a citizenship officer has concerns about your English ability, they may request an interview or a phone call.
Character Requirements
- Likely to pass: Minor offenses like parking tickets or speed camera fines.
- May delay Your application: Having 100+ demerit points on your driver’s license or a pattern of fines.
- Very likely to be declined:
- Pending criminal charges
- Convictions in the past 3 years
- Time spent in prison in the last 7 years
- A prison sentence of more than 5 years (at any time)
- An undischarged protection order
Exceptional Circumstances
If you do not meet a requirement but have exceptional circumstances, you can explain this in your application. However:
- Your application will take longer to process.
- A case officer will assess your situation and may recommend it to the Minister for consideration.
- The final decision is made by the Minister of Internal Affairs—and if your application is declined, the fee is not refundable.
Internal Affairs sets a very high bar for what counts as “exceptional circumstances”. Our experience has been that there must be something truly extraordinary or unusual to qualify. If you wish to follow this route, get professional advice first.
Final Thoughts
Applying for New Zealand citizenship is a major milestone, but preparation is key. Before submitting your application:
✅ Make sure your visa conditions are cleared.
✅ Check that you meet the presence requirement.
✅ Gather proof of your English ability (if needed).
✅ Ensure you meet the good character criteria.
By staying informed and planning ahead, you can avoid unnecessary delays and move one step closer to becoming a New Zealand citizen. Contact us if you need advice on getting New Zealand citizenship.