---
title: "Citizenship by Grant — 5-Year Physical Presence and Character Requirement"
country: "new-zealand"
service: "citizenship-by-grant"
category: immigration
difficulty: complex
estimated_time: "Document gathering several weeks to several months (overseas police certificates and civil-status records dominate the lead time); processing between submission and approval ranges from 3 to 14 months, with 91% of applicants receiving an outcome within 3 months and 91% of granted applicants granted within 8 months; the citizenship ceremony then adds a further 2 to 5 months"
cost_range: "Statutory application fee under the Citizenship Regulations 2002 (as amended) — current adult and child by-grant fees set by the Citizenship Office; ancillary all-in budget for overseas police certificates and certified civil-status translations adds modestly to the total"
last_verified: 2026-05-21
canonical: https://publicservices.guide/new-zealand/citizenship-by-grant-5-year-physical-presence-and-character-test/
status: current
confidence: low
tags:
  - immigration
  - citizenship
  - "citizenship-by-grant"
  - "residence-based-citizenship"
  - residence
sources:
  - https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/
  - https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/citizenship-fees/
  - https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/how-to-apply-for-nz-citizenship/apply-for-nz-citizenship/
  - https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/requirements-for-nz-citizenship/presence-requirements/
  - https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/requirements-for-nz-citizenship/character-requirements/
  - https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/how-to-apply-for-nz-citizenship/citizenship-ceremonies/
  - https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/how-to-apply-for-nz-citizenship/application-timeframes/
  - https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/types-of-citizenship-grant-birth-and-descent/
  - https://dia.services.govt.nz/presence-calculator/
  - https://dia.services.govt.nz/citizenship-getting-started/
  - https://www.dia.govt.nz/
  - https://www.dia.govt.nz/press.nsf/d77da9b523f12931cc256ac5000d19b6/de01d3276fb311b7cc258d470074a94e!OpenDocument
  - https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1977/61/en/latest/
  - https://www.legislation.govt.nz/secondary-legislation/pco-drafted/2025/261/en/latest/
---

# Citizenship by Grant — 5-Year Physical Presence and Character Requirement

**Country:** 🇳🇿 New Zealand  
**Last verified:** 2026-05-21  
**Estimated time:** Document gathering several weeks to several months (overseas police certificates and civil-status records dominate the lead time); processing between submission and approval ranges from 3 to 14 months, with 91% of applicants receiving an outcome within 3 months and 91% of granted applicants granted within 8 months; the citizenship ceremony then adds a further 2 to 5 months  
**Cost:** Statutory application fee under the Citizenship Regulations 2002 (as amended) — current adult and child by-grant fees set by the Citizenship Office; ancillary all-in budget for overseas police certificates and certified civil-status translations adds modestly to the total

## Required documents

- **Valid or most recent passport** *(Passport, Certificate of Identity, or Refugee Travel Document)*
  - Required: Original current passport. Where a passport cannot be issued, the applicant may use a New Zealand Certificate of Identity or a New Zealand Refugee Travel Document. The travel-document data page is used to verify identity and current nationality.
  - Cost: Already issued
  - _Note:_ Where a current passport is unavailable, contact the Citizenship Office before applying — substitute identity documents typically need to be discussed in advance, and identity-clarification is the most common cause of file delay.
- **Birth certificate or birth record** *(New Zealand or overseas birth certificate)*
  - Required: A New Zealand birth certificate or, for applicants born overseas, an overseas birth certificate or birth record. Overseas records in a language other than English typically need a certified English translation.
  - Where to get: Civil registry of the country of birth; translation by a New Zealand-recognised certified translator
  - _Note:_ Where the applicant cannot obtain an overseas birth certificate (refugee status, country with no functioning registry), the Citizenship Office accepts alternative evidence on a case-by-case basis under the identity-clarification standard in section 8 of the Citizenship Act 1977.
- **Passport-style photograph** *(Passport-style photograph less than six months old)*
  - Required: One recent passport-style photograph meeting the Citizenship Office formatting requirements. The photograph must be less than six months old at the date of application.
  - Cost: Modest passport-photographer fee
  - _Note:_ Specifications are published on the Citizenship Office portal alongside the digital application form. A digital photo upload is accepted in the online flow.
- **Debt declaration** *(Declaration of debt owed to the New Zealand government)*
  - Required: An honest declaration of any money owed to a New Zealand government agency — including outstanding student loan repayments, court fines, or recovered benefits. Declaration is a self-attestation made in the application form.
  - Cost: No charge
  - _Note:_ Outstanding debt is not necessarily a bar to citizenship, but undisclosed debt that surfaces during the character check is treated as a serious adverse-character signal.
- **Convictions declaration** *(Declaration of criminal offences and convictions)*
  - Required: Declaration of any conviction in any country — unless qualifying under the Clean Slate scheme. Declaration extends to any pending charges, any government investigation, any bankruptcy resulting from fraud, any protection order made against the applicant, and any involvement in terrorism, war crimes, crimes against humanity, or the use of chemical, biological, nuclear, or radiological weapons.
  - Cost: No charge
  - _Note:_ If a disqualifying factor is present (a pending charge, a recent conviction, or an undischarged protection order), contact the Citizenship Office before applying. The application fee is not refundable if the application is declined.
- **Identity referee** *(Identity referee or witness)*
  - Required: A New Zealand citizen who has known the applicant and can confirm identity. The referee signs a declaration covering the period they have known the applicant; specific eligibility (citizenship status, length of acquaintance, professional standing where required) is set out in the application portal.
  - Cost: No charge
  - _Note:_ Brief the referee early — they need to be available to sign at the time of submission. The referee cannot be a close family member.
- **English-language evidence** *(Evidence of English language ability)*
  - Required: Evidence that the applicant can hold a basic conversation in English. The standard is conversational competence, not academic proficiency. Most applicants meet this by being a fluent speaker; supporting evidence (references, schooling in English, work in English) may be requested where English is not obviously the applicant's first language.
  - Cost: Already issued
  - _Note:_ A formal English-language test certificate is not required. The Citizenship Office assesses the threshold on the basis of the application as a whole.
- **Marriage, divorce, or name-change certificates** *(Civil-status certificates where applicable)*
  - Required: Marriage certificate, divorce decree, or name-change certificate where the applicant's name on the application differs from the name on the birth certificate or passport. Overseas certificates in a language other than English typically need a certified English translation.
  - Where to get: Civil registry of the issuing country; translation by a New Zealand-recognised certified translator
  - _Note:_ Name-change history matters because the criminal-record and identity checks rely on matching names. Surface every previous legal name on the application.
- **Overseas police certificates** *(Police certificates from any qualifying overseas country)*
  - Required: Police certificate from any country where the applicant resided for more than 4 months in the last 3 years, or more than 12 months in the last 12 years. Each certificate covers the applicant's residence period in that country.
  - Where to get: Police authority of the issuing country, or that country's designated criminal-record bureau; some applicants apply through the New Zealand embassy in the country of residence
  - Cost: Variable per-certificate fee, depending on the issuing country's police authority
  - _Note:_ Lead time can be substantial — several weeks for routine cases, several months for countries with slow record systems. Start this step early in document gathering, not after submission.

## Costs

- **Citizenship by grant — adult applicant (16 and over):** 560 NZD — Fee set under the Citizenship Regulations 2002 as amended by the Citizenship Amendment Regulations 2025. Not refundable if the application is declined.
- **Citizenship by grant — child applicant (under 16):** 280 NZD — Set under the Citizenship Regulations 2002 as amended. Each child has a separate fee — there is no combined family rate. Not refundable if the application is declined.
- **Replacement certificate or confirmation of citizenship:** 134 NZD — Applies where the original Citizenship Certificate has been lost, damaged, or destroyed, or where a confirmation of existing citizenship status is required.
- **Citizenship ceremony fee:** 0 NZD — Local councils do not charge attendees for the citizenship ceremony itself — the ceremony cost is covered by the application fee.

## Steps

### 1. Confirm eligibility against section 8 of the Citizenship Act 1977

- Confirm the visa status: a residence-class visa (Resident Visa or Permanent Resident Visa), Australian citizenship or permanent residence, or Cook Islands / Niue / Tokelau realm-of-New-Zealand status
- Run the presence calculator at dia.services.govt.nz/presence-calculator/ to verify 1,350 days total physical presence and 240 days in each of the 5 separate 12-month windows
- Review the character declarations honestly — pending charges, recent convictions, government debt, bankruptcy from fraud, protection orders, and certain serious overseas matters all need to be declared
- Confirm conversational English ability — a formal certificate is not required, but evidence is helpful where English is not obviously the applicant's first language
- Confirm the intention to continue residing in New Zealand after the grant

> **Tip:** Time on a Work Visa, student visa, or visitor visa before residence does not count toward the 5-year clock. Re-check the residence-class-visa issue date against the 5-year window before assuming eligibility.

_Links:_
- [Presence calculator — dia.services.govt.nz](https://dia.services.govt.nz/presence-calculator/)
- [Presence requirements — govt.nz](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/requirements-for-nz-citizenship/presence-requirements/)

### 2. Gather documents — identity, civil status, character, English

- Pull together the valid passport (or Certificate of Identity / Refugee Travel Document) and the birth certificate or birth record
- Obtain a recent passport-style photograph less than six months old, meeting the Citizenship Office formatting requirements
- Identify and brief an identity referee — a New Zealand citizen who has known you and can confirm your identity, not a close family member
- Request overseas police certificates from any country where you resided for more than 4 months in the last 3 years or more than 12 months in the last 12 years — start this several weeks (or months for slow systems) before you intend to apply
- Gather marriage, divorce, or name-change certificates where the name on the application differs from the name on the birth certificate or passport — with certified English translation where applicable

> **If this fails:** Identity-clarification (missing passport, no overseas birth record, name-change history not fully evidenced) is the single most common cause of file delay. Where a routine document cannot be obtained, contact the Citizenship Office before submitting rather than after.

### 3. Choose the application channel

- Online via dia.services.govt.nz — RealMe login required, applications saved for up to 90 days, 15-minute inactivity timeout (prepare documents before starting); recommended channel for most applicants
- In person at a Department of Internal Affairs office in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch — book a counter slot before attending
- By post using the official paper form — slowest channel, used where online submission is impractical

> **Tip:** The online flow auto-times-out after 15 minutes of inactivity, but the saved application persists for 90 days. Have all documents scanned and ready before starting the form, then complete the flow in a single sitting where possible.

_Links:_
- [Apply for NZ citizenship — govt.nz](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/how-to-apply-for-nz-citizenship/apply-for-nz-citizenship/)
- [Citizenship getting started — dia.services.govt.nz](https://dia.services.govt.nz/citizenship-getting-started/)

### 4. Pay the fee and submit the application

- Pay the application fee at submission — fee set under the Citizenship Regulations 2002 as currently amended
- Submit the application — the lodgement date fixes the 5-year window for the presence calculation
- Receive the acknowledgement (electronic for online submission, posted for postal and in-person)
- Confirm the file reference number — it is needed for any subsequent contact with the Citizenship Office

> **If this fails:** Application fees are not refundable if the application is later declined. If a disqualifying character factor is present (pending charges, recent conviction, imprisonment within the last 7 years, undischarged protection order), contact the Citizenship Office before paying rather than applying and being declined.

### 5. Citizenship Office review — checks, requests, interview where needed

- The Citizenship Office verifies documents and runs the criminal-record and security checks against New Zealand and overseas records
- Respond promptly to any document request or clarification — most processing-time stretches are attributable to applicant response delays, not authority delay
- Where the case requires it, the Citizenship Office may schedule an interview with the applicant
- Status can be monitored through the same RealMe-authenticated portal at dia.services.govt.nz

> **Tip:** The Department's published targets are that 91% of applicants receive an outcome within 3 months of submission and 91% of granted applicants are granted within 8 months. The headline applicant-facing range is 3 to 14 months — plan around the upper end, not the published target.

### 6. Ministerial approval and ceremony invitation

- The Minister of Internal Affairs (or a delegate) approves the application under section 8 of the Citizenship Act 1977
- The applicant receives notification of approval — typically by letter or email
- The applicant's local council, in partnership with the Citizenship Ceremonies Team, schedules a citizenship ceremony — usually within 2 to 5 months of approval
- The applicant has one year from approval to attend the ceremony; missing the year causes the approval to lapse

> **If this fails:** If the ceremony is not feasible within the year (overseas relocation, illness, family emergency), contact the Citizenship Ceremonies Team promptly — citizenshipceremonies@dia.govt.nz or freephone 0800 22 51 51. Overseas ceremonies through New Zealand missions abroad are available in some cases.

### 7. Attend the citizenship ceremony and take the oath or affirmation

- Attend the ceremony scheduled by the local council, bringing the ceremony invitation and any identification requested
- Take the oath or affirmation of allegiance to the monarch of New Zealand — in English or in te reo Māori (applicants aged 14 and over)
- Receive the New Zealand Citizenship Certificate at the ceremony
- Citizenship is conferred at the moment the oath or affirmation is taken; the certificate is the evidentiary record

> **Tip:** You are not a citizen until you have made your oath or affirmation at a citizenship ceremony. Approval is the procedural prerequisite; the ceremony is what confers citizenship — without it, the approval cannot be relied on as evidence of citizenship status.

### 8. Apply for a New Zealand passport

- Once the New Zealand Citizenship Certificate is issued, apply for a New Zealand passport through the Department of Internal Affairs Passport Office
- Standard adult passport processing takes 10 working days; urgent processing is available at a higher fee
- The passport application is separate from the citizenship application — a new application form, payment, and passport-photo upload are required

> **Tip:** If you need to travel internationally soon after the ceremony, use the urgent passport pathway. Without a New Zealand passport, you continue to travel on your existing nationality's passport — which may have visa implications for re-entry to New Zealand.

## FAQ

### Is citizenship by grant the same as citizenship by descent?

No. They are distinct legal pathways. Citizenship by grant is the residence-based application used by adults and children who do not qualify automatically by birth or by descent — typically migrants who completed a residence-class visa pathway. Citizenship by descent applies to children of New Zealand-citizen parents born overseas; it is a registration process rather than a discretionary grant, and the fee schedule is different. If you have a New Zealand-citizen parent and were born overseas, check the by-descent pathway first — it is substantially cheaper and faster than by-grant.

### Do I need to renounce my current citizenship?

No. New Zealand allows dual citizenship or multiple citizenship without restriction. Whether your country of origin permits it is a separate question — several countries do not, and may deregister citizens who naturalise abroad. Check your country of origin's nationality law before taking the oath at the ceremony.

### I have been in New Zealand for 5 years but spent 8 months overseas in year 3. Am I eligible?

You may be, depending on how the 8 months falls across two 12-month windows. The 240-day-per-year sub-rule under section 8 of the Citizenship Act 1977 is strict — spending more than approximately 4 months overseas in any single 12-month window may break the eligibility chain. Run the presence calculator at dia.services.govt.nz/presence-calculator/ to confirm. If you fail by a small margin, the Minister has discretion under section 8(7) of the Citizenship Act 1977 to reduce the presence requirement in exceptional cases. Contact the Citizenship Office before applying.

### How long after approval do I have to attend the ceremony?

You have one year from the date of approval. Failure to attend within that year causes the approval to lapse — re-application from scratch (and re-payment of the fee) is then required. If you have moved overseas after approval, contact the Citizenship Ceremonies Team about overseas ceremony options at New Zealand missions abroad. Email citizenshipceremonies@dia.govt.nz or call freephone 0800 22 51 51.

### Is the application fee refundable if I am declined?

No. Application fees are not refundable. If a disqualifying factor is present in the character declaration (a pending charge in any country, a conviction within the last 3 years, imprisonment within the last 7 years, any prison sentence exceeding 5 years, or an undischarged protection order), the Department's published guidance treats the case as 'very unlikely' to succeed — contact the Citizenship Office before applying rather than applying and being declined.

### I am from the Cook Islands, Niue, or Tokelau — do I need to apply for citizenship by grant?

No. Residents of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau already hold New Zealand citizenship by birth under the realm of New Zealand status, with some limited historical exceptions in Niue and the Cook Islands. You typically do not need to apply by grant. If you are unsure whether you already hold New Zealand citizenship, contact the Citizenship Office before any application — they can confirm your status and issue a confirmation document if needed.

### Does time spent in Australia count toward the 1,350-day rule?

No. The presence requirement is days physically in New Zealand. Time spent in Australia does not count, even if you hold an indefinite-entitlement status in New Zealand or are an Australian permanent resident. Applicants who maintain a New Zealand residence but commute to Sydney or Melbourne for work commonly fail the 240-day-per-year sub-rule without realising. Time on a New Zealand Work Visa before being granted residence also does not count toward the 5-year clock — the practical minimum is 5 years from when your residence-class visa is issued.

### Has the new citizenship test started?

Not at the date of this guide. The in-person multi-choice citizenship test was announced by the Minister of Internal Affairs on 6 April 2026 and is scheduled to commence in late 2027. The Department of Internal Affairs *Te Tari Taiwhenua* homepage carries the announcement. The test is not in force, and applications already in progress are not affected. Applicants planning to apply in or after 2028 should expect this additional step on top of the existing requirements.

## Sources

- [New Zealand Government / Department of Internal Affairs (Citizenship Office)](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — New Zealand citizenship has three legal pathways: by birth, by descent, and by grant. Citizenship by grant is the route for adults and children who do not qualify automatically by birth or by descent. The administering authority is the Department of Internal Affairs; within it, the Citizenship Office manages applications and the Citizenship Ceremonies Team coordinates the post-approval ceremony stage.
- [New Zealand Government / Department of Internal Affairs](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/citizenship-fees/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — Fees for all types of New Zealand citizenship increased on 21 November 2025. Current GST-inclusive fees: citizenship by grant NZ$560 (adult, 16 and over) and NZ$280 (child, under 16); citizenship by descent registration NZ$243; descent + passport NZ$490 (adult) / NZ$387 (child); descent + urgent passport NZ$737 (adult) / NZ$634 (child); replacement certificate NZ$134; renunciation NZ$474. Fees are not refundable if the application is declined.
- [Department of Internal Affairs (Citizenship Office)](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/how-to-apply-for-nz-citizenship/apply-for-nz-citizenship/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — Three application channels are available — online via dia.services.govt.nz (RealMe-authenticated), in person at Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch Department of Internal Affairs offices, or by post using the official paper form. The published checklist names valid passport (or Certificate of Identity or Refugee Travel Document), birth certificate or birth record, passport-style photograph less than six months old, debt and conviction declarations, English-language evidence where English is not the applicant's first language, an identity referee, marriage/divorce/name-change certificates where applicable, and overseas police certificates.
- [Department of Internal Affairs (Citizenship Office)](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/requirements-for-nz-citizenship/presence-requirements/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — The presence requirement under section 8 of the Citizenship Act 1977 has two interlocking parts: 1,350 days physically in New Zealand across the 5-year window immediately before the application is filed, and at least 240 days in each of those 5 separate 12-month periods. The applicant must hold a visa or permit that allowed them to live in New Zealand indefinitely for the full qualifying period. Work, student, visitor, and other temporary visas do not satisfy the indefinite-entitlement requirement. The Minister of Internal Affairs has discretion under section 8(7) of the Citizenship Act 1977 to reduce the presence requirement in exceptional cases.
- [New Zealand Citizenship Office (Department of Internal Affairs)](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/requirements-for-nz-citizenship/character-requirements/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — Applicants must declare any conviction (unless qualifying under the Clean Slate scheme), any government investigation or legal action, any money owed to the New Zealand government, any bankruptcy resulting from fraud, any protection order, and any involvement in terrorism, war crimes, crimes against humanity, or the use of chemical, biological, nuclear, or radiological weapons. Applicants are treated as 'very unlikely' to be granted citizenship if they have pending charges in any country, a conviction within the last 3 years, imprisonment within the last 7 years, any prison sentence exceeding 5 years, or an undischarged protection order. Overseas police certificates are required from any country where the applicant resided for more than 4 months in the last 3 years, or more than 12 months in the last 12 years. The character requirement is governed by section 8 of the Citizenship Act 1977 and operationalised through the DIA Citizenship Guidance Document (current edition: June 2024).
- [Department of Internal Affairs / Citizenship Ceremonies Team](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/how-to-apply-for-nz-citizenship/citizenship-ceremonies/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — The citizenship ceremony is mandatory for applicants aged 14 and over. The oath or affirmation of allegiance to the monarch of New Zealand is taken at the ceremony, in English or in te reo Māori. Citizenship is conferred at the moment the oath or affirmation is taken, not at the moment of ministerial approval. Ceremonies are usually held within 2 to 5 months of approval, run by the applicant's local council in partnership with the Citizenship Ceremonies Team. Applicants must attend within one year of approval — failure to do so causes the approval to lapse. Contact: citizenshipceremonies@dia.govt.nz / freephone 0800 22 51 51.
- [Department of Internal Affairs (DIA)](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/how-to-apply-for-nz-citizenship/application-timeframes/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — Department of Internal Affairs published targets: 91% of applicants receive an outcome within 3 months of submitting their application; 91% of applicants who are granted citizenship are granted within 8 months of submitting their application. Cases falling under the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 or other specialist provisions may take longer.
- [New Zealand Government (Department of Internal Affairs)](https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/types-of-citizenship-grant-birth-and-descent/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — New Zealand allows dual citizenship or multiple citizenship without restriction, although some other countries do not. Children born in New Zealand before 1 January 2006 are New Zealand citizens by birth automatically; children born from 1 January 2006 onwards acquire citizenship by birth only where at least one parent is a New Zealand citizen or is entitled to be in New Zealand indefinitely. Citizenship by descent applies to children of New Zealand-citizen parents born overseas — a distinct pathway from citizenship by grant.
- [Department of Internal Affairs (DIA)](https://dia.services.govt.nz/presence-calculator/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — The online presence calculator at dia.services.govt.nz/presence-calculator/ draws on the applicant's travel and visa history held by Immigration New Zealand to confirm whether the 1,350-day total and 240-day-per-year sub-rule are met. Run the calculator before applying — short business trips, transit days, and time spent in Australia all count as absence from New Zealand.
- [Department of Internal Affairs](https://dia.services.govt.nz/citizenship-getting-started/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — The online citizenship application is authenticated via RealMe. Applications can be saved for up to 90 days. Typical completion time is around 20 minutes once documents are gathered; the portal auto-times-out after 15 minutes of inactivity, so prepare documents before starting.
- [Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua](https://www.dia.govt.nz/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — The Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua homepage carries the announcement that an in-person multi-choice citizenship test will be introduced for citizenship by grant applicants from late 2027. The announcement was made by the Minister of Internal Affairs on 6 April 2026. The test is not in force at the date of access and does not apply to applications already in progress.
- [Department of Internal Affairs (Adrian Jarvis, General Manager Services and Access)](https://www.dia.govt.nz/press.nsf/d77da9b523f12931cc256ac5000d19b6/de01d3276fb311b7cc258d470074a94e!OpenDocument) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — Department of Internal Affairs press release dated 20 November 2025 announcing the fee increase taking effect 21 November 2025. New fees: adult by grant NZ$560 (from NZ$470.20); child by grant NZ$280 (from NZ$235.10); descent NZ$243 (from NZ$204.40). Citizenship fees had remained unchanged for 22 years; the 19% adjustment ensures fees cover the full cost of delivering citizenship services in a sustainable way.
- [Parliamentary Counsel Office — Citizenship Act 1977](https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1977/61/en/latest/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — Citizenship Act 1977 (No 61) is the principal statute governing New Zealand citizenship by grant. Section 8 sets the grant requirements (indefinite-entitlement visa status, 1,350-day physical presence across 5 years with 240 days in each year, good character, sufficient knowledge of English, sufficient knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges attached to citizenship, intention to continue residing in New Zealand). Section 8(7) gives the Minister discretion to reduce the presence requirement. Section 9(1)(c) gives a separate public-interest discretion. Section 28 is the regulation-making power.
- [Parliamentary Counsel Office — Citizenship Amendment Regulations 2025](https://www.legislation.govt.nz/secondary-legislation/pco-drafted/2025/261/en/latest/) — accessed 2026-05-21 — _T1_ — Citizenship Amendment Regulations 2025 (SL 2025/261) were made at Wellington on 17 November 2025 by the Administrator of the Government on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council, under section 28 of the Citizenship Act 1977. The substantive effect is an amendment to the fee schedule in the Citizenship Regulations 2002, taking effect 21 November 2025. SL 2025/261 did not amend the substantive presence, character, language, or intention rules under section 8 of the Citizenship Act 1977 — those requirements remain as they were before the fee schedule update.

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Verification pending — see the canonical page for the latest trust state.
Canonical: https://publicservices.guide/new-zealand/citizenship-by-grant-5-year-physical-presence-and-character-test/