New Zealand offers 3 main pathways to citizenship: by birth, by descent, and by grant. While the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship are largely the same for each, there are a few significant distinctions between the three.

In brief, the differences between the pathways are as follows:

1. Citizenship by birth. After 1 January 2006, citizenship by birth is granted when someone is born here and they have at least one Kiwi parent (that is, someone who holds at least a valid resident visa).  
2. Citizenship by descent is granted when someone is not born in New Zealand but they have at least one Kiwi parent.
3. Citizenship by grant is the usual pathway for long-term residents who have migrated here from another country.

By Birth

Not every child born in New Zealand becomes a citizen. One of the parents must be a citizen or resident at the time of the child’s birth. Those that are eligible for citizenship by birth do not need to go through any type of application process to obtain their citizenship as the status is conferred automatically. Their birth simply needs to registered with the Department of Internal Affairs.

By Descent

Becoming a citizen by descent is also a largely automatic process, based purely on whether or not your parents are valid citizens or residents at the time you were born overseas. However, the birth does need to be registered with the Department of Internal Affairs in order to claim citizenship by descent.

An important point to note is that citizens by descent cannot have children who are also citizens by descent. Otherwise we could have generations of families whose members have never stepped foot in New Zealand, but are still entitled to all of the benefits of being a New Zealand citizen.

This is something to think about if you are a NZ citizen and you are considering giving birth overseas, as it will impact whether your child can then pass on citizenship to their own future children. However, a citizen by descent can apply to become a citizen by grant. This is something you may wish to consider for yourself or your children.    

By Grant

Citizenship by grant is a process which requires an application to the Department of Internal Affairs. You must meet certain criteria of having spent sufficient time spent in New Zealand as a resident; basic English language ability; and good character.

Dual Citizenship

New Zealand allows you to hold citizenship status with multiple countries, which is often referred to as dual citizenship (even if you hold more than two). However, please be aware that many countries do not support this practice and have laws in place to prevent the holding of multiple citizenships.

The ramifications of dual citizenship are important to consider for yourself or for any children you have if you wish to become a New Zealand citizen. You’ll want to research carefully about whether your original citizenship could be revoked; and also whether your child would be disqualified from being citizens of your home country if they are automatically granted New Zealand citizenship upon their birth here. Additionally, some countries require mandatory military service for citizens and many parents weigh this requirement in mind when making such decisions on behalf of their children. 

Temporary Visa Holders Giving Birth in New Zealand

If a child is born in New Zealand and both parents hold temporary visas at the time, the child will not hold citizenship. Instead, they will be deemed to hold a temporary visa to match the length of their parents’ visa. It is best practice to ask Immigration New Zealand for a statement confirming the type and duration of your child’s visa. Please note that this only happens once; and any further visas must be applied for in the usual way once that initial visa expires.

Conclusion

Whether you are a citizen by birth, descent, or grant, you can enjoy the many benefits of being a New Zealander, from access to excellent public services to the freedom to live and work in a beautiful and welcoming country.

Please contact us if you require any assistance with your application for New Zealand citizenship.