How to apply for NZ citizenship
Follow these steps when you apply for New Zealand citizenship.
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1
Understand the types of citizenship
There are 3 main types of New Zealand citizenship. The type you can get depends on your situation.
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2
Check you meet the requirements
Use the self-check tool to find out if you are eligible for New Zealand citizenship.
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3
Get your documents ready
When you apply for New Zealand citizenship by grant, you need to provide documents to prove your identity, such as:
- your birth certificate or birth record
- your passport or travel document.
Depending on your situation, you may need to provide additional documents.
You also need to get an identity referee or witness to support your application.
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4
Apply and pay
You can apply online, in person, or by post.
Applying for citizenship by grant costs:
- $470.20 for adults aged 16 and over
- $235.10 for children aged 15 and under.
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5
Wait to find out if your application is approved
It takes 3 to 14 months to find out if your application to become a New Zealand citizen has been approved.
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6
Attend a ceremony
Once your New Zealand citizenship is approved, you need to attend a citizenship ceremony.
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7
Get your NZ passport
You need New Zealand citizenship to apply for a passport.
Once you are a citizen, you can apply for your New Zealand passport. This is a separate process.
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