Types of citizenship: birth, descent and grant

Your children’s citizenship — if you are a citizen by birth

• Your children who are born in New Zealand are automatically New Zealand citizens. Your children’s citizenship is registered at the same time you register your baby’s birth.

• Your children who are born outside New Zealand can register as citizens by descent.

Your children’s citizenship — if you are a citizen by descent

• Your children who are born in New Zealand are automatically New Zealand citizens. Your children’s citizenship is registered at the same time you register your baby’s birth.
• You cannot pass citizenship to any children who are born outside New Zealand. They will need to apply for New Zealand citizenship by grant.
• As a citizen by descent, you may also be eligible to apply for citizenship by grant. If you are successful, any future children you have who are born outside New Zealand can register as citizens by descent.

Your children’s citizenship — if you are a citizen by grant

• Your children who are born in New Zealand are automatically New Zealand citizens. Your children’s citizenship is registered at the same time you register your baby’s birth.
• Your children born outside New Zealand can register as citizens by descent.

If you are a citizen by descent

You may also meet the requirements to apply for for citizenship by grant. If you are successful, any future children you have who are born outside New Zealand can register as citizens by descent.

If you are Samoan

There are 2 ways to apply for a grant of citizenship, depending on when and where you were born.

• If you were born in Samoa before 1 January 1949, apply here: Apply for NZ citizenship if born in Samoa before 1949
• If you were born on or after 1 January 1949, apply here: Apply for NZ citizenship