New Zealand citizens
New Zealand citizen by birth
You're a New Zealand citizen by birth if you were born in New Zealand. Citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau who were born before 1 January 2006 are also New Zealand citizens.
If you were born after 1 January 2006 in New Zealand, Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau you only have New Zealand citizenship from birth if one or more of your parents:
- is a New Zealand citizen, or
- has residency (for example, has the right to be in New Zealand or Australia without a fixed end date), or
- has the right to live without a fixed end date in the Cook Islands, Tokelau or Niue.
Other New Zealand citizens
You are a New Zealand citizen if you:
- become a New Zealand citizen by naturalisation, registration or grant
- were a British subject and resident in New Zealand throughout all of 1948
- are a woman born outside of New Zealand who married a New Zealand citizen before 9 October 1946
- are a a woman born in the United Kingdom who married a New Zealand citizen before 1 January 1949.
You can also claim New Zealand citizenship by descent from either of your parents if you were born on or after 1 January 1970, or from your father if you were born after 1 January 1970.
Find out more about citizenship by descent
New Zealand residence class visa holders
If you are one of the following you have the right to residency.
Resident through formal application
You are a resident if you have been granted a New Zealand residence class visa through a formal application.
Australian citizens and residents
You are automatically considered to have a residence class visa if you are an Australian:
- citizen
- resident
- permanent resident
and living in New Zealand.
United Kingdom citizens
United Kingdom (UK) citizens who arrived in New Zealand before 4 April 1974 are automatically considered to be holding a residence class visa.
All other UK citizens must meet New Zealand citizenship or residency criteria.
Refugee or protected person
You are a New Zealand resident if you are either of the following.
- A person who has made a claim to be recognised as a refugee or a protected person in line with Part 5 of the Immigration Act 2009, and who is the holder of a valid temporary visa.
- A person who has been recognised as a refugee or a protected person in line with Part 5 of the Immigration Act 2009, and whose application for residence is being processed.
Read Part 5 of the Immigration Act 2009
Diplomats
You are a New Zealand resident for the current academic year if you meet any of the following:
- you have a letter from the Protocol Division of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirming that for the first time you have the right to immunity from jurisdiction
- you are under the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1968
- you are under the Consular Privileges and Immunities Act 1971.
Your residency lasts until the end of the year in which your status runs out.