20
multiple-choice questions
15 / 20
required to pass (75%)
Late 2027
launches next year
Up to 6
attempts in total
Get notified when DIA releases study materials
Join 127+ subscribers. We only email when DIA publishes the test fee, the official syllabus, sample questions, or our practice tools are ready. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
What's officially confirmed
On 6 May 2026 the New Zealand Government confirmed the design of a new citizenship test for applicants applying by grant. The information below is sourced from DIA's announcement on govt.nz and Beehive press releases. Some details — fee, locations, exact start date, transitional rules — have not been published yet.
| Detail | Confirmed |
|---|---|
| Start date | Late 2027 (exact date TBC) |
| Format | 20 multiple-choice questions, in English, in person |
| Pass mark | 75% (15 of 20 correct) |
| Attempts | Up to 3 initially, then 30 working days' wait, then up to 3 more |
| After 6 fails | Withdrawal of application with partial refund is one option |
| Fee per attempt | Likely yes, amount TBC |
| Locations | Across NZ, specific sites TBC |
| Study materials | Official materials to be released by DIA before launch |
Who has to take the test
The test applies to most people applying for New Zealand citizenship by grant who are between 16 and 64 years old at the time of application. There are several exemption categories, and applicants for citizenship by descent (born overseas to an NZ citizen parent) are not affected.
You must sit the test if
- • You are applying for NZ citizenship by grant
- • You are aged 16 to 64 at the time you apply
- • Your application is decided after the late-2027 rollout
You do not need to sit the test if
- •You are under 16 or 65 or older
- •You have been granted a waiver for the English language requirement
- •You are not of full capacity (legal definition)
- •You have a serious medical condition that prevents you sitting the test
- •You have unique personal circumstances accepted by DIA as preventing you from sitting the test
- •You are applying for citizenship by descent (born overseas to an NZ citizen parent)
- •You are applying from overseas while still meeting the physical presence requirement
Topics covered by the test
DIA has named six subject areas. The official syllabus has not been released; we will update this section when it is. Until then, here is what each area is likely to cover, based on existing public information about the New Zealand citizenship process and similar tests in comparable countries.
The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act
Key freedoms (expression, religion, peaceful assembly, association, movement), the right to vote, freedom from discrimination, and how the Act sits alongside other NZ legislation.
Human rights
The Human Rights Act 1993 and the role of the Human Rights Commission. Anti-discrimination protections in employment, housing, and access to services.
Voting rights and democratic principles
Who can vote in NZ general and local elections, how MMP works, the role of Parliament, and how laws are made.
The New Zealand system of government
The constitutional monarchy, the role of the Governor-General, the three branches (Parliament, Executive, Judiciary), the Treaty of Waitangi as a founding document, and how MMP shapes coalition governments.
Some criminal offences
Specific criminal offences DIA expects new citizens to understand — likely including offences against the state (terrorism, treason), serious driving offences, and offences against people. The exact list will be in DIA's official syllabus.
Travelling overseas on a New Zealand passport
How a New Zealand passport works, what it does and does not entitle you to overseas, dual citizenship rules, and the limits of consular assistance.
How to prepare now (before official material drops)
DIA's official study materials are not yet available. Until they are released (expected before the late-2027 launch), the most useful preparation is reading the same source documents the syllabus will draw from. None of these are published as test prep — they are the underlying material the test will examine.
- The Living in New Zealand booklet — DIA's existing introduction to NZ life, available free on govt.nz. Likely a primary source for several test topics.
- The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 — short, readable, foundational. Available on legislation.govt.nz.
- How Parliament works — Parliament's own visit-and-learn section explains MMP, the Speaker, select committees, and the legislative process.
- Voting and elections — The Electoral Commission has plain-English guides to enrolment, voting types, and how seats are allocated under MMP.
- The Treaty of Waitangi — Te Ara's Encyclopaedia of New Zealand entry is the most accessible introduction.
We will publish a structured study guide and practice questions on this site as soon as DIA releases the official material. Join the waitlist below to be notified.
Frequently asked questions
When does the New Zealand citizenship test start?
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has confirmed the citizenship test will be introduced from late 2027. The exact start date and the cutover for in-progress applications have not been published yet. Applicants who submit and have their citizenship decided before the rollout will not need to sit the test.
What is the format of the NZ citizenship test?
The test is 20 multiple-choice questions, taken in English, sat in person at an approved test location. You need to answer at least 15 of the 20 questions correctly — that is 75% — to pass. Applicants get up to 3 attempts initially. If you do not pass within those 3 attempts you must wait 30 working days before being eligible for up to 3 more attempts. After 6 unsuccessful attempts in total, options include withdrawing your application for a partial refund of your application fee.
How much does the NZ citizenship test cost?
The fee for each attempt has not been announced yet. DIA has indicated there will probably be a per-attempt fee on top of the existing citizenship application fee (currently NZ$560 for adults). We will update this page when the fee is published.
Who has to take the citizenship test?
Most people aged 16 to 64 applying for NZ citizenship by grant will need to sit the test. Children under 16 are exempt, as are applicants 65 or older, anyone granted a waiver for the English language requirement, anyone not of full capacity, and anyone with a serious medical condition or unique personal circumstances that prevent them from sitting the test. Applicants for citizenship by descent (born overseas to an NZ citizen parent) do not need to sit the test, and those applying from overseas while still meeting the presence requirement are also exempt.
What topics will be on the citizenship test?
DIA has named six broad subject areas: the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and human rights more broadly, voting rights and democratic principles, the New Zealand system of government, some criminal offences, and rules around travelling overseas on a New Zealand passport. The official syllabus and detailed study materials will be released by DIA before the test launches.
Where can I sit the test?
Test locations have not been finalised. DIA's stated plan is to make the test available across New Zealand so applicants do not have to travel long distances to sit it. We will update this page when locations are announced.
What happens if I fail the test?
After failing within your first 3 attempts you must wait 30 working days, then you have up to 3 more attempts. After 6 total unsuccessful attempts, options include withdrawing your application and receiving a partial refund of your application fee. You can also wait, study further, and reapply when ready.
Are there practice questions for the NZ citizenship test?
Not yet. DIA has not released official sample questions or study materials. Several independent sites — including this one — plan to publish practice questions and study guides once the official material is available, which is expected before the late-2027 launch. Beware of any site claiming to have real test questions before DIA releases them.
Do I need the test if I'm already partway through my application?
DIA has not yet confirmed how the cutover for in-progress applications will work. If your application is decided before late 2027 you will almost certainly not need to sit the test. If your application is still pending after the launch date, transitional rules will apply — these are yet to be published.
Will the test be available in languages other than English?
No. The test is in English. The English language requirement for citizenship by grant has always existed; the test is a more formal way of demonstrating you meet that requirement. Applicants who already qualify for an English-language waiver will not need to sit the test.
Be ready when DIA publishes the syllabus
Sign up once, get a single email when the official study materials are released and another when our practice tools are ready. That's it.
Related resources on this site
- Citizenship eligibility calculator — find your earliest application date so you know whether the test will apply to you.
- How to apply for NZ citizenship — full application process step by step.
- Citizenship for children — children under 16 are exempt from the test.
- English language requirement — what it is and how the test relates to it.
- All immigration updates — every NZ Government change that affects visa, residence and citizenship pathways.
This page is an independent study companion. We are not affiliated with the New Zealand Government, the Department of Internal Affairs, or any official body. The information on this page is sourced from DIA announcements published on govt.nz and Beehive press releases, and is for general guidance only. Always check govt.nz for your own situation before applying. Last verified 7 May 2026.