Citizenship guides

Presence requirements

To qualify for NZ citizenship by grant, you must meet two physical presence requirements during the 5 years immediately before your application date:

In practice

• •You cannot be outside NZ for more than 125 days in any single 12-month period
• •You cannot be outside NZ for more than about 475 days total across 5 years (1,826 minus 1,350)
• •The 5-year period is counted backwards from when you submit your application
• •Each 12-month period starts from your residence visa grant date anniversary

2021 Resident Visa (RV2021) to citizenship

The 2021 Resident Visa was a one-off pathway for migrants affected by COVID-19. Over 200,000 people applied, with approvals processed from March 2022.

Timeline

DIA expects a significant increase in citizenship applications from 2027 as RV2021 holders reach the 5-year mark. Nearly 40,000 people were granted citizenship in the year to June 2024 — this number is expected to surge.

Travel planning for citizenship

You can travel while working toward citizenship, but you need to plan carefully.

Tips

• •Keep a detailed log of all your travel dates — you will need this for your application
• •Use the calculator regularly to check your remaining travel budget
• •Consider getting your Permanent Resident Visa first (after 2 years) for unlimited travel
• •The 12-month periods are fixed from your visa grant date, not calendar years
• •Short trips add up — even a 2-week holiday is 14 days off your budget

Resident Visa vs Permanent Resident Visa

These are different visas. You do not need a Permanent Resident Visa to apply for citizenship.

A standard Resident Visa is sufficient for citizenship. You do not need to upgrade to a Permanent Resident Visa before applying.