A Comprehensive Guide to Become a New Zealand Citizen

by Ashish Kumar Consultants

Looking to become a citizen of New Zealand? Want to apply for New Zealand Citizenship? Well, annual citizenship conference in London is must to attend to get a greater visibility over the citizenship programs of various countries.

Once you are well-settled into New Zealand you might decide you would like to become a Kiwi. Apart from demonstrating your commitment and loyalty to your new country, citizenships provide you with a range of benefits.

It usually includes the right to travel freely overseas and return on a New Zealand passport, complete access to economic rights, and full advantage of educational scholarships and awards that are actually meant for the Kiwis.

But how to become a citizen of New Zealand?

There are several ways in which one can gain citizenship in New Zealand, which while worth mentioning, mainly concern factors out of one’s control:

• Citizenship by Birth

    If an individual was born in New Zealand before January 1 2006; or
    If an individual was born in New Zealand on or after January 1 2006, with at least one parent being a NZ citizen or a permanent resident of Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau.

•    Citizenship by Descent

If an individual was born outside New Zealand on or after 1 January 1978 and one of your parents was a New Zealand citizen otherwise than by descent at the time of your birth.

• Citizenship by Adoption

It happens if an individual was legally adopted by a citizen of New Zealand.

• Citizenship by Grant

Now, this is the most involved process, and the following requirements include:
    New Zealand residence
    At least 16 years of age
    Physically present in New Zealand for at least 1350 days during the five years of your application, and for at least 240 days in each of those five years.
    Ability to read and write English
    Of good character
    Willing to live in New Zealand if granted the citizenship.

Applying for New Zealand Citizenship

After meeting all the requirements for citizenship, all that is left is to apply for the citizenship. In order to do this, simply complete the application form, and lodge it, along with all photographs, documents and fees, with the citizenship office.

You can easily do this by making an appointment with a case officer at a Citizenship office, simply dropping off the materials in person at a Citizenship office or sending everything through the mail. In order to determine what exactly is required with the application form and photographs, go through the complete list of documents and fees involved in applying for the citizenship.

So are you ready for your new innings in New Zealand? Well, citizenship conference can help you gain better understanding over the terms and conditions to gain citizenship in New Zealand or for that matter, in any other country.