What Types of Citizenship Exist
There are three main ways you might claim New Zealand citizenship:
- By Birth — If you’re born in New Zealand and meet certain conditions.
- By Descent — If born overseas but at least one parent is a New Zealand citizen (other than by descent).
- By Grant — For immigrants/residents who fulfill specific residency, character, and physical presence requirements.
Requirements & Eligibility Criteria
To apply via the grant pathway, here are the main eligibility rules:
- Permanent or Indefinite Resident StatusYou must already have the right to live indefinitely in NZ (e.g. a resident visa).
- Residency / Physical Presence
- Lived in NZ for at least 5 years under resident status.
- Within those five years, you need at least 1,350 days physically present in NZ, and at least 240 days each year.
- Intention to Live in NZ After CitizenshipYou should intend for NZ to be your home; meaning you plan to continue residing in NZ.
- Good Character & Language
- You must satisfy “good character” checks (no serious criminal history).
- Be reasonably able to communicate in English.
Application Steps & Timeline
- Gather DocumentsPrepare identity documentation (passport, birth certificate), proof of residence history, proof of income or ties to NZ, character documents (police certificates), possibly translations.
- Submit the Application & Pay FeesYou can apply online, by mail, or in person. For adults (16+), there is an application fee (for example ~ NZD $470.20). Children under 16 or under 15 have lower fees.
- Wait for ApprovalThe processing of citizenship by grant typically takes several months (often 3-14 months). You can track progress through government systems.
- Attend a Citizenship CeremonyIf your application is approved, you will be invited to a citizenship ceremony, where you will make an oath or affirmation of citizenship. After this, you can apply for a NZ passport.
How Dogpay Helps with the Citizenship Process & Financial Steps
Applying for citizenship often involves several costs and payments, sometimes across borders. Here’s how Dogpay can reduce friction and improve predictability:
- Document / Translation / Legal Fees Payment Many required proof documents (birth certificates, police certificates, translations, certified copies) need to be paid for—some locally, some overseas. Dogpay allows you to handle these payments with transparent fees and good exchange rate control, reducing hidden costs.
- Fee Payments / Processing Fees The citizenship application itself requires a fee. Sometimes paying via credit/debit card or another country incurs extra charges. Using Dogpay ensures you see the full cost upfront, helping to avoid surprises when international payment or currency exchange is involved.
- Relocation or Travel Costs (if needed) If part of your documentation or processing requires travel or visits (for example to government offices, or obtaining identity verification), there may be travel, lodging, or remittance costs. Dogpay can help with budgeting these, making payments more predictable.
- Maintaining Proof & Payment Records Citizenship applications often need strong evidence (e.g. proof of time in NZ, residence, identity). With Dogpay, you have clean transaction records, digital receipts, which help in showing proof of transactions or paying required fees / processing.
- Managing Foreign or Cross-Currency Income If you are someone whose income or financial ties include foreign sources, converting funds or remitting money may factor into how you maintain residence or proof of financial stability. Dogpay supports multi-currency transfers with better rate transparency, minimizing loss in conversions.
Key Takeaways & Tips
- Start early: begin collecting documents, proof of residence, evidence of time spent in NZ, and translate/certify where necessary.
- Keep good records of entry/exit dates, travel, identity documents—these are often scrutinized.
- Pay attention to the application fee, the currency you’re paying in, and whether there are hidden charges.
- Make sure your English level and character references are in order.
- Use tools like Dogpay for any payment that crosses borders, payment for translation / document services, or when paying processing fees to ensure you minimize extra cost and delays.
