Passport of New Zealand

A New Zealand passport is an official document certifying the identity and citizenship of the holder. It has a dark blue cover with an image of a silver fern, the symbol of the country. It is issued for a period of 10 years for adults and for 5 years for children under 16 years old.

New Zealand citizens can visit more than 180 countries around the world without a visa, including the countries of the Schengen area, the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition, a New Zealand citizen's certificate entitles you to live and work in Australia without additional permits.

How do I get a New Zealand passport?

There are several ways to obtain a New Zealand passport, depending on the grounds. The main ways to purchase:

1. By birth: children born in the country before 2006 automatically received citizenship. After 2006, only if at least one of the parents is a citizen or permanent resident of the country.
2. By origin: if at least one of their legal representatives is a New Zealander, the child can receive the status even if he was born outside the country.
3. Naturalization: to obtain citizenship, you must have lived in the country for at least 5 years as a permanent resident, know English and have the intention to continue living in New Zealand.

Requirements for candidates:

• for self-submission of an application – from the age of 16; 
• children under the age of 16 can obtain citizenship through parents or guardians;
• permanent resident status for at least 5 years;
• knowledge of English must be confirmed by a school certificate, IELTS certificate, certificate from an employer or educational documents from a university; 
• understanding the rights and obligations of a New Zealand citizen includes a willingness to comply with the laws of the country (no criminal record for the last 3 years, imprisonment for the last 7 years and no more than 100 penalty points on the driver's license), the intention to permanently reside in the country and participate in the swearing-in ceremony (except for children under 13 years old).

Attention 

The country allows dual citizenship, but some countries may require renunciation of the previous one when obtaining a New Zealand one.

The process of obtaining a New Zealand certificate includes the following steps:

1. Obtaining a visa that allows you to stay in the country for a long time (for example, a work or student visa).
2. Residence in the state for at least 5 years with the status of a permanent resident.
3. Applying for the status of a citizen.
4. Passing a compliance check.
5. Taking a test of English language proficiency and the basics of life in New Zealand.
6. Taking the oath of allegiance.

Foreigners should keep in mind that the process of obtaining the status can take several years and requires significant financial investments: from 3 to 10 million New Zealand dollars of investments (depending on the chosen program).

As well as monthly living expenses. These include rental housing (NZ $500-900 per week), groceries (about NZ $300 per week for a couple), utilities (NZ $450 per month) and other daily expenses, totaling approximately NZ $6,500 per month for a family of two.

New Zealand Citizenship Act

The main legislative act is the «Citizenship Act 1977» with subsequent amendments adopted over the past decades. This law defines in detail all possible ways of obtaining and losing, as well as describes in detail the rights and obligations of New Zealand citizens.

An important aspect of the law is the provision on the possibility of having dual citizenship. The Kingdom officially allows you to keep your previous passport and all related rights, if this does not contradict the legislation of the applicant's home country.

Key provisions of the law:

1. The legal status of a New Zealand resident.
2. Obtaining a passport by birth, origin and naturalization.
3. The procedure for renunciation of citizenship and its deprivation.
4. Special cases of granting a New Zealand identity card (for example, for persons who have provided exceptional services to the country).

Additional opportunities 

The law provides for a simplified procedure for obtaining certain categories of applicants, for example, for high-level athletes or artists whose talents can benefit the country. 

Passport documents

To obtain an identification certificate, you must provide the following papers:

Additionally, you may need to:

• marriage certificate (if the surname is changed); 
• certificates confirming the name change; 
• previous certificate of a New Zealand citizen (if any). 

All papers must be provided in the original or in the form of certified copies. An incomplete set of documents may lead to a delay in the consideration of the application.

How much does a New Zealand passport cost?

The cost of obtaining a New Zealand passport depends on the type of service and urgency:

Additional costs may include:

• payment for courier services: $15-25; 
• cost of photos: $20-30; 
• certification of copies of documents: $30-50.

There is no investment rights program in New Zealand. However, investors can obtain an investor visa, which, after 3 years of residence in the country, gives the right to apply for continuous residence, and then for legalization in the republic. 

General investment requirements for an investor visa:

1. Category 1 investment: NZ $10 million for 3 years.
2. Category 2 investment: NZ $3 million for 4 years.

It is important to note that an investment visa does not guarantee citizenship, but only opens the way to it through permanent resident status.

New Zealand citizenship provides key advantages: no taxes on capital gains, donations, inheritance and property, free medical care for all residents, as well as the opportunity to obtain British citizenship under a simplified procedure.

In addition, New Zealand universities are among the top 500 world universities according to QS World University Rankings, while the cost of education here is lower than in Australia, the USA or European countries, and applicants with a New Zealand passport can study for free under the state Fees Free program.

New Zealand is famous for its natural beauty, high standard of living and stable political system. Obtaining the status opens up access to one of the most respected identities in the world, providing opportunities for travel, work and education on a global scale.