NZ citizenship for children
By birth, by descent, and including children in your application
Children born in New Zealand
A child born in New Zealand is automatically an NZ citizen if at least one parent is an NZ citizen or permanent resident at the time of birth.
| Parent status at birth | Child's citizenship |
|---|---|
| At least one parent is NZ citizen | Automatic NZ citizen |
| At least one parent is NZ permanent resident | Automatic NZ citizen |
| At least one parent is NZ resident (not PR) | Automatic NZ citizen |
| Parents on work/student visa only | Not automatically a citizen |
| Parents are visitors or undocumented | Not automatically a citizen |
Note: If neither parent has residence status but the child is born in NZ and would otherwise be stateless (no nationality), the child may still qualify for NZ citizenship.
Citizenship by descent (born overseas)
If your child is born outside New Zealand and you are an NZ citizen (by birth or by grant — not by descent), your child can register as an NZ citizen by descent.
- •At least one parent must be an NZ citizen (not by descent only)
- •Apply to DIA to register the child's citizenship
- •There is no age limit — you can register at any time
- •The child does not need to have visited NZ
- •Citizenship by descent cannot be passed on to the next generation without the child becoming a citizen by grant
Important: If you are an NZ citizen by descent only (i.e., you were born overseas to an NZ citizen parent), your children born overseas are not automatically eligible for NZ citizenship by descent. They would need to apply for citizenship by grant.
Including children in your grant application
When you apply for citizenship by grant, you can include your dependent children (under 16) in your application. This is the most common pathway for children of RV2021 holders.
| Child's age | How to apply |
|---|---|
| Under 16 | Include in parent's application (reduced fee) |
| 16 or 17 | Must apply separately but don't need to meet full presence requirement if parent is applying at same time |
| 18+ | Must apply independently and meet all requirements |
Requirements for children
Presence requirement
Children included in a parent's application don't need to meet the full 1,350-day presence requirement independently. However, they should have been living in NZ.
Visa requirement
The child must hold a residence visa (they should be included on a parent's visa or have their own).
Ceremony
Children under 14 do not need to take the oath or affirmation. Children 14-15 do need to take the oath at the ceremony.
Documents
Birth certificate (original or certified copy with English translation), passport, and passport photos.
Common questions
My child was born in NZ while I was on a resident visa. Are they a citizen?
Yes. If you held a resident visa (including RV2021) at the time of birth, your child born in NZ is automatically an NZ citizen.
My child turns 16 before I can apply for citizenship. What do I do?
They will need to apply separately. However, if both applications are submitted at the same time, the child may benefit from the parent's presence record.
Can my child get an NZ passport before I get citizenship?
Only if they are already an NZ citizen (e.g., born in NZ to a resident parent). Otherwise, they need to wait for the citizenship application to be approved.
What if my child has been overseas for extended periods?
This could affect their eligibility if applying independently. For children included in a parent's application, the requirement is less strict, but they should have been primarily living in NZ.