Step 31: The Rest of It...Citizenship

This is it: the final step. After five years of residence, you might qualify to apply for New Zealand citizenship by grant. You’ll have to have spent enough time in New Zealand in each of those five years (240 days each year), have maintained your good character, and be able to speak English.

New Zealand allows dual citizenship; our family will be able to hold both our United States passports and New Zealand passports when the time comes. But some countries don’t allow their citizens to do so. It’s imperative to research the laws in your home country whilst considering a new citizenship. It’s not an easy decision and certainly one to consider carefully. 

What does citizenship grant that permanent residence doesn’t? You’ll be able to obtain and travel on a New Zealand passport, for one. You’ll also be able to stand for elected offices and have full access to education and economic rights. You could also live and work in Australia thanks to the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement which allows citizens of each country to freely live and work in the other. And don’t forget the Cook Islands and Niue—countries in free association with New Zealand, meaning New Zealand citizens can live and work there, and vice versa. 

In a few more years, each member of our family will eagerly stand at our citizenship ceremony and swear that, “I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, Her heirs and successors according to law; and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfil my duties as a New Zealand citizen.”

We’ll not just have moved to New Zealand…we’ll be New Zealanders.

It is an amazing feeling to be a resident of this sweet little country. I’ve listed many of the tangible benefits, such as beautiful scenery, crazy-affordable college, good jobs, fantastic wine, music, chocolate, coffee…. But what makes us so thankful we can live here as long as we want—even become citizens if we wish—are the intangible benefits. The outrageous kindness and friendliness of nearly every person we meet, the vibrant Polynesian culture, the strong sense of community we’re finding everywhere, our kids being given the freedom to be kids, a responsive government, the deeply-rooted values that everyone deserves healthcare, equality, a living wage, and a chance. We love New Zealand and hope you move here too.