For births from 1 January 2006, a child born in New Zealand is a citizen when at least one parent is a citizen or has the right to live in New Zealand indefinitely.
Sources: New Zealand Government — Citizenship by birth, descent and grant
A person born overseas can register as a citizen by descent when a parent was a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant at the time of birth.
Sources: New Zealand Government — Citizenship by birth, descent and grant
Most adults need five years as a resident, 1,350 days of physical presence in total, and at least 240 days in each of those five years.
Sources: New Zealand Government — Citizenship presence requirements · New Zealand Government — Citizenship by birth, descent and grant
Resident visa for investors placing at least NZD 10 million into mixed/lower-risk 'Balanced' acceptable investments (including bonds, listed equities, and qualifying property: new residential developments that add housing stock, or new/value-adding commercial-industrial developments) for a minimum 60-month investment period.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand — Active Investor Plus Visa
Resident visa for investors placing at least NZD 5 million into higher-risk 'Growth' acceptable investments (managed funds, direct investments in NZ businesses; from 1 June 2026 philanthropy capped at 20% of total investment) for a minimum 36-month investment period.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand — Active Investor Plus Visa
New two-stage pathway replacing the Entrepreneur category: invest NZD 1M+ in an established NZ business with 5+ FTE staff for a 3-year route to residence, or NZD 2M+ for a 12-month fast-track. Work visa up to 4 years; applications open since 24 November 2025.
Sources: Business Investor Visa offers new immigration options for investors — Immigration New Zealand
Former self-employment pathway: NZD 100,000 minimum capital, business plan and 120 points for a work visa of up to 3 years, leading to the Entrepreneur Resident Visa (after 2 years self-employment, or 6 months with NZD 500,000 invested and 3 new jobs created).
Legacy investor residence categories: Investor 1 (NZD 10 million for 3 years) and Investor 2 (NZD 3 million for 4 years, points-based with cap). Closed to new applications on 27 July 2022 and replaced by the Active Investor Plus Visa from 19 September 2022.
Where a licence connected to New Zealand can be exchanged, based on mapped official lists. Search every issuing country.
Licence issued in New Zealand
17 mapped destinationsExchanging a foreign licence in New Zealand
The mapped official list contains 25 issuing origins; 25 are listed without theory or practical tests.
Waka Kotahi NZTA — Converting to a New Zealand driver licence (exempt countries)
Exchange normally requires residence in the destination and replaces the original licence. The official authority still decides validity, deadlines, classes, and any extra checks.
This passport benefits from: E-2 Treaty Investor · UK Youth Mobility (expanded AU/CA/NZ tier) · Panama Friendly Nations Visa