Migrants rush to apply for New Zealand citizenship before new test arrives in late 2027

Migrants who have been holding off on becoming New Zealand citizens are accelerating their applications after the government announced a new in person citizenship test that will apply to anyone seeking citizenship by grant from late 2027.

Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden confirmed the policy on 8 May 2026, ending months of speculation about whether New Zealand would join the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States and Canada in requiring prospective citizens to demonstrate knowledge of the country’s laws and democratic system. The test will sit alongside the existing residency, character and English language requirements rather than replacing any of them.

Applicants will face 20 multiple choice questions and need at least 15 correct to pass. The questions will draw on the Bill of Rights Act, voting rights, democratic principles, the structure of government, certain criminal offences, the rules around travel on a New Zealand passport, gender equality, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of association and protection from discrimination. Officials are still finalising the question bank and a study guide that the public will be able to download for free before the launch date.

Van Velden said the design was deliberately calibrated to match overseas regimes. “People seeking citizenship should understand New Zealanders believe in certain rights, like freedom of speech, or that no one person or group is above the law,” she said when announcing the change. She also described becoming a New Zealand citizen as “a significant milestone in a person’s life and a great honour.”

The government has rejected an online sitting option because of concerns that artificial intelligence tools could be used to cheat. Tests will instead be conducted in person at venues distributed across all regions. Candidates will be allowed up to six attempts in total and will need to wait 30 days after three failed attempts before sitting again. A fee will apply for each sitting, although Cabinet has not yet set the figure. The current citizenship by grant application costs $560 for adults and $280 for children, on top of any new test fee.

Seven exemption categories will apply. People aged under 16, those aged 65 or over, applicants who already qualify for an English language waiver, those who are not of full mental capacity, applicants with a severe medical condition that prevents them sitting the test, people with unique personal circumstances, and those applying for citizenship by descent will not need to take it. Niue, Cook Islands and Tokelau residents and New Zealand government employees stationed overseas will also be exempt. Van Velden said the exemptions were intended to ensure the approach was proportionate, fair, and in line with comparable countries.

The announcement has prompted permanent residents who had previously been ambivalent about citizenship to file their paperwork. Wellington resident Victor Wang, who has lived in New Zealand for 14 years, told 1News he had hesitated because China does not recognise dual citizenship but had now decided to apply before the test arrives. “Because of the new policy coming in next year, it’s kind of forcing me to apply right now,” he said. He suggested an exemption for long term residents who have already shown a substantial commitment to the country.

Auckland software engineer Ankit Sikka, who plans to apply next year once he meets the five year presence requirement, described the test as “just one extra inconvenience” and questioned whether examinations were the best measure of good citizenship. He suggested e learning modules might be a better fit. Auckland permanent resident Jeremy Li said he supported the principle behind the test but wanted language options beyond English, arguing that recognising and understanding the country’s values was the more important goal.

Judah Seomeng, general manager of the ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum and a recent New Zealand citizen, raised concerns on behalf of former refugees. He said the test would be challenging for people from non English speaking backgrounds and for clients who cannot read or write in any language. Refugee support groups have also questioned whether the in person only model will work for clients in remote rural areas where travel to a test centre will be a barrier.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins offered cautious support for the principle of a citizenship test but expressed concern that the announced topic list does not give the Treaty of Waitangi sufficient weight. He has called for the Treaty to feature prominently when the final question bank is published, arguing that an honest civic education for new citizens cannot leave out the document that underpins the country’s constitutional arrangements.

Citizenship by grant has run at tens of thousands of approvals a year in recent years, and immigration advisers expect a noticeable lift in applications between now and the end of 2027 as residents who would otherwise have waited move forward. Internal Affairs has acknowledged the rush and signalled that applicants should allow extra time for processing as volumes grow.

For people already eligible the practical advice from officials is straightforward. Anyone who meets the five year presence threshold and the existing character and English language tests can apply now under the current rules. Those who do not yet meet the residency threshold will need to prepare to sit the new test from late 2027, and the official study guide is expected to be released well before the launch date so people have time to study before booking a sitting.

What do you make of the new citizenship test, and are you applying early to beat it? Tell us in the comments below.