Citizenship grants

Between 1 January and 31 December 2023, a total of 35,985 people were approved to be granted New Zealand citizenship. The table below provides the number of applications considered for a grant of citizenship under section 9(1)(c) from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023. No applications were considered under 9(1)(d) – Statelessness.

Approved

Not approved

1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023

42

34

8

Types of Section 9(1)(c) applications

The table below details the standard requirements that were not met for consideration under section 9(1)(c).

Requirement(s) not met

Number considered

Full capacity* not met

Presence not met due to applying early – sports representatives

Presence not met due to travel – work related

Presence not met due to travel – non-work related

Presence and intention not met

Good character not met

TOTALS

42

34

8

The data is grouped by calendar year based on when an application was considered by the Minister of Internal Affairs or their delegate. These figures have been manually compiled and therefore may be subject to error.

*As defined in the Citizenship Act 1977, a person shall be deemed to be of full capacity if not of unsound mind. Where an applicant is not of full capacity to make decisions about their citizenship status on their own, the Minister considers an application presented on their behalf by their duly-appointed Welfare Guardian.

January – December 2022 figures

Between 1 January and 31 December 2022, a total of 46,845 people were approved to be granted New Zealand citizenship. The table below provides the number of applications considered for a grant of citizenship under section 9(1)(c) from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022.

Approved

Not approved

1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022

20

11

9

Types of Section 9(1)(c) applications

The table below details the standard requirements that were not met for consideration under section 9(1)(c).

Requirement(s) not met

Number considered

Entitlement not met

Presence not met due to applying early – sports representatives

Presence not met due to travel – work related

Presence not met due to travel – non-work related

Presence and intention not met

TOTALS

20

11

9

The data is grouped by calendar year based on when an application was considered by the Minister of Internal Affairs or their delegate. These figures have been manually compiled and therefore may be subject to error.

*As defined in the Citizenship Act 1977, a person shall be deemed to be of full capacity if not of unsound mind. Where an applicant is not of full capacity to make decisions about their citizenship status on their own, the Minister considers an application presented on their behalf by their duly-appointed Welfare Guardian.

January – December 2021 figures

Between 1 January and 31 December 2021, a total of 17,760 people were approved to be granted New Zealand citizenship. The table below provides the number of applications considered for a grant of citizenship under section 9(1)(c) from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021.

Approved

Not approved

1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021

48

20

28

Types of Section 9(1)(c) applications

The table below details the standard requirements that were not met for consideration under section 9(1)(c).

Requirement(s) not met

Number considered

Entitlement not met

Presence not met due to applying early

Presence not met due to applying early – sports representatives

Presence not met due to travel – work related

Presence not met due to travel – non-work related

Presence and intention not met

Intention not met

English requirement not met

English and Responsibilities and Privileges not met

Good character not met

Full capacity* not met

TOTALS

48

20

28

The data is grouped by calendar year based on when an application was considered by the Minister of Internal Affairs or their delegate. These figures have been manually compiled and therefore may be subject to error.

*As defined in the Citizenship Act 1977, a person shall be deemed to be of full capacity if not of unsound mind. Where an applicant is not of full capacity to make decisions about their citizenship status on their own, the Minister considers an application presented on their behalf by their duly-appointed Welfare Guardian.

January – December 2020 figures

Released 10 November 2021:

Between 1 January and 31 December 2020, a total of 20,491 people were approved to be granted New Zealand citizenship. The table below provides the number of applications considered for a grant of citizenship under section 9(1)(c) from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020.

Approved

Not approved

1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020

74

38

36

Types of Section 9(1)(c) applications

The table below details the standard requirements that were not met for consideration under section 9(1)(c).

Requirement(s) not met

Number considered