New Zealand - Passport & Nationality - British Nationality for a New Zealander

Both New Zealand and the United Kingdom allow Dual Nationality. This means that a person can hold nationality (and the passport) of both countries.

As a New Zealander, you could be eligible for BRITISH NATIONALITY in the following circumstances:

• You are LIVING IN THE UK on a valid visa and intend to Naturalise as a British Citizen in due course. Read more about British Citizenship through Residency.

• You were BORN IN THE UK* (or Northern Ireland) before 1983. You will have been classified as British Otherwise than by Descent, can hold a British Passport, and can pass British Nationality to your children, irrespective of where these children are born. Read more about British Nationality by Birth.

• You have a PARENT* (a father or mother) who was Naturalised in the UK before your birth, or who was born in the UK (or Northern Ireland) before 1983. Your parent will have been classified as British Otherwise than by Descent, hold a British Passport, and they can pass British Nationality to their children, irrespective of where these children are born. Read more about British Nationality by Descent.

• You have a GRANDPARENT born in the UK (or Northern Ireland). Read more about British Nationality by Double Descent.

• You are UNDER 18, and you have a grandparent or great grandparent born in the UK (or Northern Ireland). Read more about the British Nationality rights of children under the age of 18.

* It gets more complicated if:

• Your parents weren’t married at the time of your birth; or
• You (or a parent) were adopted.

As a New Zealand citizen, you are eligible for the following WORKING VISAS in the UK:

• UK Working Holiday Visa, if you aged 18 to 30.

• UK Ancestry Visa, if you are 17 or older.

• UK Work Permit, if you have a job offer in the UK or specific skills that are in demand in the UK.

 

How do I find out if I have a claim to British Nationality?

We suggest following our 4 STEP PROCESS, designed to simplify the complex laws of British nationality and to avoid unnecessary and expensive application fees, to find your answer:

Step 1: Determine whether you have a Standard Route (birth in the UK before 1983, or a parent born in the UK before 1983)
Step 2: If not, complete our free Nationality Assessment
Step 3: Order a free Status Trace
Step 4: Conduct a Citizenship Report
 

Status of NEW ZEALAND

 

• Up until 31.12.1948, New Zealand (and all its islands, dependencies, mandated and trust territories) were within the British Crown Dominions.
• From 01.01.1949, New Zealand was an independent Commonwealth country.
• The Cook Islands and Niue were associated states from 1965 and 1974 respectively.

Samoa

• From 17.12.1920 until 12.12.1945, Western Samoa (as it was then know) was a New Zealand Mandated Territory in which the Crown exercised extra-territorial jurisdiction.
• From 13.12.1946 until 31.12.1961, it was a New Zealand Trust Territory in which the Crown exercised extra-territorial jurisdiction.
• Between 01.01.1962 and 30.01.1980, it was a foreign country.
• From 01.01.1983 until the present day, it is an independent Commonwealth country.