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New Zealand citizenship: 1,350 days and 240 each year

Residence & citizenship · Asia-PacificChecked Updated

New Zealand citizenship

Residence & citizenship
1,350 / 240days in 5 years / days in each year

You must be present in New Zealand for at least 1,350 days across the 5 years and at least 240 days in each 12-month period.1

Window
The 5-year period precedes your citizenship application. The 240-day minimum applies separately in each of those years.1
Status
The presence must be with the right to remain indefinitely in New Zealand.1
Both tests
Passing the 1,350-day total is not enough by itself. Every one of the 5 years must also reach 240 days present.1

Worked example

A passing total can still fail one year

  1. Apply on 1 November 2026. One trip from 1 January to 20 May 2024 has 139 days outside.1How we count: The research case counts 139 full days outside, excluding the departure and return dates.
  2. The year from 1 November 2023 through 31 October 2024 has 366 days. Less 139 outside leaves 227 days present, below 240.1How we count: 366 - 139 = 227. 240 - 227 = 13 days short.
  3. The 5-year total is still 1,687 days present, above 1,350. The example fails because one year has only 227 days, showing why both tests matter.1How we count: 1,687 is at least 1,350, but 227 is less than 240.

The rule it rests on: You must be present in New Zealand for at least 1,350 days across the 5 years and at least 240 days in each 12-month period.1 The 5-year period precedes your citizenship application. The 240-day minimum applies separately in each of those years.1 Passing the 1,350-day total is not enough by itself. Every one of the 5 years must also reach 240 days present.1

Questions people ask

How many days must I be in New Zealand for citizenship?

You must be present in New Zealand for at least 1,350 days across the 5 years and at least 240 days in each 12-month period.1

Does every year need 240 days present?

The 5-year period precedes your citizenship application. The 240-day minimum applies separately in each of those years.1 Passing the 1,350-day total is not enough by itself. Every one of the 5 years must also reach 240 days present.1

Is the 1,350-day total enough on its own?

Passing the 1,350-day total is not enough by itself. Every one of the 5 years must also reach 240 days present.1

Does my immigration status matter for the count?

The presence must be with the right to remain indefinitely in New Zealand.1

Sources

1 law, each with its exact words
  1. Citizenship Act 1977, s. 8 · New Zealand Legislation · read 27 Oct 2026
    Exact words present with the right to remain indefinitely "for a minimum of 1,350 days in the five years preceding the citizenship application, and for at least 240 days in each of those five years"
Checked against Citizenship Act 1977, s. 8 on 27 Oct 2026 Updated 26 Oct 2026

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