NZ citizenship if you are adopted

Born in or before 1977

You are likely to be a New Zealand citizen by birth.

Born between 1978 and 2005

You are automatically a New Zealand citizen by birth.

Born in or after 2006

You are a New Zealand citizen by birth if one of the following situations is true for you:

Situation 1: When you were born

At the time of your birth, at least 1 of your biological parents was:

• a New Zealand citizen, or
• entitled to live in New Zealand indefinitely.

Situation 2: When you were adopted

At the time of your adoption, at least 1 of your adoptive parents was:

• a New Zealand citizen, or
• entitled to live in New Zealand indefinitely. 

Adopted in or before 1948

Contact the Citizenship Office to check your citizenship status.

Adopted between 1949 and 2005, inclusive

You are automatically a New Zealand citizen by birth if, at the time of your adoption, at least 1 of your adoptive parents was a New Zealand citizen.

For your citizenship to be official, you need the certificate confirming you are ‘a citizen otherwise than by descent’. To get your certificate, contact the Citizenship Office below.

Born before and adopted after 1 January 2006

You are automatically a New Zealand citizen by birth if, at the time of your adoption, at least 1 of your adoptive parents was:

• a New Zealand citizen, or
• entitled to live in New Zealand indefinitely.

For your citizenship to be official, you need the certificate confirming you are ‘a citizen otherwise than by descent’. To get your certificate, contact the Citizenship Office below.

Born and adopted on or after 1 January 2006

You are automatically a New Zealand citizen by birth if, at the time of your adoption, at least 1 of your adoptive parents was:

• a New Zealand citizen, or
• entitled to live in New Zealand indefinitely.

Your birth certificate is the official confirmation that you are New Zealand citizen. To get your certificate, contact Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Adopted in or before 1977

Contact the Citizenship Office below to check your citizenship status.

Adopted on or after 1 January 1978

You may be a New Zealand citizen by descent if your situation fits 1 of the following 2 scenarios.

Scenario 1: Overseas adoption compatible with New Zealand law

• You were adopted before 18 November 1992, or you were under 14 years old at the time your adoption was finalised.
• The adoption laws in the country where the adoption took place meet the requirements of section 17 of the New Zealand Adoption Act 1955.
• At least 1 of your adoptive parents was a New Zealand citizen (by birth or by grant) at the time of your adoption.
• Your adoption was finalised between 1 January 1978 and 18 September 2025, or the adoption took place in a country listed on Schedule 1AAB of the Adoption Act 1955.

Schedule 1AAB (Exempt countries) of the Adoption Act 1955 — New Zealand Legislation

Scenario 2: Intercountry adoption under the Hague Convention

• The adoption is an intercountry adoption between countries that are signed up to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.
• The adoption complies with the requirements of the Convention.
• At least 1 of your adoptive parents was a New Zealand citizen (by birth or by grant) at the time of your adoption.

Register as a citizen by descent

If you are a citizen by descent, you may also be eligible to apply for citizenship by grant.

Types of citizenship: grant, birth and descent

If your adoptive parents were not NZ citizens

You can get a New Zealand residency visa if, at the time of your adoption:

• at least 1 of your biological parents had a New Zealand resident visa or permit, and
• the adoption is recognised under the Hague Convention, or by the Adoption Act 1955.

To get a residency visa, your adoptive parents need to apply for you as a dependent child.

Dependent Child Resident Visa — INZ