What you need to know about New Zealand's new citizenship test

For the first time, most people applying for New Zealand citizenship will have to pass a test. The Government announced the change in May 2026, and it is expected to take effect in late 2027. Here is a plain-English summary of what has been confirmed so far, and what is still being worked out.

The short version

New Zealand has been one of the few countries that grants citizenship without a knowledge test. From late 2027, applicants for citizenship by grant will need to sit an in-person, multiple-choice test and score at least 75% to pass. The test covers rights, responsibilities, and how New Zealand is governed. The official questions and study guide have not been released yet.

Who has to take it

The test applies to citizenship by grant, which generally means people who have held residence for at least five years and meet the other requirements. It does not change citizenship by birth or by descent.

Most adult applicants will need to sit it, though the Government has said some exemptions will apply. The exact exemptions are still being finalised by the Department of Internal Affairs.

What the test looks like

Based on the announcement and government documents reported so far:

• It is sat in person, on a computer, at test centres around the country, with the stated aim of not limiting testing to the main centres.
• It is 20 multiple-choice questions, in English.
• You need 75% correct, which is 15 out of 20, to pass.

How many attempts you get

You will get up to six attempts, with a 30-day wait between each try. If you do not pass after six attempts, you are offered options, including withdrawing your citizenship application for a partial refund of the application fee.

What it will cover

The Government has said questions will be drawn from areas such as:

• The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and human rights
• Voting rights and democratic principles
• The structure of government
• Certain criminal offences
• Travel to and from New Zealand

What it costs

There will be a fee to sit the test, on top of the existing citizenship application fees. The amount has not been set yet.

Why the change

The Government has framed the test as a way to "strengthen the citizenship by grant process" and to make sure new citizens understand the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. Ministers have noted that New Zealand is following a path many comparable countries already take with citizenship tests.

What is still being decided

Several things are not final yet:

• The official study guide and sample questions
• The exact fee
• The full list of exemptions
• The precise start date within late 2027

Because of this, be cautious about any website presenting questions as the "official" test. The Department of Internal Affairs has not released official questions, so anything available today is unofficial and based on the announced topics.

What you can do now

If you are on the path to citizenship, the New Zealand citizenship test does not change the core eligibility rules: residence status, time spent in New Zealand, good character, English, and an intention to keep living here. You can check where you stand with our citizenship eligibility calculator, and we will publish study tools for the test as soon as the official material is available.

Sources

• Beehive.govt.nz: Test to strengthen citizenship by grant process
• RNZ: What you need to know about New Zealand's new citizenship test plans
• NZ Herald: Six attempts and 30-day wait period detailed in new documents
• govt.nz: Citizenship test

This article summarises public announcements as of June 2026 and will be updated as the Department of Internal Affairs confirms more detail. Citizen Pass is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with the New Zealand Government.