New Zealand citizens and endorsements

At a glance

New Zealand citizens have an absolute right to enter and be in New Zealand at any time, and are not liable for deportation in any circumstances. [A20][RA2.1] They do not need a visa to travel to, enter or be in New Zealand, but to establish their right to enter they must show a New Zealand passport or a foreign passport containing an endorsement indicating New Zealand citizenship if required. [RA2.1] When a New Zealand citizen is also a national of another country and travels on a foreign passport, an endorsement facilitates their entry. [A20.1] An endorsement is not a visa; it is evidence of New Zealand citizenship and remains current for the duration of the passport it is endorsed in. [A20.5]

However, a New Zealand citizen who is a dual national and has not been granted New Zealand citizenship, registered as a citizen by descent, or issued an evidentiary certificate confirming citizenship may instead apply for a visa. [A20.10] To obtain an endorsement, the citizen must lodge the application in the manner required by immigration instructions and satisfy an immigration officer that they are a New Zealand citizen. [A20.15] Applications for endorsements may be lodged at any Immigration New Zealand office, Visa Application Centre, or certain Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade posts. [A20.20.1] An endorsement may be cancelled if INZ becomes aware that the holder has been deprived of, or has renounced, New Zealand citizenship. [A20.25]

Definition

1. Every New Zealand citizen has, by virtue of citizenship, the right to enter and be in New Zealand at any time. [A20]
2. To establish that right, a New Zealand citizen must prove their citizenship and establish their identity by complying with border requirements (see the requirements that apply under A2.35.1). [A20]
3. New Zealand citizens are not liable for deportation from New Zealand in any circumstances. [A20]
4. The purpose of an endorsement is to facilitate a New Zealand citizen's entry into New Zealand where the citizen:
   • is a national of one or more other countries; and
   • is travelling on a foreign passport. [A20.1]
5. An endorsement is granted by being entered and retained in the records of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. It may (but need not) be evidenced by a physical endorsement in a passport. [A20.5]
6. An endorsement is not a visa. Its continued validity depends on the passport: it is current for the duration of the passport it is endorsed in. [A20.5]
7. For New Zealand citizens travelling to New Zealand on a foreign passport, an endorsement is evidence of New Zealand citizenship. [A20.5]
8. Despite the general rule that New Zealand citizens cannot hold a visa, a citizen who is a national of one or more other countries and is not travelling on a New Zealand passport may hold a visa if they have not been:
   • granted New Zealand citizenship; or
   • registered as a New Zealand citizen by descent under section 7(2) of the Citizenship Act 1977; or
   • issued with an evidentiary certificate under section 21 of the Citizenship Act 1977 confirming that they are a New Zealand citizen. [A20.10]
9. Before an endorsement is made, the applicant must lodge the application in the manner prescribed by A20.20.5 or A20.20.10, and an immigration officer must be satisfied the applicant is a New Zealand citizen. [A20.15]
   • First-time endorsement applications must: be made on an approved form; be completed in English; relate to only one person; be signed by the applicant (or by a parent/guardian if the applicant is under 18). The application must be submitted together with the applicant's current foreign passport, evidence of New Zealand citizenship (a New Zealand passport, a New Zealand birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship, or other prescribed evidentiary certificates), a New Zealand passport issued on or after 5 November 2005 or a passport-sized photograph, and the appropriate fee (if any). [A20.20.5]
   • Second or subsequent endorsement applications require the same form, language, single-person, and signing requirements. In addition to the current foreign passport, a New Zealand passport or photograph, and the appropriate fee, the applicant must declare that they have previously held a foreign passport bearing an endorsement confirming New Zealand citizenship. [A20.20.10]
   • Applications that are not lodged in the prescribed manner will not be accepted for processing. [A20.20.1]
10. An endorsement may be cancelled where Immigration New Zealand becomes aware that the holder has been deprived of, or has renounced, New Zealand citizenship under the Citizenship Act 1977. [A20.25]

The full A20 instructions include detailed provisions on endorsements in foreign passports and electronic records that evidence New Zealand citizenship. This page captures the core principles; the border-requirement details are covered in the Acceptable Travel Document.

Application in decisions

When a person claims New Zealand citizenship, immigration officers must verify that claim. If citizenship is established, the person is not subject to the visa system: they need no visa and cannot be refused entry once their identity and citizenship are confirmed. No deportation liability can arise. [A20]

If citizenship cannot be verified because the person has not yet been granted citizenship or issued an evidentiary certificate, they may be considered for a visa under standard immigration instructions. [A20.10]

Interpretation & edge cases

• Proof at the border: The right to enter is unconditional once citizenship is established, but the border process still requires proof. Citizens must present a valid New Zealand passport, a valid endorsement in a foreign passport, an electronic record indicating citizenship, or a returning resident's visa issued on the basis of New Zealand citizenship (as detailed in A2.35). [A20]
• Absolute non-deportation: Even if a citizen commits an offence or breaches immigration rules, they cannot be deported. The only consequences available are those under general criminal law.
• Interaction with dual citizenship: The right applies regardless of any other nationalities the person holds.
• Visa for undocumented dual citizens: A New Zealand citizen who is a dual national may lawfully hold a visa if they have not completed the formal citizenship processes (naturalisation, registration by descent, or evidentiary certificate). In such cases, the endorsement pathway may not be available and a visa may be the appropriate entry instrument. [A20.10]
• Improper lodgement: Applications submitted in a manner not prescribed by the regulations will not be accepted for processing. [A20.20.1]
• Cancellation of endorsement: An endorsement may be cancelled if Immigration New Zealand becomes aware that the holder has been deprived of, or has renounced, their New Zealand citizenship under the Citizenship Act 1977. [A20.25]
• Transitional RRV holders: New Zealand citizens who hold a returning resident's visa (RRV) issued under the Immigration Act 1987 on the basis of their New Zealand citizenship in a valid foreign passport may travel to and enter New Zealand as a New Zealand citizen until the expiry of that passport. [A20.30] After expiry, they must obtain an endorsement in a new foreign passport to enter as a citizen. [A20.30] (See Immigration Act 2009 s 416).
• Border referral for citizens with foreign passports: When a New Zealand citizen arrives at the border presenting a foreign passport that does not contain an endorsement under section 384 of the Immigration Act 2009 or a returning resident's visa issued under the Immigration Act 1987 on the basis of New Zealand citizenship, they will be referred to an immigration officer on arrival. [Y3.15] If the immigration officer establishes that Ministry records show the person holds an endorsement, entry as a New Zealand citizen must be granted. [Y3.15] A New Zealand citizen who is a national of one or more other countries and wishes to enter New Zealand other than as a New Zealand citizen must apply for entry permission. [Y3.15]

Citations

• A20 — New Zealand citizens and endorsements
• A20.1 — Purpose of endorsement
• A20.5 — Definition and effect of an endorsement
• A20.10 — Who may obtain an endorsement
• A20.15 — Application for an endorsement
• A20.20.1 — How an application must be lodged
• A20.20.5 — Requirements for lodging a first-time application
• A20.20.10 — Requirements for lodging a second or subsequent endorsement
• A20.25 — Cancellation of an endorsement
• A20.30 — Transitional instructions for holders of returning resident's visas issued under the Immigration Act 1987
• RA2.1 — New Zealand citizens
• Y3.15 — New Zealand citizens