Citizenship - Intend to Live in NZ
 

The New Zealand citizenship criteria is clearly outlined on the relevant DIA website.

However, the "intend to keep living here" is a slightly grey area.

I can take that literally and it means you want to live in NZ.

How about, wanting to apply for citizenship but then leaving the country for 2-5 years? Does that then mean you don't fit the criteria because there is no "intention" immediately to live in NZ.

Comments, opinions and firsthand accounts would be great.

Thank you for reading.

L and J

Re: Citizenship - Intend to Live in NZ
 

It is a grey area. I assume the spirit of the law is that you intend to actually stay in NZ at that point in time and have no plans to live elsewhere for the time being. But how would they prove that if you subsequently decide to leave NZ soon afterwards ? Circumstances do change and sometimes very rapidly.
I suppose it comes down to your own conscience and what you feel comfortable with. I don't know how involved the selection process is. Do you have an interview about your future plans or is it more of a paper exercise until the ceremony? The former might be more uncomfortable if you're planning on leaving I suppose.
My feeling is that if you've done the time in NZ and can qualify and you're not planning on abandoning NZ forever then why not have that option. The rules about returning residents haven't changed for years but there'll always be that slight concern that they might at some point in the future.

I'm not much help :lol: but I'd be interested to hear other's experiences as I may be eligible but would have to apply for special consideration.

Re: Citizenship - Intend to Live in NZ
 

I have answered my own question :-) For reference people.

To be eligible for New Zealand citizenship you must plan to keep living in New Zealand. You can’t plan to live overseas as soon as you get citizenship. New Zealand citizenship is for permanent residents who want to continue to live in New Zealand.

Page 9 and 10
http://www.dia.govt.nz/Pubforms.nsf/URL/ApplicationGuideforGrantofNZCitizenshipgeneral.pdf/$file/ApplicationGuideforGrantofNZCitizenshipgeneral.pdf