Children born to legal residents in new zealand
In New Zealand, children born to legal residents are entitled to New Zealand citizenship by birth, subject to certain conditions. Here are the key points:
Who is a legal resident?
A legal resident is someone who has been granted a residence visa or has been granted permanent residence in New Zealand. This includes:
- People who have been granted a residence visa under the Skilled Migrant Category, Family Category, or Refugee Category
- People who have been granted permanent residence under the Residence from Work Category
- People who have been granted permanent residence under the Residence from Study Category
Children born to legal residents
Children born in New Zealand to parents who are legal residents are entitled to New Zealand citizenship by birth, provided that:
- At least one parent is a legal resident at the time of the child's birth
- The child is born in New Zealand
Exceptions
There are some exceptions to this rule:
- If one or both parents are not legal residents at the time of the child's birth, the child may still be eligible for New Zealand citizenship if they meet certain criteria, such as being born in New Zealand and having a parent who is a New Zealand citizen or has been a New Zealand citizen at some time
- If a child is born in New Zealand to parents who are not legal residents, but one or both parents have been granted a residence visa or have been granted permanent residence after the child's birth, the child may still be eligible for New Zealand citizenship
How to apply for New Zealand citizenship
To apply for New Zealand citizenship, parents must submit an application to Immigration New Zealand, along with supporting documentation, such as:
- The child's birth certificate
- Proof of the parents' legal residence status
- Proof of the parents' identity and citizenship (if applicable)
Once the application is approved, the child will be granted New Zealand citizenship and will be entitled to all the rights and privileges that come with it, including the right to live and work in New Zealand, vote, and hold public office.