Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Immigration Act 2009

Core provisions and matters in relation to decision making - Eligibility to be in or enter New Zealand

13: New Zealand citizens may enter and be in New Zealand at any time

You could also call this:

“New Zealand citizens can always enter and stay in the country”

You have the right to enter and be in New Zealand at any time if you’re a New Zealand citizen. This is a fundamental right that comes with your citizenship.

To prove you can enter New Zealand, you need to show that you’re a citizen and confirm who you are. You do this by following the rules at the border.

As a New Zealand citizen, you don’t need a visa or special permission to enter the country. The government can’t deport you from New Zealand for any reason.

There’s one exception to the visa rule. If you’re a citizen of another country as well as New Zealand, and you want to enter New Zealand as a non-citizen, you might be able to get a visa. But this only applies if you weren’t born a citizen, haven’t registered as a citizen by descent, or don’t have a certificate proving your citizenship.

Most parts of this law don’t apply to you if you’re a New Zealand citizen. The law is designed to protect your right to enter and stay in New Zealand.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1440595.

Topics:
Immigration and citizenship > Border control
Immigration and citizenship > Becoming a citizen
Rights and equality > Privacy
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“This law applies to everyone, including the New Zealand government”

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14: Persons other than New Zealand citizens must hold visa to travel to and be in New Zealand, or

“Non-citizens need a visa to enter and stay in New Zealand”

Part 2 Core provisions and matters in relation to decision making
Eligibility to be in or enter New Zealand

13New Zealand citizens may enter and be in New Zealand at any time

  1. For the purposes of this Act, every New Zealand citizen has, by virtue of his or her citizenship, the right to enter and be in New Zealand at any time.

  2. However, to establish his or her right to enter New Zealand, a New Zealand citizen must prove his or her citizenship and establish his or her identity by complying with border requirements.

  3. Nothing in this Act (other than subsection (2)) abrogates the right declared in subsection (1), and—

  4. no provision of this Act that is inconsistent with that right applies to a New Zealand citizen; and
    1. no New Zealand citizen is liable under this Act to deportation from New Zealand in any circumstances.

      1. Without limiting subsection (3), no New Zealand citizen—

      2. requires a visa or entry permission; or
        1. may hold a visa, or be granted entry permission, except a New Zealand citizen who—
          1. is a national of 1 or more other countries; and
            1. wishes to enter New Zealand other than as a New Zealand citizen; and
              1. has not been granted New Zealand citizenship, been registered as a New Zealand citizen by descent under section 7(2) of the Citizenship Act 1977, or been issued with an evidentiary certificate under section 21 of the Citizenship Act 1977 confirming that he or she is a New Zealand citizen.

              Compare
              • 1987 No 74 s 3