Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Citizenship Act 1977

New Zealand citizenship - Acquisition of citizenship

9: Grant of citizenship in special cases

You could also call this:

"Becoming a New Zealand citizen in special situations"

Illustration for Citizenship Act 1977

The Minister can decide to give you New Zealand citizenship in special cases. You might get citizenship if you are under 16 years old. You might also get citizenship if your parent was a New Zealand citizen when you were born, but they got their citizenship from their parent, not by being born in New Zealand.

The Minister can also give you citizenship if they think it is in the public interest, because of special circumstances that affect you, like humanitarian reasons. You can also get citizenship if you would not be a citizen of any country otherwise.

When the Minister is deciding whether to give you citizenship, they can look at some of the requirements listed in section 8 and they must consider the requirements of section 9A(1), but they have some flexibility in this decision.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM443867.

Topics:
Immigration and citizenship > Becoming a citizen
Previous

8A: Grant of citizenship to spouse of New Zealand citizen, or

"How a spouse of a New Zealand citizen used to be able to get citizenship"

Next

9A: Disqualifying convictions, or

"Certain crimes can stop you from becoming a New Zealand citizen"

Part 1New Zealand citizenship
Acquisition of citizenship

9Grant of citizenship in special cases

  1. Without limiting anything in section 8, the Minister may, upon application in the prescribed manner, authorise the grant of New Zealand citizenship to any person, including a person who may be a New Zealand citizen by descent,—

  2. who has not yet attained the age of 16 years; or
    1. whose father or mother was, at the time of that person's birth, a New Zealand citizen by descent; or
      1. if the Minister is satisfied that granting a certificate of New Zealand citizenship to the applicant would be in the public interest because of exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian or other nature relating to the applicant; or
        1. if the person would otherwise be stateless.

          1. In considering whether to authorise the grant of New Zealand citizenship to any person under subsection (1), the Minister—

          2. may have regard to such of the requirements of section 8(2) (as subject to section 8(3) to (9)) as the Minister thinks fit; and
            1. must have regard to the requirements of section 9A(1) (but subject to the Minister's discretion under section 9A(2) and (3)).

              Notes
              • Section 9: replaced, on , by section 7 of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 43).