Citizenship Act 1977

New Zealand citizenship - Loss of citizenship

15: Renunciation of citizenship

You could also call this:

"Giving up your New Zealand citizenship if you're 18 or older and a citizen of another country"

If you are a New Zealand citizen and you are 18 years or older, you can give up your New Zealand citizenship at any time. You can do this if you are also a citizen of another country. You have to make a declaration to give up your citizenship in a specific way. The Minister will then register your declaration, and from the date it is registered, you will no longer be a New Zealand citizen. The Minister might not register your declaration if you live in New Zealand or if New Zealand is at war with another country.

If you give up your New Zealand citizenship, you can only become a New Zealand citizen again by being granted citizenship under section 8, section 8A, or section 9. You have to follow the rules for being granted citizenship to become a New Zealand citizen again. This means you will have to meet the requirements for being granted citizenship.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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 29 September 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM443886.

Topics:

Immigration and citizenship > Becoming a citizenGovernment and voting > Government departments

14: Applications made under British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948 may be proceeded with under this Act, or

"Old citizenship applications can still be processed under this Act"

16: Deprivation of New Zealand citizenship in special cases, or

"Losing Your New Zealand Citizenship in Special Situations"

Part 1New Zealand citizenship
Loss of citizenship

15Renunciation of citizenship

A New Zealand citizen who has attained the age of 18 years and is of full capacity and who is recognised by the law of another country as a citizen of that country may, at any time, make a declaration of renunciation of his New Zealand citizenship in the prescribed manner.
Subject to subsection (3), the Minister shall cause every declaration made under subsection (1) to be registered in the prescribed manner, and, as from the date of that registration, the declarant shall cease to be a New Zealand citizen.
The Minister may decline to register a declaration of renunciation if—
the declarant is resident in New Zealand; or
a state of war exists between New Zealand and any other country.

A person who has ceased to be a New Zealand citizen under this section may regain New Zealand citizenship only by way of a grant of citizenship under section 8 or section 8A or section 9.

Compare

1948 No 15 s 21

Notes

Section 15(3)(a): amended, on 21 April 2005, by section 9 of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 43).
Section 15(4): inserted, on 10 December 2001, by section 9 of the Citizenship Amendment Act (No 2) 2001 (2001 No 95).