Rulebook / Residence & citizenship / New Zealand
New Zealand citizenship presence
- Day threshold
- 1350 days
- Window
- Rolling 1826 days
- Direction
- Floor — reach at least
- Counts
- Days in New Zealand; arrival and departure days both count
- Authority
- Department of Internal Affairs
New Zealand citizenship presence requires at least 1350 days in New Zealand in any rolling 1826-day period. You are trying to reach the number, not stay under it. 1,350 days across five years, and at least 240 days in each of those five years. The per-year floor is a second test this counter does not run.
Who it applies to
This matters most if you are:
- A permanent resident who travels often and must protect the status they already hold.
- An applicant counting physical presence toward residence or a passport.
- Anyone who will have to evidence their days to an immigration authority at renewal or application.
The rule — and why it exists
Days in New Zealand. At least 1350 days in New Zealand in any rolling 1826-day period — written as >=1350 / 1826.
Why it exists: residence and citizenship are granted to people who actually live in the country. Presence requirements and absence caps are how that is measured rather than asserted.
Counting the days
- On any given day, look back over the 1826 days ending on that day (that day included).
- Count every day you were physically in New Zealand in that span. Partial days count as full days.
- The total must reach 1350. Repeat for every day — there is no reset date.
- A day only stops counting once it is more than 1826 days old. Leaving and returning changes nothing.
The free calculator below counts this rule with the same engine the Dwelltime app ships.
Check it with the free tool
Examples
Example 1 — 891 days inside, checked at the end of the window
Stays: New Zealand 2026-03-01 → 2028-08-07. Checked on 2028-08-07.
Result: Days in New Zealand: 459 more days needed (891 of 1350 in New Zealand), earliest 2029-11-09.
Example 2 — 1350 days used, then trying to return
Stays: New Zealand 2026-01-01 → 2029-09-11. Checked on 2029-10-12.
Result: Days in New Zealand: reached — 1350 of 1350 days in New Zealand.
Example 3 — Two separate stays that add up past 1350
Stays: New Zealand 2026-01-01 → 2028-03-20; New Zealand 2028-07-02 → 2030-09-19. Checked on 2030-09-19.
Result: Days in New Zealand: reached — 1620 of 1350 days in New Zealand.
Exceptions & edge cases
- Absences with permission. Some regimes disregard absences approved in advance or forced by illness; record them and check the source.
- Continuity vs. totals. Some rules require both a total and no single absence over a limit; both must hold.
- Evidence. Authorities may ask for stamps, boarding passes or statements — keep the source of every day.
Common misconceptions
- "Hitting 1350 days is automatic." Not quite — the count meets the day test; the remaining conditions still apply.
- "It resets when I leave." No. Days age out one at a time, 1826 days after they happened.
- "Arrival day doesn't count." Any part of a day inside is a day inside.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1350-day count per calendar year or rolling?
Rolling 1826 days. The window rolls forward one day at a time.
Do arrival and departure days count?
Yes — any part of a day counts as a day.
Where does this rule come from?
Department of Internal Affairs: Citizenship by grant — requirements. The link is verified on every build; if it stops resolving the build fails.
This rule is tracked in 
Dwelltime
- Counts your days for this rule from the trips you record
- Shows the last safe day, or the days still needed, before you book
- Explains every counted day and every uncounted one
- Runs alongside your other visa, tax and residency rules
Sources
Related rules
- 🇳🇿New Zealand NZeTA visitorThree months per visit and no more than six months in any twelve. British citizens get six months per visit.
<=90 / VISIT - 🇳🇿Avoid New Zealand tax residencyNew Zealand counts 183 days in any 12-month period, not a tax year — the window rolls.
<=182 / 365 - 🇳🇿Become New Zealand tax residentNew Zealand counts 183 days in any 12-month period, not a tax year — the window rolls.
>=183 / 365
For information only. This page is a plain-English summary of publicly available rules, not tax, legal or immigration advice. Rules change and depend on your personal circumstances — always confirm with the official source above and a qualified professional before acting.