An independent study companion · Aotearoa New Zealand
Become a New Zealander.
From late 2027, most people applying for New Zealand citizenship by grant will need to pass a test. 20 multiple-choice questions, in English, taken in person. You need 75% to pass. We're building a simple study guide to help you get ready.
- 20questions, multiple choice
- 75%required to pass
- 2027launches late next year
- ENEnglish, in person
Everything officially confirmed so far.
The Department of Internal Affairs has announced how the test will work, but not the study materials, the fee, or where you can take it. We will keep this page up to date. Here is what is officially known today, taken from govt.nz.
- 01 When Late 2027
From late 2027, most people applying for citizenship by grant will need to pass a test. The exact start date is not confirmed yet.
- 02 Format 20 multi-choice
20 multiple-choice questions, in English. You take the test in person.
- 03 Pass mark 15 / 20
You need at least 15 correct answers (75%) to pass.
- 04 Retakes Up to 6
You can take the test up to 3 times. If you do not pass, you wait at least 30 working days, then you can take it up to 3 more times. If you still do not pass after all 6 attempts, you have options. One option is to withdraw your application and get a partial refund of your application fee.
- 05 Fee TBC
There will probably be a fee for each attempt, on top of the normal citizenship application fees. The amount is not decided yet.
- 06 Locations TBC
Test locations have not been chosen yet. The plan is to have places to take the test all around New Zealand.
- 07 Topics Civics & rights
The Bill of Rights Act, human rights, voting rights and democratic principles, New Zealand’s system of government, some criminal offences, and travelling overseas on a New Zealand passport.
- 08 Study Official
The Department of Internal Affairs will release official study materials before the test starts. They are not available yet.
Not everyone who applies has to take the test.
You will need to take the test if you are applying for New Zealand citizenship by grant and you are aged 16 to 64 when you apply.
You will not need to take the test if any of these apply to you:
- You are under 16 years old
- You are 65 or older
- You have been granted a waiver for the English language requirement for citizenship
- You are not of full capacity
- You have a serious medical condition that stops you taking the test
- You have unique personal circumstances that stop you taking the test
- You are a New Zealand citizen by descent applying for citizenship by grant
- You apply from overseas and meet the presence requirement
Only the official rules count. Always check govt.nz for your own situation before you apply.
A study site to help you pass the real test.
We plan to build practice tests that match the real format, simple notes on each topic, and short question drills you can do anywhere.
Everything will be written from the official material once the Department of Internal Affairs releases it. We have not built any of this yet. Join the waitlist below and we will email you when it is ready.
Every official update we know about.
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Test format announced: 20 questions, 75% to pass
The Department of Internal Affairs has published the test format on govt.nz. There are 20 multi-choice questions, in English. You take the test in person.
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Up to 6 attempts, then options including a partial refund
You can take the test up to 3 times. After at least 30 working days, you can take it up to 3 more times. If you do not pass after all 6 attempts, you have options. One option is to withdraw your application and get a partial refund of your application fee.
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Fee, study materials, and locations not yet decided
There will probably be a fee for each attempt, but the amount is not decided yet. The official study materials and the list of test locations have not been released. We will add every official update here when it appears.
Source · Watching
Common questions, answered simply.
01 Is this an official government site?
No. citizenshiptest.co.nz is an independent study site. We are not connected to the New Zealand Government, the Department of Internal Affairs, or any official body. The official source for the test is govt.nz.
02 When does the test start?
From late 2027. The exact start date and the test locations have not been announced by the Department of Internal Affairs yet.
03 How much will the test cost?
There will probably be a fee each time you take the test, in addition to the normal citizenship application fees. The amount has not been decided yet.
04 What happens if I fail?
You can take the test up to 3 times. If you do not pass, you wait at least 30 working days, then you can take it up to 3 more times. That is 6 attempts in total. If you still do not pass after all 6 attempts, you will be given options. One option is to withdraw your application and get a partial refund of your application fee.
05 Are the questions on this site the real test questions?
No. Only the Department of Internal Affairs writes the real questions. Once the official study materials are released, we will write practice questions based on them. They are made to help you prepare, not to copy the real test.
06 When can I start studying?
The Department of Internal Affairs has said it will release official study materials before the test starts. They are not available yet. Join the waitlist and we will email you as soon as they are released, with our practice tools.
07 Will it cost money to use this site?
We have not decided on pricing yet. We will share details closer to launch.
Be the first to know when the test, the study materials, and our practice tools are ready.
We will only send you an email when the Department of Internal Affairs releases study materials, when a test fee is announced, or when our practice site is ready. Nothing else.