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New Zealand families are working to understand the implications of new UK passport requirements for children with dual nationality, with the change set to come into effect February 28, and questions asked of how many young people could be affected and what support is available.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) says, “We don’t have a figure for this.” They say, “New Zealand, unlike some countries, does not have a population register, or require people to register their multiple citizenships. People can have dual New Zealand/ British Citizenship through different pathways.”
Those pathways are varied and often complex. DIA says, “The primary way people can be dual citizens of New Zealand and the UK are: 1 – Born in New Zealand and claiming British Citizenship via descent. 2 – Born in Britain (or territories where they are entitled to a British passport) and registering New Zealand citizenship by descent. 3 – A British Citizen receiving a Grant of Citizenship in New Zealand, which could be 3(a) – a person who was born in Britain or relevant territories British Citizenship then has been granted New Zealand citizenship 3(b) – a person who was born somewhere else and had British citizenship by descent and has been granted citizenship. 4 – A New Zealand citizen (by birth or descent) who became a naturalised British Citizen.”
While an exact figure is unavailable, an ongoing data measure show the scale of people who may have dual ties. Birth registration statistics reveal thousands of New Zealand-born children each year have at least one parent born in Britain or a British territory. Annual figures ranged from 6,705 in 1920, peaking at 7,829 in 1947, and continuing into recent years with 3,331 recorded in 2025. These numbers provide an indication of how many New Zealand-born people could potentially claim British citizenship by descent.
Additional insight comes from Citizenship by Descent registrations. Between 1986 and 2025, 55,293 people born in Britain or British-linked territories registered New Zealand citizenship by descent, contributing to a total of 324,706 descent registrations across all countries during that period. These figures show the potential pool of dual-national families, even if they do not represent an exact count.
DIA say they are aware of some enquiries but don’t have statistics on the number.
For many households, the issue is also financial.
“The British High Commission is better placed to advise on the costs of obtaining British Passports, or endorsements within a passport for the UK.” says DIA. “Immigration New Zealand, not the Department of Internal Affairs arranges for an endorsement in a British Passport noting that a person has New Zealand citizenship.”
Families have also questioned whether New Zealand had any role in the rule change. DIA says, “Matters of border policy are for their home countries to determine (in this case the UK). The Department was not consulted by the UK government on whether to introduce the change requiring their citizens to carry UK passports.”
Looking ahead, questions remain whether similar situations could affect other dual-national children. DIA says “We don’t know. We can observe that there are changes occurring around the world but cannot predict what may happen.”
Endorsement of New Zealand citizenship in a foreign passport information and fees can be found here and the current cost of New Zealand passports here
