Explain the calculation
Show the five separate 12-month periods, the counted days in each period and the five-year total.
Why this site exists
Built from a real problem
An independent tool created after the official presence calculator could not return a result for a New Zealand resident visa holder.
Why this site exists
The story behind the calculator
I am a New Zealand resident visa holder. When the official DIA Presence Calculator could not calculate my result, I began reading official guidance, the Citizenship Act 1977 and government examples to understand how the five-year presence test works.
This website turns that research into a clearer estimate for people who want to understand how their resident date and travel history interact. Citizenship is administered by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), while Immigration New Zealand (INZ) holds visa and movement records used in official checks.
What this tool is designed to do
Protect privacy
Run the calculation locally in the browser without uploading travel dates.
Point back to official sources
Make it easy to verify requirements and contact the agencies that make the real decision.
Support this project
Help keep this calculator free and carefully maintained
Contributions help cover hosting, accessibility improvements, calculator testing and regular reviews of official sources.
Please read before relying on a result
Disclaimer
General information only
The information and calculations on this website are provided for general educational purposes. Reasonable care is taken, but no promise is made that every page is complete, current or error-free.
Not immigration or legal advice
The website operator is not acting as a licensed immigration adviser or lawyer. The calculator and written content do not replace advice from a qualified professional who has reviewed your circumstances.
No guarantee of eligibility or approval
An estimated date may differ from DIA’s assessment because official records, visa conditions, exceptional circumstances, policy changes or factors not entered into the calculator may affect the result. A calculator result does not guarantee that an application will be accepted or approved.
To reduce the risk of suggesting that a user apply too early, the calculator applies a conservative convention to departure, return and application-date boundaries. This may result in a slightly later estimate than other tools.
Your responsibility
Before submitting an application, check the current government requirements, verify your travel and visa records, and contact the Citizenship Office or a licensed adviser if your history is complex or uncertain.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the website operator is not responsible for loss, cost, delay or damage arising from use of, inability to use, or reliance on this website.
Independent website and external links
This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by the New Zealand Government, DIA or INZ. External links are provided for convenience; their content and availability are controlled by their respective operators.
Effective date: 5 August 2026.
Use it like an app
Add NZ Citizenship Check to your phone
Keep the calculator one tap away from your Home Screen. No App Store or Google Play download is required. Installation adapts to the browser and device you are using.
Installs as a web app with its own Home Screen icon and standalone window.