New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has selected Aspeq Limited to design the delivery of a new in-person citizenship test, which will become part of the citizenship by grant process from late 2027.
What Happened
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden announced on 7 October 2026 that Aspeq Limited has been selected to work alongside DIA to design the test’s managed service, including booking, payment and nationwide delivery. “Selecting a provider for the design phase is an important step towards implementing the test,” van Velden said, adding that Aspeq “brings established testing capability and relevant experience to this work.”
Who’s Affected
Most adult applicants for citizenship by grant will need to sit the test from late 2027. As previously announced, it will consist of 20 multiple-choice questions in English, with 45 minutes to complete it and at least 15 correct answers required to pass. Questions will cover New Zealand’s system of government, democratic principles, human and voting rights, and the Bill of Rights Act. Applicants under 16 and over 65 are exempt, as are those applying through citizenship by birth, descent, or the Western Samoa pathway. DIA says further exemption details will be communicated before the requirement takes effect.
Background
New Zealand citizenship by grant currently requires holding a resident visa for at least five years, basic English ability, good character, and physical presence in the country for 240 days a year or 1,350 days in total. Applicants currently sign a declaration stating they understand the responsibilities and privileges of becoming a citizen; the new test formalizes that understanding with a knowledge check. Van Velden said the goal is to ensure applicants understand rights such as freedom of speech and the principle that no person or group is above the law. Existing eligibility requirements around residence, character, English ability and intention to continue living in New Zealand remain unchanged.
The announcement comes in the same week New Zealand’s Immigration Minister finalized separate changes to Skilled Migrant Category resident visa rules — a reminder that New Zealand’s immigration settings have been in active motion this week, though the citizenship test and the skilled migrant visa changes are unrelated processes under different legislation and different government agencies.
Outlook
Aspeq Limited will now work with DIA to design the managed service covering booking, payment and delivery of the test across New Zealand. DIA says the test requirement will apply to most adult applicants from late 2027, with exemption details to be confirmed ahead of that date.
References
Beehive.govt.nz – Provider Selected for In-Person Citizenship Test / 1News – Provider Selected for New Zealand Citizenship by Grant Test
