'Undermine the integrity': Government will not allow NZ citizenship test to be taken online

The incoming citizenship test faced numerous delays before being publicly launched, as the Government initially considered running it online.

Freshly released documents also show Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden intervened to ensure fees could be charged for each test attempt.

The test is expected to be rolled out from late 2027 to most people applying for citizenship by grant. It will require at least 15 correct answers out of a 20-question multiple-choice exam, held in person.

Documents show officials had initially been planning for an online test portal to be hosted on the Government’s website.

In January, they warned van Velden monitoring systems do “not provide sufficient assurance to detect and act on adverse test behaviour”.

The Department of Internal Affairs spoke to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, finding “mixed success” in identifying and confirming cheating on exams.

“Some are starting to move away from these systems because proving subtle behaviours, such as a test taker looking away from the screen, remains difficult even with the technology in place,” officials warned.

Minister van Velden was told “significant” privacy and security considerations were likely as personal and biometric information would be collected and stored in a now-scrapped online option.

In a statement, Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden said when work began on the test, the Government first explored the option of an online test, which would’ve been faster to implement - but opted instead for an in-person model.

Van Velden said an online option “would undermine the integrity of the test”.

“I had concerns that it would be too easy to cheat in this format, especially given increasing AI capability.

“An in-person model was ultimately chosen to ensure a robust assessment of applicants’ knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of being a New Zealander, which in turn meant the implementation timeframe was pushed out to find a provider to administer the test. The procurement process is now actively underway.”

A tranche of briefings proactively released by the Department of Internal Affairs relating to the rollout of the citizenship test, showing the hurdles it faced.

The test was announced in May this year, with roll-out expected to commence from late 2027.

Officials first briefed van Velden on eligibility settings for citizenship by grant in early August 2025, noting Australia, Canada, the United States, and United Kingdom all have “some form of test” in place.

The minister was told among comparable countries: “New Zealand is the only country without a formal citizenship test”.

At the time, officials suggested an assessment for citizenship, within the existing legal framework, “could be achieved within this Parliamentary term”.

Briefings in September and early October last year suggested implementation for the test could begin by December 2025.

The go-live date of the test was pushed to March 2026 in a briefing from October 30, 2025.

A November 2025 briefing said officials anticipated the test could apply to applications submitted on or after Monday March 23, 2026.

A separate briefing, from January this year, said the test would take effect for applications made on or after May 6, 2026. Officials told van Velden they recommended delaying the implementation date of the test, to finalise supporting information.

The in-person test is currently planned to start from the second half of 2027.

Fees to be charged per attempt

Documents also show Internal Affairs Minister pushed for fees to be charged per attempt, rather than per-person or per-application.

A late March 2026 briefing to Brooke van Velden said the minister instructed officials to ensure the cost of the test could be recovered through a “per test attempt fee, separate to the existing citizenship by grant application fee”.

Officials also noted van Velden wanted the waiting period for a test re-sit increased from 10 to 30 working days.

In a statement, the minister said as signalled in May, she intends for there to be a separate fee for each test attempt.

“A cost per test model incentivises people to study for the test and pass at the first attempt. It also ensures proper cost recovery for providing an in-person test which is fairer than having those who study hard and pass the first time subsidising those who do not,” she said.

The 30-day waiting period was also announced in May, and van Velden said it’s intended to encourage applicants to take the time to carefully prepare for the test.

“As part of implementation, the Department will publish guidance and supporting material with the information needed to successfully pass.”

Department of Internal Affairs officials also noted the Ministry of Māori Development Te Puni Kōkiri suggested the test “may not be appropriate” for Māori born overseas.

The agency also queried whether an online test was possible, though DIA officials said it would make it difficult to verify someone’s identity and ensure people aren’t getting outside help.

Applicants over the age of 65 will be exempt from the test. Department of Internal Affairs officials had initially recommended the upper age limit to be 67, “to align with a potential future increase in the New Zealand superannuation age” but later admitted 65 was “more reasonable”.

Further documents prepared by the department, said officials anticipated 85% of applicants to pass on their first go, and 96% to pass eventually.