The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs : Services : Citizenship : How Do I Prove that I am a New Zealand Citizen?


Home Careers	Services About us	What's new Legal	Forms Resources

Citizenship - Raraunga

Citizenship Application Fees and Forms

Am I a New Zealand Citizen?

General Requirements for a Grant of New Zealand Citizenship

New Zealand Citizenship by Descent

Approved Translation Agencies

Denial and Confirmation of New Zealand Citizenship

Citizenship Online Calculation Tool

Citizenship Important Notices

Citizenship Education

How to Contact Us

How Do I Prove that I am a New Zealand Citizen?

Return to Citizenship home page

In New Zealand there are several ways to prove your New Zealand citizenship status:

A New Zealand Birth Certificate
A New Zealand Passport
A New Zealand Citizenship Certificate
Denial of New Zealand Citizenship

A New Zealand Birth Certificate
Until the end of 2005, most children born in New Zealand (or in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau) are automatically New Zealand citizens at birth (with few exceptions).

From 1 January 2006, children born in New Zealand (or in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau) acquire New Zealand citizenship at birth only if at least one of their parents:

is a New Zealand citizen; or
has permanent residency (i.e. is entitled to be in New Zealand or Australia indefinitely); or
is entitled to reside indefinitely in the Cook Islands, Tokelau or Niue.

Please see Births, Deaths and Marriages application fees and forms to download or view a birth certificate request form, or access information on Births, Deaths and Marriages fees.

A New Zealand Passport
A New Zealand passport is acceptable proof of New Zealand citizenship provided that:

it was issued after 1950;
it was valid for five years or more;
it has no unauthorised alteration or additions;
it has no endorsements to suggest that more information or documents are required; and
the biodata information and/or the photograph are not defaced in any way.

Please see Passport application forms to download or view a passport application form, or access information on passport fees.

A New Zealand Citizenship Certificate
A New Zealand certificate of citizenship can be issued to all New Zealand citizens. They come in many different forms including a:

Citizenship by Grant Certificate.
Citizenship by Descent Registration Certificate.
Confirmation of Birth in New Zealand Certificate.
Confirmation of New Zealand Citizenship by Grant Certificate.

These certificates provide evidence that you are a citizen on the day on which the certificate is issued. Please see Citizenship application fees and forms to download or view a citizenship certificate application form, or access information on citizenship fees.

Please Note: New Zealand citizens have the right to renounce their citizenship and the Minister of Internal Affairs may deprive citizenship in rare cases. These numbers are very low, but mean some people may hold evidence that they are a citizen when they no longer are.

Denial of New Zealand Citizenship
If you want proof that you are not a New Zealand citizen, you may apply for a Denial of New Zealand Citizenship. Please see Citizenship application fees and forms to download or view a denial application form, or access information on citizenship fees.


	Site map	Search	Help	Contact us	Email us	newzealand.govt.nz


Last updated: 19/05/2010