The Department of Internal Affairs: Citizenship - How to Apply For New Zealand Citizenship


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Citizenship - Raraunga

Requirements for New Zealand Citizenship

New Zealand Citizenship by Descent

General Requirements for a Grant of New Zealand Citizenship

Grants of New Zealand Citizenship in Other Situations

How to Apply For Grant of New Zealand Citizenship

Photographic Requirements

Approved Translation Agencies

Citizenship Ceremonies

Citizenship by Grant Frequently Asked Questions

Denial and Confirmation of New Zealand Citizenship

Citizenship Application Fees and Forms

Citizenship Online Calculation Tool

Important Notices

Celebrating 60 Years of New Zealand Citizenship

Citizenship Education

Citizenship Grants Policy Manual

How to Contact Us

How to Apply For Grant of New Zealand Citizenship

Click here for Maori language version

(Statement on the use of macrons)

Return to Citizenship home page

To apply for a grant of New Zealand citizenship you will need to:

Read the application guide carefully. Make sure you understand all the requirements.
Fill out the relevant sections in the application form.
Send the completed application form, photographs, documents and fee to the citizenship office.

Our office will acknowledge your application in writing once it has been received.
Once your application has been allocated to a case officer we will contact you, if necessary.
When the outcome of your application is known, we will write to tell you whether or not your application has been successful.
If you are 14 years or over you will swear or affirm allegiance to the Queen of New Zealand at a public citizenship ceremony where you will receive your certificate of New Zealand citizenship.

Important Notices
Applications for Citizenship Received On or After the 21st of April 2010
All applications for the grant of New Zealand citizenship received by the New Zealand Citizenship office on or after the 21st of April 2010 will be assessed against the five year residence requirement. Please ensure your application is in the New Zealand Citizenship office before the 21st of April 2010 if this affects you.

Fees, Forms and Application Guide for a Grant of New Zealand Citizenship
Please see Citizenship application fees and forms to download or view an application form, application guide or access information on fees.

Documents We Require

Documents are required to be sent at the time of applying. For further information see the Frequently Asked Questions.

Please provide original documents only (i.e. not photocopies).

All applicants must provide the following documents:

Full birth certificate i.e. a birth document that also includes your parents' details, household register, family book etc. (If you are 21 or over and cannot provide a full birth certificate, please provide a short version)
National identity card(s) (if applicable).
All citizenship certificates if your passport is issued by a country other than your birth country.
All your passports and travel documents, including travel documents issued in New Zealand and expired documents.
Marriage and civil union certificate(s) (if applicable).
Divorce document(s) (if applicable).
Proof of name change (if applicable, i.e. statutory declaration, adoption papers etc).
If you spend a lot of time travelling, a letter explaining why.
If English is not your first language, evidence that you studied English or studied using English and/or evidence that you use English in your everyday life.
Authorised translation(s) (if applicable).
Authorised translation(s) fee (if applicable).

Additional documents may be required if the applicant is:

Under 21 years old.
A Samoan citizen.
Born overseas before 1978 and claiming a grant of citizenship through their mother.

If the applicant is under 21 years old you will also need to provide:

Parents' passports.
Adoption papers (if applicable).
Explanation for why only one person has completed the consent section (if applicable).
Proof of guardian's authority (if applicable).

Please contact us if only one parent/guardian is able to provide consent.

If the applicant is a Samoan citizen they will also need to provide:

Proof of current Samoan citizenship (e.g. current Samoan passport); AND
Proof that you legally entered New Zealand after 14 September 1982 and have been granted permanent residence status; OR
Proof that you were in New Zealand on the day of 14 September 1982.

If the applicant is born overseas before 1978 and their mother was a New Zealand citizen they will also need to provide:

Evidence their mother was a New Zealand citizen when they were born (e.g. birth certificate or citizenship certificate).


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Last updated: 02/02/2010