new zealand citizenship - justice of the peace … app...applica on guide for adults and children...

Applica on guide for adults and children

New Zealand CitizenshipRaraunga Aotearoa – Pakeke me Taiohi

The Department of Internal Aff airs Te Tari Taiwhenuaaiwhenua

2

Application guide for adults and childrenThis guide explains the requirements for New Zealand ci zenship and evidence you must provide when applying. Please read this guide before comple ng the adult or child applica on form.

Please note there is a separate guide for Western Samoan adults and children.

How to contact usFreephone 0800 22 51 51 (New Zealand only) or (+64 4) 463 9361

Language Line If your fi rst preferred language is not English we can get an interpreter to help with your call.

Department of Internal Aff airs PO Box 10680 Wellington, 6143

fax: (+64 4) 382 3406

email: ci [email protected]

website: www.ci zenship.govt.nz

3

ContentsQuick Quiz.......................................................................................................................4

Can I become a New Zealand ci zen? ........................................................................5

What happens next? .....................................................................................................6

How to fi ll the applica on form ..................................................................................7

Adult applicants .............................................................................................................88

Child applicants............................................................................................................211

What if I don’t meet the requirements for ci zenship?.........................................2999

Complaints....................................................................................................................300

Will the grant of ci zenship aff ect my New Zealand visa?.....................................300

4

1 Do you live in New Zealand?

yes go to 2 no go to 9

2 Are you Western Samoan?


3 Have you lived in New Zealand with residence status for fi ve years or more?


8 Have you read and understood the responsibili es and privileges of being a New Zealander?


9 You might not meet one of the requirements for New Zealand ci zenship by grant. You can apply when you do meet the requirements, or see pg 5 of this guide if you s ll wish to apply.

10 You probably meet the requirements for New Zealand ci zenship by grant. Please see the rest of the guide for more informa on, visit one of our public counters or call 0800 22 51 51 for more informa on before applying.

11 You will need to fi ll out a Samoan form. Please see the Applica on guide for Samoan adults and children for more informa on.

4 During the last fi ve years have you gone on any trips out of New Zealand that lasted more than four months?


5 Do you want to stay living in New Zealand?


7 Are you able to speak and understand English in everyday situa ons?


6 Have you been convicted of ANY off ence in the last three years?


If you want to fi nd out more about your eligibility for the grant of ci zenship, you can complete the self-assessment online at www.ci zenship.govt.nz

Quick QuizUse this quick quiz to help you fi nd out if you can become a ci zen.

Disclaimer: The ques ons in this quick quiz are based on the legal requirements for a ci zenship by grant applica on. The result from the quiz is only a general indicator to give you some idea of your ability to be eligible for a grant of New Zealand ci zenship. The quiz ques ons do not form part of the formal assessment process. A formal assessment of your ability to meet each relevant requirement will be carried out by the Department of Internal Aff airs, should you choose to apply for ci zenship. The result from the quick quiz should not be read as legal advice. For more detailed informa on, please read the rest of the applica on guide. For informa on about our fees / refunds see page 20 of the guide.

5

Can I become a New Zealand citizen?If you have taken our ‘quick quiz’ on page 4 of this guide, you will have seen that you may or may not be eligible to become a New Zealand ci zen.

Below are some more details you should look at before you apply. Please note that children aged under 14 years do not have to meet all of these requirements.

Who is eligible?You may be eligible for a grant of New Zealand ci zenship if:

• you intend, if granted ci zenship, to con nue to reside in New Zealand

• you are able to understand and speak English

• you are of good character

• you understand the responsibili es and privileges of New Zealand ci zenship

• you are en tled to reside indefi nitely in New Zealand; AND you have been present inNew Zealand for:

• at least 1,350 days with New Zealand residence during the fi ve years immediatelybefore you make your applica on; and

• for at least 240 days with New Zealand residence in each of those fi ve years; and

• fully met any condi ons imposed by Immigra on New Zealand in regard to yourresidence status.

New Zealand residence ‘New Zealand residence’ means you have a residence permit, a residence visa or a

permanent residence visa issued by Immigra on New Zealand or you are an Australian ci zen or permanent resident.

6

What happens next?These boxes will help you choose the rightform to fi ll out and explain what will happenwhen you apply for ci zenship.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Read the guide and make sure you understand ALL of the things you need to do to fi ll out your applica on form.

Fill out the form you need, there are three diff erent types; Adult, Child and Samoan (for Western Samoan adults and children).

Wait. Your applica on goes into a queue. A Case Offi cer will assess your applica on and contact you and talk about your applica on form. They will also check and then send all your documents back to you.

Outcome. Your applica on gets sent to the Minister of Internal Aff airs for a decision. When that decision has been made we will write to you to let you know if you have been successful or not.

Send/lodge your applica on.

You will need to include:• your completed applica on form• the applica on fee• 2 passport-sized photographs (less than six

months old and 1 signed by an authorised person)

• your original birth cer fi cate, passport and other documents such as marriage cer fi cates.

Quality Checked. Your applica on goes back into a queue. Your applica on is then quality checked.

Public ci zenship ceremony. If you are successful we will invite you to a ceremony with your local council and other successful applicants. You must par cipate in a ci zenship ceremony to gain your ci zenship.

Adult(16 years or older)

Raraunga Aotearoa - Pakeke

Application for New Zealand Citizenship

Before you start, read the ‘Application guide for adults and children’ and check that you have these things. You will need to send them with your application.

• your birth certi cate or your country’s equivalent• your current passport (or most recent if it has expired)• your application fee of $460.00 per adult• two passport-sized photographs (less than six months old)

You might also need to send other documents

This form is a statutory declaration. Please make sure the information you provide is true and correct.If it is later found that you have provided false or misleading information, you may be denied / lose New Zealand citizenship, or face criminal charges, or both.

Go online to www.citizenship.govt.nz for more information.

1

You must send your

original documents.DON’T send photocopies, they

will not be accepted.

Child(under 16 years)

Raraunga Aotearoa - Taiohi

Application for New Zealand Citizenship

Before you start, read the ‘Application guide for adults and children’ and check that you have these things. You will need to send them with this child’s application.

• child’s full birth certi cate or country’s equivalent• child’s current passport (or most recent if it has expired)• both parents’ / legal guardians’ passports• the application fee of $230.00 per child• two passport-sized photographs (that are less than six months old) of the child applying

You might also need to send other documents.

This form is a statutory declaration. It needs to be signed by a parent / legal guardian or both. Please make sure the information you provide is true and correct. If it is later found that you have provided false or misleading information, your child may be denied / lose New Zealand citizenship, or you could face criminal charges, or both.


1You

must send original documents.

DON’T send photocopies, they will not be

accepted.

Samoan(Western Samoan adult and child)

Application for New Zealand CitizenshipRaraunga Aotearoa - Tangata Hamoa

Before you start, read the ‘Application guide for Samoan adults and children’ and check that you have these things. You will need to send them with your application.

• your full birth certi cate• your current passport (or most recent if it has expired)• if you are under 16 years old, both your parents’ / legal guardians’ passports• your application fee of $230.00 per child or $460.00 per adult• two passport-sized photographs (less than six months old)

You might also need to send other documents.

This form is a statutory declaration. If you are under 16 years old it needs to be signed by your parent / legal guardian. Please make sure the information you provide is true and correct. If it is later found that you have provided false or misleading information, you may be denied / lose New Zealand citizenship, or face criminal charges, or both.


1

You must send your

original documents.DON’T send photocopies,

they will not be accepted.

7

How to ill in the application formThe applica on guide for adults and children will help you to understand what informa on you need to tell us on the applica on form and why. Be very careful when fi lling in the form. Please print clearly. If you make a mistake, cross it out and put your ini als next to it.

If you are an adult applicant (aged 16 years and older), please fi ll in the Adult form and use the Adult sec on of the guide to help you.

If you are comple ng a form on behalf of a child applicant (aged under 16 years), please fi ll in theChild form and use the Child sec on of the guide to help you.

If you are a Western Samoan adult or child, you will need to read the Applica on guide for Samoan adults and children and fi ll in a Samoan applica on form. These are coloured green and are available from Department of Internal Aff airs offi ces, by calling 0800 22 51 51 or go online towww.ci zenship.govt.nz

How should I answer these questions?Tell the truthThe Minister of Internal Aff airs will consider the informa on you give in the applica on form. It isvery important that you answer all ques ons truthfully. If you do not, you may be denied / lose your New Zealand ci zenship, or face criminal charges, or both.

Answer all ques onsYou must answer every ques on and provide as much informa on as you can. If you need more space to answer a ques on, please use another piece of paper. If you don’t answer a ques on, your applica on might take longer to process because we will need to contact you and might have to send the form back to you so that you can complete it.

What if I don’t know the answer?If you do not know the answer to a ques on, use this guide to help you. If you can’t fi nd the answer in the guide, please contact us on 0800 22 51 51 and we will try to help you fi nd the informa on you need.

What if I need to tell you something that is not asked as a ques on?If there is anything you think we should know about you, it is important that you tell us. You can tell us this informa on in Q.33 on the Adult form, or Q.31 on the Child form or you can useanother piece of paper and a ach it to your applica on. If you want to use another piece of paper we will need you to write a detailed explana on, date it and sign it.

What if I don’t have any of the documents you are asking for?You must give us all the original documents asked for in the applica on form. If you don’t give us any documents, the processing of your applica on will not start un l you do.

If you don’t have some of the original documents you need, you will have to get them from the country you come from before you apply for New Zealand ci zenship. You can contact your local embassy or ask a rela ve in that country for help. It will not be a good enough reason for you to send photocopies of documents or no documents because of the cost, inconvenience or me it takes for you to get originals.

If you have been granted refugee status by Immigra on New Zealand and do not have all the documents you need, please call us on 0800 22 51 51.

8

Adult FormThese ques on numbers are the same as the ones on your applica on form.

Each one gives you more informa on about what to do at each ques on.

1 Everybody must give us a birth document, a passport / travel document and two passport photos, and pay the applica on fee. More documents may be needed from you, depending on your situa on.

2 Print clearly and take extra care when you see the icon. Cross out and ini al any mistakes. If you don’t, your applica on may be delayed.

Ques ons 3-6 help us to confi rm who you are.

3 NameIn the boxes provided:• choose a tle by cking the appropriate

box• print your current fi rst and middle

name(s)• print your current surname or family

name(s).

4 GenderTick if you are male or female or other (‘other’ applies to transgender or intersex applicants).

5 What is your date of birth?Print the day, month and year you were born.

6 Where were you born?Print your place of birth as it is recorded in your birth document. You can use villages, towns and ci es. Don’t use states or provinces.

7 Ci zenship you have nowPrint the country or countries you have ci zenship with now.

8 Other ci zenshipsIf you have been a ci zen of any countries other than the ones you listed in Q.7, please print them in the table e.g. China, Ghana. Please note that New Zealand allows for dual ci zenship.

9 Applied before?If this is the fi rst me you have applied for ci zenship ck ‘yes’. If you have applied before ck ‘no’.

10 PassportsPrint the document numbers of all the passports / travel documents that you have held in the last fi ve years and the name of the country(s) they are from. Include expired passports / travel documents.

11 Driver licencePrint your driver licence number if you have one.

12 Marriage/Civil unionTick ‘yes’ if you are or have ever been married, in a civil union, divorced or widowed. Otherwise, ck ‘no’ and go to Q.14.

13 Marriage/Civil union detailsPrint the number of mes that you have been married or in a civil union in the boxes. Print the name(s) of your partner(s) and the date(s) of your marriage(s)/civil union(s) in the table provided.

14 Other namesWe need to know all the names you have ever used during your life so we can verify your iden ty. If you have ever used any other names, ck ‘yes’ and print them in the box below.

9

Include:• married names• maiden names• offi cial changes of name• English names• names used at school or work• kunya names• adop ve names• any other names you have used during

your life e.g. Also Known As names.

If you have offi cially changed your name, at any me, you will need to provide us with proof of this name change. If the other names you use are not on any offi cial documents, you must list them on the form, but you don’t need to provide proof of them.

15 Mother Print your mother’s fi rst and middle names, surname and ci zenship(s) in the boxes. ‘Mother’ means your birth or legal adop ve mother. Don’t include step-parents or guardians. Please complete the boxes even if your mother has died.

16 FatherPrint your father’s fi rst and middle names, surname and ci zenship(s) in the boxes. ‘Father’ means your birth or legal adop ve father. Don’t include step-parents or guardians. Please complete the boxes even if your father has died. Use this sec on to enter the details of a legal parent where you do not have a legal father (i.e. where both your parents are female). If you do not know who your father is, please leave this sec on blank.

17 Where do you live?Print the address at which you are currently living. Include:• Your street number, fl at number (where

applicable), street name and suburb• Postcode• Town/City• Email address (if you have one)

• Home phone• Work/Cell phone (so you can be

contacted during the day).

If you don’t know your postcode, you can look it up online at www.nzpost.co.nz

18 Postal addressThis is where we will send your documents, papers and le ers.If you want your documents, papers and le ers sent to the address you have printed in Q.17, ck ‘Same as above, where I live’. If you don’t want them sent to your home address, ck ‘I want my documents sent to this address’ and enter the details in the boxes provided.If you want your mail to be delivered to a par cular person, please print their name in the space provided.Print the street number, PO Box number (if applicable), street name, suburb, postcode and town / city in the boxes.If you don’t know the postcode, you can look it up online at www.nzpost.co.nz

19 Where have you lived in the last fi ve years?Print the number, street and town / city of each place where you have lived in New Zealand and overseas in the last fi ve years. When we say ‘lived’, we mean any place where you stayed for a month or more. If you need more space, please use another piece of paper and a ach it to your applica on.

20 Travel plansIf you intend to travel outside New Zealand in the next 12 months, ck ‘yes’ and print your travel plans in the space below. Include any plans that are not fi nalised and give as much informa on about them as you can.To be eligible for New Zealand ci zenship you must plan to keep living in New Zealand. You can’t plan to live overseas as soon as you get ci zenship. New Zealand

10

ci zenship is for permanent residents who want to con nue to live in New Zealand.If you don’t plan to live in New Zealand once you have ci zenship, you must intend to enter into, or con nue in, ONE of the following:• Crown service under the New Zealand

Government• Service under an interna onal

organisa on of which the New Zealand Government is a member

• Service in the employment of a person, company, society or other body of persons resident or established in New Zealand.

Please note that your applica on may not be completed while you are away from New Zealand.

21 Is English your fi rst language?If you grew up in an English-speaking country, ck ‘yes’ and go to Q.23.If you did not grow up in an English-speaking country, ck ‘no’ and go to Q.22.

22 Conversa onal EnglishIf you can speak English in everyday situa ons, such as talking to your doctor or dealing with your bank, ck ‘yes’. You need to prove you can speak English in everyday situa ons. If you lodge your applica on by post you need to send at least one of the following documents:• proof of study at a New Zealand school,

polytechnic or university• a signed le er from a past or current

employer (who speaks English as a fi rst language). This le er needs to be on original company le erhead and contain contact details of the employer

• an Interna onal English Language Tes ng System (IELTS) cer fi cate that shows you have a score of 5 or higher

• other school reports and exam results.These documents need to be original; DON’T include photocopies.

If you can’t provide enough proof that you can speak English you might be asked to a end an English language interview.If you lodge your applica on in person, you do not need to provide documented proof that you can speak English.In most cases you need to show us you have tried to learn English. The amount of me, cost or diffi culty is not a good reason

to not learn English. If you can’t speak English in everyday situa ons, you may be declined ci zenship, unless you would suff er undue hardship if required to learn suffi cient English, for reasons such as your age, level of educa on, or medical reasons.

23-33 Everyone needs to answer all of these ques ons so we can confi rm that you are of good character.Being of good character is a requirement of ci zenship. To determine whether you are of good character, we will do background checks with the New Zealand Police and other agencies in New Zealand and overseas. You may also be asked to provide us with an overseas police clearance.A ‘yes’ answer to any of these ques ons does not automa cally disqualify you from ge ng New Zealand ci zenship. However, if you provide false or misleading informa on or withhold relevant informa on you may be denied/lose New Zealand ci zenship, or face criminal charges, or both.You don’t need to tell us about any previous convic ons received in New Zealand that can be concealed under the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004. You might be eligible to conceal your record if you have:1. Had no convic ons within the past seven

years; and2. Never been in prison (or other custodial

sentence); and3. Never been detained in a mental

ins tu on instead of being sentenced; and

11

4. Not been convicted of certain specifi ed off ences (e.g. rela ng to sexual off ences); and

5. Paid all fi nes, costs, compensa on and repara on imposed by the court; and

6. Never been disqualifi ed indefi nitely from holding or obtaining a driver licence.

If you are eligible under the clean slate scheme, you can answer ‘no’ to any ques on about your criminal record. If you are uncertain whether you are able to conceal your record, please contact the Ministry of Jus ce online at www.jus ce.govt.nz/services or call them on (+64 4) 918 88 00 for an informa on pamphlet.

23 Previous convic onsTick ‘yes’ if you have been convicted or found guilty of an off ence against the law in New Zealand or any other country. Include convic ons even if you have paid fi nes or served sentences for them. You must include traffi c convic ons when answering this ques on.If you ck ‘yes’ you need to include a le er of explana on and a ach it to your applica on. We need to know what happened, what sentence you received, what country it happened in, and the date you were convicted.Please note that, except in very rare circumstances, you will be disqualifi ed from mee ng the character requirement if:1. You have been in prison for fi ve years or

more; or2. You have been sentenced to an

indefi nite term of imprisonment capable of running for fi ve years or more; or

3. Within the previous seven years you were subject to a term of imprisonment of fewer than 5 years; or

4. Within the previous three years you were convicted of an off ence but did not receive a sentence of imprisonment.

24 Pending chargesTick ‘yes’ if you have commi ed any off ence against the law of New Zealand or another country for which you have yet to be sentenced in court.If you ck ‘yes’ you need to include a le er of explana on and a ach it to your applica on. We need to know what happened, what country it happened in, your court date (if known), and the date the off ence happened.

25 Infringements and fi nesTick ‘yes’ if you have ever had any infringements or fi nes in New Zealand or any other country. Infringements are off ences that are usually dealt with by giving fi nes, rather than going to court, such as speeding ckets, not having a warrant of fi tness for your car, going over the fi shing quota, or bringing fruit into New Zealand.If you ck ‘yes’ you need to include a le er of explana on and a ach it to your applica on. We need to know what happened, what fi ne you received, what country it happened in, and the date you got the infringement or fi ne. If you do not know these details, you should state this in your le er.

Good character for 14 to 22 year old applicantsAll applicants aged 14 years of age and over need to be of good character to be eligible for ci zenship.The checks we undertake do not always provide all the informa on we require for people aged 14 to 22. This means some people need to provide a le er from the Ministry of Jus ce with their applica on, as New Zealand privacy laws do not allow the Ci zenship Offi ce to obtain this informa on about you.Use this fl owchart to see if you need to provide this le er:

12

Please contact the Ministry of Jus ce to complete the applica on form called PRIV/F1. Go to their website www.jus ce.govt.nz, phone 04 918 8800 or email recep on@jus ce.govt.nz.A er you have lodged your applica on form with the Ministry of Jus ce, and have received the required le er from them, you need to lodge it with your ci zenship applica on.

26 Protec on ordersTick ‘yes’ if you have ever had a protec on order, non-molesta on order, police safety order or other domes c violence order issued against you. These orders generally mean that you have been told by the Police to stay away from someone.

If you ck ‘yes’ you need to include a copy of the order, or proof that it has been discharged by a court.

27 Legal ac on against you by a government agencyRead the list of agencies carefully, and ck ‘yes’ if you have ever been inves gated, reviewed or had legal ac on taken against you by those organisa ons in New Zealand or any other country; for example, if you have been inves gated by Immigra on New Zealand on suspicion of immigra on fraud.If you ck ‘yes’ you need to include a le er of explana on and a ach it to your applica on. You need to tell us what agency inves gated, reviewed or took legal ac on against you, what country this happened in, when this happened, why it happened, and what the outcome was.

28 Returned money to a government agencyTick ‘yes’ if you have ever had to return money to Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) and go to Q.29 to fi ll out the details. Examples of this include being overpaid for a benefi t, either accidentally or on purpose.Otherwise ck ‘no’ and go to Q.30.

29 Payment planTick ‘yes’ if you have paid this money back, or are s ll paying the money back. You will need to give us proof of your payment plan, or a le er from WINZ saying you have repaid the debt in full.Tick ‘no’ if you have not paid any money back. The Department of Internal Aff airs will contact WINZ regarding your debt. If your debt is due to fraud, it is unlikely that you will be granted ci zenship.

30-33 Everyone must answer all of these ques ons for reasons of na onal security.

30 TerrorismTick ‘yes’ if you have ever been involved in an ac vity that may have contributed to terrorism. It is important to men on

You need to provide a le er.

Are you 14 years old

or over?

Are you 14, 15 or 16 years old?

Are you 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or

22 years old?

Were you in NZ at any me when you were 14, 15 or

16 years old?

You do not need a le er.




YES

YES

NO

NO

NO

NO

YES

YES

13

anything you know that others might regard as terrorism.If you ck ‘yes’ you need to include a le er of explana on and a ach it to your applica on. You need to tell us about your involvement, what the act of terrorism was, when it happened, and what organisa on or group was responsible for carrying out the ac vity.‘Terrorism’ includes the use or threat of ac on intended to create fear, and is carried out for an ideological, poli cal and/or religious goal and deliberately targets or disregards the safety of civilians.

31 Making or using weaponsTick ‘yes’ if you have ever had any involvement in making or using biological, chemical, nuclear or radiological weapons. If you ck ‘yes’ you need to include a le er of explana on telling us about your involvement in making or using the weapons, the reasons for your involvement, what kind of weapons they were, when it happened, and what country this happened in. Biological weapons use pathogens like viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing biological agents to kill, injure or incapacitate.Chemical weapons use the toxic proper es of chemical substances.Nuclear weapons are explosive devices that use nuclear fi ssion or fusion.Radiological weapons are also known as ‘dirty bombs’ and are designed to spread radioac ve material to kill or cause disrup on.

32 War crime or a crime against humanityTick ‘yes’ if you have ever commi ed a war crime or a crime against humanity.If you ck ‘yes’ you need to include a le er of explana on. We need to know what happened, who was involved, where it happened and what the outcome was.A crime against humanity is when an act

is intended to be commi ed as part of a widespread/systema c a ack directed against any civilian popula on e.g. murder, enslavement, torture, rape and persecu on against any iden fi able group, for example poli cal, racial, na onal and ethnic groups.A war crime is an act against persons or property protected under the provisions of the relevant Geneva Conven on e.g. wilful killing, torture or inhuman treatment not jus fi ed by military necessity and carried out unlawfully.

33 DisclosureYou should include anything you think might impact on your ability to meet the requirements to become a ci zen, such as your ability to meet the ‘good character’ requirement, any ma ers that are unclear about your iden ty, or anything else we should know.Complete this sec on if there is anything else we should know that might aff ect your applica on. Some examples of things you should tell us are:• if you are planning to work or study in, or

re re soon to another country.• if you wear a head covering for medical

or religious reasons.• if you have ever used a diff erent date of

birth.• if you have ever been deported from

New Zealand or any other country.• if you have an outstanding warrant for

your arrest in another country.• or anything else we should know.

If you need more space, please use another piece of paper and a ach it to your applica on.

34 Ceremonies – the Oath or Affi rma onThe ceremony is an important part of becoming a ci zen. During the ceremony you will be formally welcomed – usually by the mayor of your local area, or other offi cial person. Almost all adults who fi ll out the Adult

14

form must a end a public ceremony to get ci zenship. During the ceremony you will read aloud a statement. We call these statements ‘declara ons’. The declara on says you will be loyal to New Zealand.You have a choice of two declara ons to say:

Oath of allegianceI (say your name) swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, her heirs and successors according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfi l my du es as a New Zealand ci zen. So help me God.The oath of allegiance is religious, taken on a holy book of your choice and includes the words ‘so help me God’.

Affi rma on of allegianceI (say your name) affi rm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, her heirs and successors according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfi l my du es as a New Zealand ci zen. The affi rma on of allegiance is non-religious and does NOT include the words ‘so help me God’.Tick the declara on you want to make.If you are approved for the grant of ci zenship you will be sent to the next available ceremony being held in your local area. Most of the me you will be able to go to a ceremony within four months of being approved, but some mes it can be longer. If you have not received an invita on to a ceremony within four months of being approved by the Minister of Internal Aff airs please contact us on 0800 22 51 51 or email us at ci [email protected] Defend New Zealand – New Zealand na onal anthem (fi rst verse)This will be sung at the ceremony.

EnglishGod of Na ons at Thy feet In the bonds of love we meetHear our voices we entreatGod defend our free landGuard Pacifi c’s triple starFrom the sha s of strife and warMake her praises heard afarGod defend New Zealand

MāoriE Ihowa - Atua O nga - iwi matou ra A-ta whakarongona Me aroha noa Kia hua ko te pai Kia tau to atawhai Manaaki a mai. Aotearoa.

35 Ceremonies – familyTick ‘yes’ if you are applying at the same me as the rest of your family and you want

to go to a ceremony together.

36 Special assistanceTick ‘yes’ if you require special assistance to a end an interview or public ceremony. This could include needing access for a wheelchair, or help if you are hearing impaired. You will need to make a note in the space provided, or write a le er explaining what special assistance you need and a ach it to your applica on.Tick ‘no’ if you don’t require special assistance.

37 Translator declara onIf someone is transla ng or helping you fi ll out the form, ck ‘yes’ and get them to write their details and the date and sign in the box provided. This is a legal declara on, so the person transla ng needs to read it carefully before they sign it.The person who translates or helps you

15

fi ll out the form must be over 16 years old.If you fi lled out the form for yourself and did not need help from someone else ck ‘no’ and go to Q.38.

38 Photo informa on and authorised personYou need two photos that meet the following requirements.

Photos – ge ng quality photosYou need to give us two iden cal colour photos that are less than six months old. New technology has been introduced to scan your photos and ensure that they meet interna onal standards. We strongly recommend that you obtain your photos from a business that provides a passport photo service, as the business will help ensure that your photos meet our requirements. Photos that do not meet our requirements will NOT be accepted.To help you to avoid some of the most common problems with photo quality, we have summarised the main requirements below and provided some sample photos.If you need more detailed informa on about photos, go online to www.ci zenship.govt.nz or phone us on 0800 22 51 51.

35mm(80%)

3mm

EYES BETWEEN

28mm(80%)

Head size(Including hair)

Photographic image requirements

Photo age• photos must be less than six months old.

Photo size• standard size 35mm x 45mm.

Head size• head, including hair, should fi t within the

oval shown in the template below• maximum size of head, including hair,

must be 80% of photo • head must be centred, with a clear gap

around the sides and top of the head, including hair.

Paper quality• use high-quality, high-resolu on photo

paper• you can also use colour fi lm or low-gloss

coated thermal paper as long as the printer is high resolu on

• DON’T use ma e paper, heavy-backed thermal paper or an ink-jet printer.

Photo quality• photo must be a true image, not altered

in any way• photo must be in focus, with no red-eye

and no refl ected light on the face.

35mm (width)

45mm(height)

Photo size

16

Background• the background must be plain and light,

but not white• there must be a strong contrast between

image and background, with no shadows.

Pose• face the camera straight on, with your

head straight, eyes open and mouth closed

• maintain a neutral expression, not smiling or frowning

• ensure you have no hair across your face or eyes as eyes must be clearly visible.

Glasses• eyes must be clearly showing through

glasses, with no refl ec on• remove glasses with heavy-rimmed

frames• do not wear sunglasses, or glasses with

nted lenses that obscure your eyes.

Head covering or headband• no head covering or headband should be

worn in the photo, unless you must wear either for religious or medical reasons. If you do, you need to make a note of this in Q.33 on your applica on form.

Your authorised personIf you have an authorised person ready ck ‘yes’.

If you do not have an authorised person ready, ck ‘no’ and do not con nue with this form un l you have one.Your authorised person needs to print your full name on the back of your photos and sign their name. Your authorised person must sign and date the back of your photos on the SAME DAY that you both sign the applica on form.Authorised people include:

• some members of the Department of Internal Aff airs

• Jus ces of the Peace• lawyers• Members of Parliament• New Zealand representa ves

overseas• any other person authorised by

New Zealand law to administer an oath.

This list is not exhaus ve. If you cannot fi nd one of these people please call us on 0800 22 51 51 and we will help you.

17

ACCEPTABLE UNACCEPTABLE

Head too big Expression not neutral


Frames too heavy Frames obscuring eyes


Light refl ec on on lenses

Tinted lenses obscuring eyes


Scarf covering chin/edges of face

Face par ally covered by

head covering

Photographic image requirements – examplesPlease note that these example photos are not actual size.

Head size and facial expression


Shadows on background

Contrast too dark

Contrast and ligh ng

Glasses, head covering, scarves and hair

39 Statutory Declara onRead this sec on very carefully, then sign it in front of your authorised person. Don’t sign this Statutory Declara on un l you have an authorised person ready to witness your signature. For a list of authorised people, please see page 16 of the guide.A statutory declara on is a wri en statement that you declare to be true in front of a person authorised to witness you making this statement. It is an off ence to give false informa on or conceal any facts for the purpose of gaining New Zealand ci zenship. If you do so, you may be denied / lose your New Zealand ci zenship, or face criminal charges, or both.Print your name, occupa on and address, the town or city, then sign and date the form in the boxes provided.By signing the Statutory Declara on on page 9 of the applica on form you are sta ng that you are aware of the responsibili es and privileges of becoming a New Zealander. Please read these carefully.

Responsibili esThings that you must do:1. Obey and promote the laws of

New Zealand2. Not act in a way that is against the

interests of New Zealand3. Register to vote4. Pay tax5. Behave as a responsible New Zealander.

PrivilegesThings you have the right to do:1. The right to live in New Zealand

indefi nitely2. Travel overseas and return to

New Zealand on a New Zealand passport3. Stand for Parliament or local government4. Have full access to educa on5. Have full economic rights6. Represent New Zealand in many

interna onal sports.

18

Your privacyThe informa on we ask for in the applica on form is needed to see if you meet the requirements for ci zenship, to process your applica on, and for other lawful purposes to do with becoming a New Zealander. You don’t have to give us any informa on that you don’t want to. However, if we don’t have enough informa on to determine whether you can become a New Zealand ci zen, your applica on will be declined.The informa on you give us in the form is collected and held by the Department of Internal Aff airs, PO Box 10680, Wellington, New Zealand. You have a right to access your informa on and you can ask for it to be corrected if necessary under the Informa on Privacy Principles of the Privacy Act 1993. If a correc on is not made, your request and our response will be put in your fi le.Informa on held by the Ci zenship Offi ce can be used in authorised matching programmes. You can fi nd the current list of agencies that can receive informa on from the Ci zenship Offi ce on our website at www.dia.govt.nz.

40 Statutory Declara on – authorised personFor a list of authorised people please see page 16 of the guide.When the authorised person has watched you sign the Statutory Declara on, they must print their name and occupa on, and sign and date this sec on of the form.The authorised person must also print your full name on the back of one of the photos, then sign and date it on the same day that you both sign the statutory declara on.You must send/lodge your applica on within three months of signing your applica on form otherwise the informa on will be considered out of date and will not be accepted.

41 ChecklistThe checklist will help you remember all of the original documents you need to give us with your applica on.If you don’t supply all the documents that you need to, your applica on will be delayed.DON’T send photocopies.All of your original documents will be returned to you by courier.Everyone needs to supply:• their full birth cer fi cate or their

country’s equivalent (e.g. Household Register, Na onal Iden ty Card)

• their passport(s) covering the past fi ve years

• two passport photos, (less than six months old), signed by an authorised person

• the applica on fee ($470.20 per adult).

If you answered ‘yes’ to Q.12, include all your marriage/civil union/divorce documents.If you answered ‘yes’ to Q.14, include any name change documents (if applicable).If you answered ‘yes’ to Q.22, include proof of your ability to speak English if you lodge your applica on by post.If you answered ‘yes’ to any of Q.23-29, include a le er of explana on.If you answered ‘yes to any of Q.30-32, include a le er of explana on.If you answered ‘yes’ to Q.33, include a le er of explana on if you need more room.

If your documents are not in English, you must either:• pay us a transla on fee of $75 per

document if you wish the Department of Internal Aff airs to translate the key informa on in your documents, or

• include an authorised transla on (with the original document).

19

You can have your documents translated by one of the following:• the Department of Internal Aff airs; or• an authorised transla on agency (for a

list of authorised agencies please see our website or contact us); or

• the issuing Government agency; or• a court in the country of origin, provided

they have been authen cated by that country’s diploma c post in New Zealand.

Don’t include transla ons done by family members or friends.If you are unable to give us the documents that you need to, you will need to explain why in the space provided e.g. you are a refugee and arrived in New Zealand with no documents.

Informa on sheets in other languages and for specifi c countriesYou can get informa on about the specifi c/par cular documents you need to provide and the contact details of the organisa ons that can help you to get your documents, in these languages:• Arabic• Cambodian – Khmer• Chinese (simplifi ed and tradi onal)• Korean• Samoan• Thai• Vietnamese.

We also have informa on in English on documents required for:• India• English-speaking countries (including

South Africa and Zimbabwe)• Other African countries.

To get this informa on please go online to www.ci zenship.govt.nz or call us on 0800 22 51 51.

42 A representa veIf you want someone else to talk to us on your behalf, you will need to send us a signed le er giving your consent (this

means they will talk to us about your applica on and we will send any le ers or documents to them). You must tell us their name, postal address, phone number, email address and fax number or cell phone number (if they have any of these).Representa ves can be any person you choose eg. a family member, a friend, an immigra on agent. We will only contact your representa ve and all your documents will be sent to them.

43 Contact with the Ci zenship Offi ceIf you change your address or travel overseas while we have your applica on, you must tell us. If the Ci zenship Offi ce is unable to contact you because you have moved or are overseas, or you do not respond, your applica on will be presented to the Minister of Internal Aff airs to approve or decline, based on the informa on available. The Ci zenship Offi ce will make all possible a empts to contact you for six months from your last contact before sending your fi le to the Minister. It is likely that your applica on will be declined.If the Ci zenship Offi ce has contact with you and requests informa on and you repeatedly do not supply this your applica on will be presented to the Minister of Internal Aff airs to approve or decline, based on the informa on available.

44 Lodging your applica on and documents

By appointmentYou can make an appointment to come to one of our offi ces. At the offi ce you will meet a case offi cer who will:• Help you complete the form including

witnessing the declara on and your photographs.

• Assess your eligibility before you pay the fee

• Photocopy and give back your documents

We off er appointments in many towns and ci es. For a list you can see our website:

20

www.ci zenship.govt.nz or phone 0800 22 51 51.

Please call us freephone on 0800 22 51 51 to make an appointment.

By postIf you want to post us your applica on, we advise you to use a ‘track and trace’ courier bag from New Zealand Post (within New Zealand) or registered mail (from overseas) to keep track of your original documents. We will send your documents back to you by courier.Post your applica on to:Department of Internal Aff airsPO Box 10680Wellington 6143

Offi ce loca onsWellington Level 3109 Featherston StreetWellington 6011Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm exceptWednesday 9:00am – 5:00pm

Auckland Level 699 Albert StreetAuckland 1010Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm exceptWednesday 9:00am – 5:00pm

Manukau Level 120-24 Lambie DriveManukau City 2104Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm except Wednesday 9:00am – 5:00pm

Christchurch 100 Orchard RoadChristchurch AirportChristchurchOpening hours:

Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm exceptWednesday 9:00am – 5:00pm

45 Fees and paymentIf you are paying for yourself and anyone else, ck ‘yes’ and use the table to work out how much money you will need to pay.Then ck the payment method you want to use. If you are paying by credit card, fi ll in your details in the boxes provided.If another applicant is paying for you, ck ‘no’.

Withdrawals and refundsIf you don’t meet all the requirements for ci zenship, you can withdraw your applica on and get a par al refund of your applica on fee. Generally, we will recommend that you withdraw and re-apply when you clearly meet all of the requirements (you will be advised of all your op ons by le er). Part of your fee is kept to cover the costs of the ini al processing of your applica on. The table below tells you how much money you will get back.

Applicant type

Applicant fee

Amount refundable

Adult $470.20 $316.90

Child $235.10 $158.40

21

1 Every child must give us their birth document, their passport / travel document and their parents’ passports / travel documents and two passport photos, and pay the applica on fee. More documents may be needed, depending on the child’s situa on. Please note that if your child turns 16 during processing of their applica on they will need to meet all the requirements for ci zenship.If your child is Western Samoan, please fi ll out the ‘Samoan’ applica on form.

2 Print clearly and take extra care when see the icon. Cross out and ini al any mistakes. If you don’t, your child’s applica on may be delayed.

Ques ons 3-6 help us to confi rm your child’s iden ty.

3 NameIn the space provided:• choose a tle by cking the appropriate

box• print your child’s current fi rst and middle

name(s)• print your child’s current surname or

family name(s).

4 GenderTick if your child is male or female or other (‘other’ applies to transgender or intersex applicants).

5 What is your child’s date of birth?Print the day, month and year your child was born.

6 Where was your child born?Print your child’s place of birth as it is recorded in their birth document. You can

use villages, towns and ci es. Don’t use states or provinces.

7 Ci zenship your child has nowPrint the country or countries your child has ci zenship with now.

8 Other ci zenshipsIf your child has been a ci zen of any countries other than the ones you listed in Q.7, please print them in the table e.g. China, Ghana. Please note that New Zealand allows for dual ci zenship.

9 Applied before?If you have applied for ci zenship before on behalf of your child, ck ‘yes’. If your child has not applied for ci zenship before, ck ‘no’.

10 PassportsPrint the document numbers of all the passports/travel documents that your child has held in the last fi ve years and the name of the country they are from. Include expired passports/travel documents on which your child has been endorsed on.

11 Other namesWe need to know all the names your child has ever used during their life so we can verify their iden ty. If your child has ever used any other names ck ‘yes’ and print them in the box below.

Include:• offi cial changes of name• English names• names used at school or work• adop ve names• or any other names they have used

during their life.

Child FormThese ques on numbers are the same as the ones on the child applica on form.

Each one gives you more informa on about what to do at each ques on.

22

If your child has offi cially changed their name, at any me, you will need to provide us with proof of this name change. If the other names your child uses are not on any offi cial documents you must list them on the form, but you don’t need to provide proof of them.

12 Mother Print the mother’s surname, fi rst and middle names, and ci zenship(s) in the boxes. ‘Mother’ means the child’s birth or legal adop ve mother. Please complete the boxes even if the child’s mother has died. Don’t include step-parents or guardians.

13 FatherPrint the father’s surname, fi rst and middle names, and ci zenship(s) in the boxes. ‘Father’ means the child’s birth or legal adop ve father. Don’t include step-parents or guardians. Please complete the boxes even if your father has died. Use this sec on to enter the details of a legal parent where the child doesn’t have a legal father (i.e. where both the child’s parents are female). If you don’t know who the child’s father is, please leave this sec on blank.

14 Where does your child live?Print the address at which your child is currently living. Include:• The street number, fl at number (where

applicable), street name and suburb• Postcode• Town / City• Email address of parent (if any)• Home phone• Work/cell phone (so parents can be

contacted during the day).

If you don’t know the postcode you can look it up online at www.nzpost.co.nz

15 Postal addressThis is where we will send your child’s documents, papers and le ers if you don’t want them sent to your home address. If you want your child’s documents, papers and le ers sent to the address you have printed in Q.14, ck ‘Same as above, where my child lives’.If you don’t want them sent to your home address, ck ‘I want my child’s documents sent to this address’ and enter the details in the boxes provided.If you want your child’s mail to be delivered to a par cular person, please print their name in the space provided. Print the street number, PO Box number (if applicable), street name, suburb, postcode and town / city in the boxes.If you don’t know the postcode you can look it up online at www.nzpost.co.nz

16 Travel plansIf your child intends to travel outside New Zealand in the next 12 months, print their travel plans in the space below. Include any plans that are not fi nalised and give as much informa on about them as you can.

17 Parents’ consentBoth parents must sign this sec on. Both parents must give consent for their child to get New Zealand ci zenship as some countries don’t allow dual ci zenship. This may aff ect the child’s current ci zenship and future en tlements.If only one parent is giving consent, this parent must have sole legal guardianship – this means that only one parent has a legal right of control over the child’s upbringing. The Ci zenship Offi ce will require a court order that specifi cally refers to sole legal guardianship. A custody order on its own does not give sole legal guardianship over a child. If you are unsure, please contact us on 0800 22 51 51 and someone will help you.

23

18 Is your child aged 14 years or older?If your child is 14 or 15 years old, ck ‘yes’ and go to Q.19.The law is diff erent for children once they turn 14 years old. Please answer Q.19-30 if your child is 14 or 15 years old.If your child is aged under 14, ck ‘no’ and go to Q.31.

19 Is English your child’s fi rst language?If your child has grown up in an English-speaking country, ck ‘yes’ and go to Q.21.If your child has not grown up in an English-speaking country, ck ‘no’ and go to Q.20.

20 Conversa onal EnglishIf your child can speak English in everyday situa ons, such as talking to their teacher and their friends, ck ‘yes’. You will need to prove that your child can speak English in everyday situa ons.If you lodge your child’s applica on by post you need to send original documents showing the following proof of study in the English language:• school report• exam results.

If you can’t provide enough proof that your child can speak English, they might be asked to a end an English language interview.If you lodge your child’s applica on in person, you do not need to provide documented proof that your child can speak English.If your child can’t speak English in everyday situa ons, ck ‘no’. If your child is unable to speak English in everyday situa ons, your child may be declined ci zenship, unless they would suff er undue hardship for reasons such as their level of educa on or if they have a learning disability.

21-24 If your child is aged 14 years or older you must answer all of these ques ons on their behalf so we can confi rm they are of good character.Being of good character is a requirement

of ci zenship. To determine whether your child is of good character we will do background checks with the New Zealand Police and other agencies in New Zealand and overseas. You could also be asked to provide us with an overseas police clearance for your child.A ‘yes’ answer to any of these ques ons does not automa cally disqualify your child from ge ng New Zealand ci zenship. However, if you provide false or misleading informa on, or withhold relevant informa on your child could be denied/lose their New Zealand ci zenship or you could face criminal charges, or both.You don’t need to tell us about any previous convic ons received in New Zealand that may be now concealed under the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004. See page 10 for more informa on.

21 Previous convic onsTick ‘yes’ if your child has been convicted or found guilty of an off ence against the law in New Zealand or any other country. Include convic ons even if your child has paid fi nes, or served sentences for them. You must include traffi c convic ons when answering this ques on.If you ck ‘yes’ you will need to send us a le er of explana on and a ach it to the applica on. We need to know what happened, what sentence your child received, what country it happened in, and the date your child was convicted.See page 11 for more informa on on disqualifying convic ons.

22 Pending chargesTick ‘yes’ if your child has commi ed any off ence against the law of New Zealand or another country for which they have yet to be sentenced in court for.If you ck ‘yes’ you will need to give us a le er of explana on and a ach it to the applica on. We need to know what

24

happened, what country it happened in, your child’s court date (if known), and the date the off ence happened.

23 Infringements and fi nesTick ‘yes’ if your child has ever had any infringements or fi nes in New Zealand or another country. Infringements are off ences that are usually dealt with by giving fi nes, rather than going to court, such as speeding ckets, going over the fi shing quota, or bringing fruit into New Zealand.If you ck ‘yes’ you will need to include a le er of explana on and a ach it to the applica on. We need to know what happened, what fi ne your child received, what country it happened in, and when it happened.

24 Legal ac on against your child by a government agencyRead the list of agencies carefully, and ck ‘yes’ if your child has ever been

inves gated, reviewed or had legal ac on taken against them by those organisa ons in New Zealand or any other country; for example, if your family has been inves gated by Immigra on New Zealand on suspicion of immigra on fraud.If you ck ‘yes’ you need to include a le er a le er of explana on and a ach it to your child’s applica on. You need to tell us what agency inves gated, reviewed or took legal ac on against your child, what country this happened in, when this happened, why it happened, and what the outcome was.

Good character for 14 to 22 year old applicantsAll applicants aged 14 years of age and over need to be of good character to be eligible for ci zenship.The checks we undertake do not always provide all the informa on we require for people aged 14 to 22. This means some people need to provide a le er from the

Ministry of Jus ce with their applica on, as New Zealand privacy laws do not allow the Ci zenship Offi ce to obtain this informa on about you.Use this fl owchart to see if you need to provide this le er for your child:

Please contact the Ministry of Jus ce to complete the applica on form called PRIV/F1. Go to their website www.jus ce.govt.nz, phone 04 918 8800 or email recep on@jus ce.govt.nz.A er you have lodged the applica on form with the Ministry of Jus ce, and have received the required le er from them, you need to lodge it with your child’s ci zenship applica on.


Is your child 14 years old

or over?

Is your child 14, 15 or 16 years old?

Is your child 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or

22 years old?

Was your child in NZ at any me when they were 14, 15

or 16 years old?





YES

YES

NO

NO

NO

NO

YES

YES

25

25-27 If your child is aged 14 years or older you must answer all of these ques ons on their behalf for reasons of na onal security.

25 TerrorismTick ‘yes’ if your child has ever been involved in an ac vity that may have contributed to terrorism. It is important to men on anything you know that others might regard as terrorism.If you ck ‘yes’ you will need to include a le er of explana on and a ach to the applica on. You need to tell us about your child’s involvement, what the act of terrorism was, when it happened, and what organisa on or group was responsible for carrying out the ac vity.‘Terrorism’ includes the use or threat of ac on intended to create fear, and is carried out for an ideological, poli cal and/or religious goal and deliberately targets or disregards the safety of civilians.

26 Making or using weaponsTick ‘yes’ if your child has ever had any involvement in making or using biological, chemical, nuclear or radiological weapons. If you ck ‘yes’ you need to write us a le er of explana on and a ach it to the applica on. You need to tell us about your child’s involvement in making or using the weapons, the reasons for your child’s involvement, what kind of weapons they were, when it happened, and what country this happened in.Biological weapons use pathogens like viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing biological agents to kill, injure or incapacitate.Chemical weapons use the toxic proper es of chemical substances.Nuclear weapons are explosive devices that use nuclear fi ssion or fusion.Radiological weapons are also known as ‘dirty bombs’ and are designed to

spread radioac ve material to kill or cause disrup on.

27 War crime or a crime against humanityTick ‘yes’ if your child has ever commi ed a war crime or a crime against humanity. If you ck ‘yes’ you will need to include a le er of explana on. We need to know what happened, who was involved, where it happened and what the outcome was.A war crime is an act against persons or property protected under the provisions of the relevant Geneva Conven on e.g. wilful killing, torture or inhuman treatment not jus fi ed by military necessity and carried out unlawfully. A crime against humanity is when an act is intended to be commi ed as part of a widespread/systema c a ack directed against any civilian popula on e.g. murder, enslavement, torture, rape and persecu on against any iden fi able group, for example poli cal, racial, na onal and ethnic groups.

28 Ceremonies – the Oath or Affi rma onThe ceremony is an important part of becoming a ci zen. During the ceremony new ci zens are formally welcomed – usually by the mayor of your local area, or other offi cial person. Children under 14 are welcome to a end a ceremony, but this is not a requirement – their cer fi cates can be sent to you in the mail. Children over 14 must a end a public ceremony to get ci zenship. During the ceremony they will stand and read aloud a statement. We call these statements ‘declara ons’. The declara on says that your child will be loyal to New Zealand.Your child has a choice of two declara ons to say:

Oath of allegianceI (say your name) swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New

26

Zealand, her heirs and successors according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfi l my du es as a New Zealand ci zen. So help me God.The oath of allegiance is religious, taken on a holy book of your choice and includes the words ‘so help me God’.

Affi rma on of allegianceI (say your name) affi rm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, her heirs and successors according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfi l my du es as a New Zealand ci zen. The affi rma on of allegiance is non-religious and does NOT include the words ‘so help me God’.Tick the declara on you want your child to make.See page 14 for more informa on about ceremonies.

29 Ceremonies – familyTick ‘yes’ if your child is applying at the same me as the rest of your family.If you want your child to a end with your family but your child has not applied at the same me as the rest of your family, please call us on 0800 22 51 51 or email us at ci [email protected].

30 Special assistanceTick ‘yes’ if your child requires special assistance to a end an interview or public ceremony. This could include needing access for a wheelchair, or help if your child is hearing impaired. Please print what assistance they will require in the table provided.Tick ‘no’ if your child does not require special assistance.

31 DisclosureYou should include anything you think might impact on your child’s ability to meet the requirements to become a ci zen, such

as your child’s ability to meet the ‘good character’ requirement (if they are over 14 years old) any ma ers that are unclear about your child’s iden ty, or anything else we should know.Complete this sec on if there is anything else we should know that might aff ect your child’s applica on. Some examples of things you should tell us are:• if your child is planning to move to

another country• if your child wears a head covering for

medical or religious reasons• if your child has ever used a diff erent date

of birth• if your family has ever been deported

from New Zealand or any other country• if your child has an outstanding warrant

for their arrest in another country.

If you need more space, please use another piece of paper and a ach it to your applica on.

32 The next ques ons are for the child’s parent or legal guardian to complete.

33 Photo informa on and authorised personYou need two photos of your child for their applica on. See page 15 for informa on about our photo standards.Your authorised person needs to print your child’s full name on the back of your child’s photos and sign their name. Your authorised person must sign and date the back of your photos on the SAME DAY that you both sign the applica on form.Authorised people include: • some members of the Department of

Internal Aff airs• Jus ces of the Peace• lawyers• Members of Parliament• New Zealand representa ves overseas• any other person authorised by

New Zealand law to administer an oath.

This list is not exhaus ve. If you cannot fi nd one of these people please call us on

27

0800 22 51 51 and we will help you.Tick ‘yes’ if you have an authorised person ready. Tick ‘no’ if you don’t, and stop. You will need to get one before you con nue fi lling in the form.

34 Statutory Declara onRead this sec on carefully, then sign it in front of your authorised person. Don’t sign this Statutory Declara on un l you have an authorised person ready to witness your signature.A statutory declara on is a wri en statement that you declare to be true in front of a person authorised to witness you making this statement. It is an off ence to give false informa on or conceal any facts for the purpose of gaining New Zealand ci zenship. If you do so, your child could be denied/lose their New Zealand ci zenship, or you could face criminal charges, or both.If your child is 14 years and over, or turns 14 at the me their applica on reaches the Minister of Internal Aff airs for a decision, your child is required to be aware of the responsibili es and privileges of New Zealand ci zenship.

Responsibili es Things your child must do1. Obey and promote the laws of

New Zealand2. Not act in a way that is against the

interests of New Zealand3. Register to vote4. Pay tax5. Behave as a responsible New Zealander.

PrivilegesThings that ci zenship lets your child do1. The right to live in New Zealand

indefi nitely2. Travel overseas and return to New

Zealand on a New Zealand passport

3. Stand for Parliament or local government4. Have full access to educa on5. Have full economic rights

6. Represent New Zealand in many interna onal sports.

When you sign the Statutory Declara on on page 9 of the form, you are sta ng that your child is aware of the responsibili es and privileges of becoming a New Zealander.Print your name, occupa on, address, the town or city, and then, in front of your authorised person, sign and date the form in the boxes provided.

Your Child’s PrivacySee page 18 for more informa on about your child’s privacy.

35 Statutory Declara on – authorised personThe authorised person must print their name, occupa on, and sign and date this sec on of the form.The authorised person must also print THE CHILD’S full name on the back of one of the photos, then sign and date it on the same day that you both sign the statutory declara on.You must send/lodge your child’s applica on within three months of signing your child’s applica on form, otherwise the informa on will be considered out of date and will not be accepted.

36 ChecklistThe checklist will help you remember all of the original documents you need to give us with your applica on.If you don’t supply all the original documents that you need to, your child’s applica on will be delayed.Don’t supply photocopies. All of your child’s original documents will be returned to you by courier.Every child needs to supply:• their full birth cer fi cate (which shows

both parents’ details) or their country’s equivalent (e.g. Household Register, Na onal Iden ty Card)

• their passport(s) / travel documents covering the past fi ve years

28

• both parents’ passports• two passport photos, (that are less than

six months old), signed by an authorised witness

• the applica on fee ($235.10 per child).

If you answered ‘yes’ to Q.11, include all your child’s name change documents or proof of other name use.If you answered ‘no’ to Q.19, include proof of your child’s ability to speak English if you lodge your child’s applica on by post.If you answered ‘yes’ to any of Q.21-24, include a le er of explana on.If you answered ‘yes’ to any of Q.25-27, include a le er of explana on.If you answered ‘yes’ to Q.31, include a le er of explana on if you need more room.

If any documents are not in English, you must either:• pay us a transla on fee of $75 per

document if you wish the Department of Internal Aff airs to translate the key informa on in your documents, or

• include an authorised transla on (with the original document).

You can only have your documents translated by the Department of Internal Aff airs or by an authorised transla on agency listed below. Don’t provide transla ons done by family members or friends. We will also accept offi cial transla ons of documents into English by the issuing government agency or a New Zealand diploma c post. In addi on, we will accept transla ons made by a court in the country of origin if they have been authen cated by that country’s diploma c post in New Zealand.If you are unable to give us the documents that your child needs to, you will need to explain why in the space provided e.g. you are a refugee.

There is informa on about what documents you need in other languages. See page 19.

37 A representa veSee page 19 for more informa on about representa ves.

38 Contact with the Ci zenship Offi ceSee page 19.

39 Delivery of your applica on to the Ci zenship Offi ceSee page 20.

40 Fees and paymentIf you are paying for your child on their form, ck ‘yes’ and use the table to work out how much money you will need to pay.Then ck which payment method you want to use. If you are paying by credit card fi ll in your details in the boxes provided.If another applicant is paying for your child, ck ‘no’ and add your child’s applica on fee

of $235.10 to the other applicant’s form.See page 20 for informa on about withdrawals and refunds.

29

What if I don’t meet all the requirements for citizenship?Exceptional circumstances and public interestYou might be able to get ci zenship even if you don’t meet some of the requirements if you have excep onal circumstances of a humanitarian or other nature that mean it would be in the publicinterest for you to be granted ci zenship.

You would need to show that New Zealand would get an advantage or benefi t from you becoming a ci zen because of your excep onal circumstances.

You might be considered to have excep onal circumstances if your situa on is well outside the normal run of circumstances found in ci zenship grant cases generally. The circumstances need to be out of the ordinary and compara vely rare, and an excep on rather than the rule.

The Minister of Internal Aff airs considers cases like this, so if you apply for ci zenship and are considered under this provision we will write a report for the Minister to consider.

The Minister can take into account things like the amount of me you have been in New Zealand,how commi ed you are to New Zealand, and what benefi t you have already provided to New Zealand. But there must also be a posi ve benefi t or advantage for New Zealand to gain if you are granted ci zenship, because of your excep onal circumstances.

Waivers of other requirementsThe Minister of Internal Aff airs can some mes reduce or waive a requirement if you do not meet it.

Presence in New ZealandYou might s ll be able to get ci zenship if you have been here for at least 450 days in the last 20 months. You would have to prove you have excep onal circumstances that jus fy a reduc on in the presence requirement. You might be considered to have excep onal circumstances if your situa on is well outside the normal run of circumstances found in ci zenship grant cases generally. The circumstances need to be out of the ordinary and compara vely rare, and an excep on rather than the rule.

EnglishYou might s ll be able to get ci zenship if you can prove you would fi nd learning English too hard because of a variety of reasons, including not having enough educa on, having a disability or being too sick.

If you want more informa on about these op ons please see our website: www.ci zenship.govt.nz, email us at ci [email protected] or phone us on 0800 22 51 51.

30

ComplaintsIf you wish to make a complaint about the way your or your child’s case has been processed, please write to the Ci zenship General Manager at the Department of Internal Aff airs, PO Box 10680, Wellington 6143. Alterna vely, you can contact the Ci zenship Offi ce on 0800 22 51 51. The Ci zenship General Manager will ensure that your complaint is thoroughly inves gated.

Will the grant of citizenship affect my New Zealand visa?NNew Zealand ci zens do not need to hold any type of visa to be in New Zealand. Therefore, the Ngrant of New Zealand ci zenship will automa cally trigger the cancella on of the last visa you gheld before ge ng ci zenship (this is normally a residence class visa). If you have dual (or more) hci zenships and want to travel using a non-New Zealand passport, you must get a New Zealand cci zen endorsement for that passport. This can either take the form of a label that is pasted in (like a civisa label), or it can be a purely electronic record. To fi nd out how to do this, please visit Immigra onvNew Zealand’s website at h p://www.immigra on.govt.nz and search for ‘N ci zen endorsement ’.

54461_Dec 2014

CITIZENSHIP OFFICEThe Department of Internal Aff airsPO Box 10680Wellington

Tel: Freephone 0800 22 51 51 (New Zealand only) or (+64 4) 463 9361

Fax: (+64 4) 382 3406

Email: ci [email protected]

Website: www.ci zenship.govt.nz

new zealand citizenship - justice of the peace … app...applica on guide for adults and children...

Documents