*** Transcriber's Note: Please set your voice synthesiser to read most punctuation. When you encounter the caret sign (^) at the end of a line, please enter the applicable information, if necessary. *** Department of Internal Affairs – Te Tari Taiwhenua DRG001 Application for New Zealand citizenship by descent & passport Child (15 years or under) Last updated 25 May 2024 Who can apply? Any person born outside New Zealand on or after 1 January 1978, and whose mother or father was a New Zealand citizen (otherwise than by descent) at the time of their birth or adoption can apply for registration of New Zealand citizenship by descent. Your child’s mother or father will have either been born in New Zealand or will have received a grant of New Zealand citizenship before they were born. If you are aged 16 years or older, and want to apply for citizenship, please use the Adult form. To find out more please contact the Citizenship Office. Our contact details are further below. Need a passport too? Use this form just to register your child’s citizenship by descent, or to register your child’s citizenship by descent and apply for a New Zealand passport for them. There is no need to complete a separate passport form. How long will it take? For current processing timeframes, visit govt.nz/registercitizenship. Where should I start? Answer the questions below to see what you should do. The questions below are based on the legal requirements for a citizenship by descent application. The results from the questions are only a general indicator to give you some idea of your child’s eligibility for citizenship by descent. These questions do not form part of the formal assessment process. A formal assessment will be carried out by the Department of Internal Affairs, should you choose to apply for citizenship for your child. For more detailed information, please read the rest of the application form or see our website citizenship.govt.nz. Do you want to apply for New Zealand citizenship for your child, and one of their parents is a New Zealand citizen? (Yes or no) ^ If no: You might need a ‘Citizenship by Grant’ application form. Please look on our website or contact the Citizenship Office to find out more. If yes: Continue to next question. Was your child born outside New Zealand? (Yes or no) ^ If no: If your child was born in New Zealand they may be a New Zealand citizen by birth. Please look on our website or contact the Citizenship Office to find out more. If yes: Continue to next question. Was your child adopted? (Yes or no) ^ If yes: Please read the “What documents do I need to provide” section on this form carefully. Applicants who are adopted need to provide extra documents and information. If no: You are ready to start. Continue to find out who needs to fill out this form and what documents you are going to need. Need help? 1300 559 535 (AUS) 0800 22 51 51 (NZ) +64 (4) 462 0651 citizenship.govt.nz passports.govt.nz 1. Who fills in this form? You will need a ‘New Zealand Parent’, and a witness to help you complete this application form. If your child has two parents who are both New Zealand citizens (other than by descent), you can choose either parent to be the ‘New Zealand Parent’, when completing this form. If the birth mother or claim parent is unable to sign the application, please contact us. 2. What documents do I need to provide? Check the information below to see which documents the ‘Child’ and the ‘New Zealand Parent’ need to provide. Remember, we need original documents. We will return all your original documents to you. Any documents not in English will be translated as part of your application. If you would like a copy of the translation, download a ‘Request for Translation’ from our website (govt.nz) and include this with your application. Child: Birth certificate (Full official state-issued) This document needs to be the original birth certificate. Hospital certificates are not accepted. It must have the child’s full name, place and date of birth, gender and both parents’ names. If the child’s birth certificate does not have all this information on it, please contact the Citizenship Office. Photocopies can not be accepted. 2 photos You must provide 2 identical, passport size photos of the child. These photos must meet certain requirements. Please see the photo section for more information. Change of name documents (if your child has changed their name) If your child’s name has changed for any reason (for example: adoption, statutory declaration) you need to provide an official state-issued change of name document (for example: the adoption order or statutory declaration). We cannot accept ‘also known as’ names. Note: If this name change happened in New Zealand, you do not need to send the documents. The Citizenship Office can access them electronically. Adoption documents (if your child has been adopted) You must provide all original adoption documents if your child has been adopted outside New Zealand. Adoptions from other countries have different requirements. For more information, please see our website or phone the Citizenship Office. New Zealand Parent: Your most recent New Zealand passport number Please enter your most recent New Zealand passport number in question 22 of this form. If you do not have a New Zealand passport, you need to provide a current photo identification document (for example a driver licence). This can be certified by a Justice of Peace, Notary, Sworn Police Officer, Court Registrar, NZ Embassy/NZ Consulate staf member or Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) staff authorised to do so. Change of name documents (if you have changed your name) If your name has changed for any reason (for example: marriage, adoption, statutory declaration) you need to provide an official state-issued change of name document (for example: your marriage/civil union certificate or adoption order). Note: If this name change happened in New Zealand, you do not need to send the documents. The Citizenship Office can access the records electronically. Application for Child Passport: No other documents required If you also want to apply for a New Zealand passport for your child, you just need to complete question 40 of this form and add the additional passport fee. 3. Everyone who is applying for citizenship by descent must supply 2 identical colour photos. The child’s witness will need to write the child’s full name on the back of one of the photos and sign and date it. Do not attach your photos to the application form. We can only accept undamaged photos. Your child’s passport-size photos need to be: • Recent colour photos, less than 6 months old. • Be a full front, close up view of the head and shoulders with the head covering 70% to 80% of the photograph. • Be taken with a neutral expression (not smiling or frowning) with their mouth closed. • Show the child looking straight at the camera, and their head not tilted. • Show child’s eyes open and clearly visible, and no hair in their eyes. • Without sunglasses. Tinted prescription glasses may be worn as long as eyes are still visible. • A true image and not altered in any way. • Clear, sharp and in focus with minimum reflective light on face. No redeye. • With a plain light coloured background (not white). • Be of good quality colour and on high quality photographic paper, with no ink marks on the image (no inkjet printers). • Passport-sized (45mm x 35mm). • Glasses frames must not obscure the eyes. • Do not trim the photos. 4. The questions numbered 4 to 13 are about the child. Remember, you are filling this out for a child, so you need to use their name and details. 5. What is the child’s full name? Copy the names from the child’s birth certificate. You must provide the original state issued birth certificate with the application. If their name has been legally changed (by adoption etc.), then use the new name details from that document. Surname or family names ^ First and middle names ^ 6. Where were they born? Copy the town, city or village and country of birth from their birth certificate. City, town or village where they were born ^ Country where they were born ^ 7. What is their date of birth? (DD/MM/YYYY) ^ 8. What gender are they? Male (Yes or no) ^ Female (Yes or no) ^ Other (Yes or no) ^ 9. What is their height and eye colour? Remember, you are filling in this form for your child, make sure you give their height and eye colour. Height, in centimetres ^ Eye colour, for example: Brown, Blue, Green, Grey, Hazel, Black ^ 10. Is the child adopted? (Refer to section 2 for the documents you need to provide.) (Yes or no) ^ If no, go to question 11. If yes, please write their adoption date and country of adoption below: Date of adoption ^ Country of adoption ^ 11. Has their name been legally changed for any reason? (Refer to section 2 for the documents you need to provide.) This could be because they were adopted, changed their name by deed poll etc. (Yes or no) ^ If no, go to question 12. If yes, select an option below to show how their name has been changed: Deed poll (Yes or no) ^ Adoption (Yes or no) ^ Other (please specify) (Yes or no) ^ 12 What is your child’s home address and your contact details? This address information must be for the child. It must be where they usually live. If they live in more than one place, please put the details of the place they spend the most time. Unit and/or house number ^ Street name ^ Suburb ^ Place name (city, town, village) ^ State or territory ^ Postcode ^ Country ^ Your contact number: Country code ^ Area code ^ Phone number ^ Your email address ^ 13. What is your postal address? This is where we will return your documents. Please note that in most cases courier services cannot deliver to Post Office boxes. Same as the child’s residential address (Yes or no) ^ If yes, go to question 14. If no, continue below. I want the documents sent to this address (Yes or no) ^ Specify details below: Your name ^ Unit and/or house number ^ Street name ^ Suburb ^ Place name (city, town, village) ^ State or territory ^ Postcode ^ Country ^ 14. The questions numbered 14 to 22 are for the New Zealand parent. To be the New Zealand parent on this application, you need to have either been born in New Zealand, or received a grant of New Zealand citizenship before your child was born. If the child’s parent received their New Zealand citizenship by descent, they cannot be the ‘New Zealand Parent’ on this application. 15. Parent’s claim to New Zealand citizenship This is where the child’s parent provides evidence of their New Zealand citizenship. Please select one of the following. I was: Born in New Zealand (Yes or no) ^ Given a grant of New Zealand citizenship (Yes or no) ^ Born in Niue, Tokelau or Cook Islands (The original birth certificate must be supplied) (Yes or no) ^ 16. What is your relationship to the child who is claiming New Zealand citizenship by descent? Please select one of the following: Birth parent (Yes or no) ^ Adoptive parent (Yes or no) ^ Other parent (please specify) (Yes or no) ^ 17. What is your full name? Copy the names from your birth or citizenship certificate. If your name has been legally changed (by marriage, civil union, adoption etc.), then use the new name details from that document. Title, please select one: Mr (Yes or no) ^ Mrs (Yes or no) ^ Ms (Yes or no) ^ Miss (Yes or no) ^ Other (please specify) (Yes or no) ^ Surname or family names ^ First and middle names ^ 18. Has your name been legally changed for any reason? (Refer to section 2 for the documents you need to provide.) This could be because you were adopted, got married, changed your name by deed poll etc. (Yes or no) ^ If no, go to question 19. If yes, please select one to show why your name has changed: Marriage or civil Union (Yes or no) ^ Deed poll (Yes or no) ^ Adoption (Yes or no) ^ Other (please specify) (Yes or no) ^ Write the name you had before it was legally changed ^ 19. Where were you born? Copy the city, town or village and country of birth from your birth certificate. City, town or village where you were born ^ Country where you were born ^ 20. What is your date of birth? (DD/MM/YYYY) ^ 21. What gender are you? Male (Yes or no) ^ Female (Yes or no) ^ Other (Yes or no) ^ 22. What is your New Zealand passport number? Write the number of your most recent New Zealand passport. ^ This is the end of the New Zealand parent section. Please go to question 28, and read and sign the Privacy Act section. 23. The questions numbered 23 to 27 are for the child’s other parent. To complete this application form we need both parents’ details. One parent’s details must be in the ‘New Zealand Parent’ section and the other parent’s details must be in this section. 24. What is your full name? Copy the names from your birth or citizenship certificate. If your name has been legally changed (by marriage, civil union, adoption etc.), then use the new name details from that document. Title, please select one: Mr (Yes or no) ^ Mrs (Yes or no) ^ Ms (Yes or no) ^ Miss (Yes or no) ^ Other (please specify) (Yes or no) ^ Surname or family names ^ First and middle names ^ 25. Has your name been legally changed for any reason? This could be because you were adopted, got married, changed your name by deed poll etc. (Yes or no) ^ If no, go to question 26. If yes, please select one to show why your name has changed: Marriage or civil Union (Yes or no) ^ Deed poll (Yes or no) ^ Adoption (Yes or no) ^ Other (please specify) (Yes or no) ^ Write the name you had before it was legally changed ^ 26. What is your date of birth? (DD/MM/YYYY) ^ 27. What is your relationship to the child who is claiming New Zealand citizenship by descent? Please select one of the following: Birth parent (Yes or no) ^ Adoptive parent (Yes or no) ^ Other parent (please specify) (Yes or no) ^ This is the end of the other parent’s section. Please go to question 28, and read the Privacy Act section. Then complete question 30. 28. Privacy Act information - who should read this? The ‘New Zealand Parent’ and ‘Other Parent’ need to read the information in this section. Each parent then needs to write their name, date and sign at the bottom of the section to say that they have read and understood the information. Collection, authorisation and use of information in support of this application This application form requires you to produce certain information in support of your application. The decision to supply the information is voluntary. If you do not produce sufficient information to enable a claim to New Zealand citizenship by descent to be determined, the application will be declined. We need to collect this information to see if the requirements of the Citizenship Act 1977 are met, to process the application and for other lawful purposes. The information you provide in this form is collected and held by: Department of Internal Affairs, PO Box 10680, Wellington, New Zealand. Information held by the Citizenship Office and Passport Office can be used in authorised information matching programmes by the Electoral Enrolment Centre, the Department of Internal Affairs, the Inland Revenue Department, the New Zealand Transport Agency, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment as authorised by statute. Details are available on the Department of Internal Affairs website – dia.govt.nz or call +64 (4) 462 0651. You have a right of access to and correction of personal information you have provided under the Information Privacy Principles of the Privacy Act 2020. Please contact the Citizenship Office for more details. WARNING: It is an offence against the Passports Act 1992 to knowingly or recklessly make a statement that is false or misleading in a material particular for the purposes of gaining a New Zealand passport. It is also an offence to knowingly or recklessly give false information or conceal any facts for the purpose of gaining New Zealand citizenship for oneself or on behalf of someone. If you do so, you may be denied/lose New Zealand citizenship, face criminal charges, or both. Who needs to sign Under the New Zealand Citizenship Act 1977, a citizen by descent holds that status from their date of birth or adoption. There is no legal requirement to register that status, but if the person chooses to do so parental consent to register is not required, as citizenship by descent is considered a birthright. By signing the application form, you are not consenting to the registration of citizenship but are consenting to the collection and use of information about yourself to determine the claim to citizenship. If the claim to citizenship is through the mother, the father is not required to sign the form as we do not need to collect any information about him to verify maternity. If the claim is through the father, we need acceptable evidence of paternity and consent from both parents to collect and use information about them to verify the claim. The Department retains the right to request further documents should they be required. By signing below you declare the following: • The statements made in this application are to the best of my knowledge true, complete and correct. • If false information has been provided I understand that any citizenship certificate/passport issued on the basis of that information may be cancelled and the matter referred to the New Zealand Police. • I understand that information may be obtained about me to determine my child’s eligibility for this citizenship application by way of an authorised information matching programme in accordance with the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Act 2021. • I authorise any necessary additional enquiries including the disclosure of personal information about myself or the child for the purpose of determining eligibility for this application. My authorisation includes, but is not limited to, any information held by the Department of Internal Affairs. • If I have also applied for a New Zealand passport for my child at the same time, I authorise my/the child’s information to be taken from or shared with the New Zealand Passport Office for the efficient processing of both applications. • I understand that if I have possession of a forged or false New Zealand travel document, I may be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, a fine not exceeding NZ$250,000 or both. 29. New Zealand parent I have read and understood the information above relating to the collection and use of information for this application, and I authorise the use and disclosure of my information as outlined above. Full name ^ Signature (SIGN HERE) ^ Date (DD/MM/YYYY) ^ 30. Other parent I have read and understood the information above relating to the collection and use of information for this application, and I authorise the use and disclosure of my information as outlined above. Full name ^ Signature (SIGN HERE) ^ Date (DD/MM/YYYY) ^ 31. The next section is for your witness. Get the person who is your child’s witness to complete all the following questions. Make sure you give your witness the 2 identical photos of the child so they can complete the details on the back of one photo, see question 38. 32. This section numbered 32 to 39 is for the witness. Before you fill in this section, please read the statements carefully to make sure you can be a witness. The witness must: • not be a relative or part of the family group of the child • not live at the same address as the child • be aged 16 years or over • have known the child for more than 12 months, or since birth if the child is under 12 months old If you meet the above criteria go to question 33. 33. Do you hold a New Zealand passport? (Yes or no) ^ If yes, what is your passport number? ^ Now go to question 36. If no, go to question 34. You might be able to be a witness. 34. You only need to answer this question if you do not have a New Zealand passport. You must still meet all the requirements in section 32. Which of the following groups describes your current job? Registered medical professional (for example, a doctor, nurse, dentist, pharmacist, physio etc.) (Yes or no) ^ Teacher (primary or secondary teacher or university lecturer) (Yes or no) ^ Minister of religion (Yes or no) ^ Lawyer (Yes or no) ^ Police officer (Yes or no) ^ Kaumatua (Yes or no) ^ None of the above (Yes or no) ^ If none of the above — Stop, you cannot be a witness for this application. 35. If you do not hold a New Zealand passport, complete the following fields for your place of work or organisation you are involved with. Name of organisation ^ Registered name ^ Organisation address ^ Contact number (Reception or Administration) ^ Organisation website or social media link ^ If you are unable to supply a website or social media organisation page with a staff list please supply a letter from your employer or leadership team on letterhead confirming your employment and how long you have worked there. 36. What is your full name and date of birth? Title, please select one of the following options: Mr (Yes or no) ^ Mrs (Yes or no) ^ Ms (Yes or no) ^ Miss (Yes or no) ^ Other (please specify) (Yes or no) ^ Surname or family names ^ First and middle names ^ What is your date of birth? (DD/MM/YYYY) ^ 37. Where do you live? Please write the details of your residential address and contact details. Unit and/or house number ^ Street name ^ Suburb ^ Place name (city, town, village) ^ State or territory ^ Postcode ^ Country ^ Contact number: Country code ^ Area code ^ Phone number ^ Email address ^ 38. Do you have the child’s 2 photos? The witness needs to write 3 things on the back of one of the photos: • the full name of the child • sign the back of photo • today’s date Please check carefully. Have you written the 3 things on the back of one of the photos correctly? Do not: staple, glue or paperclip photos to the application as this may cause damage. Ensure your photo has been correctly witnessed to avoid delays in processing. Witness to: • write full name of the child • sign back of photo • write today’s date I declare that: • I am 16 years of age or over. • I have known the applicant for more than 1 year or since birth if under 12 months. • The information I have given is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge. • The person in this photo is the person named in section 5. • I have written the full name of the applicant, signed my name and written the date on the back of one photograph. • I understand that if I have provided false information, this passport can be cancelled and I can, by law, be fined or imprisoned. 39. Witness declaration and Privacy Act information If you are acting as a witness for this application, you need to read all the information in this section. Then fill out the name of the child being registered, the number of years you have known them, and sign and date the bottom of this section. Collection, authorisation and use of information in support of this application. As a witness for this application you are required to provide personal information. The decision to supply the information is voluntary. If you do not want to supply this information or authorise access to your personal information you cannot act as a witness. We need to collect your information to help with processing this citizenship and passport application and for other lawful purposes. The information you provide in this form is collected and held by: Department of Internal Affairs, PO Box 10680, Wellington, New Zealand. You have a right of access to and correction of personal information you have provided under the Information Privacy Principles of the Privacy Act 2020. Please contact the Citizenship Office for more details. By signing below you declare the following: I have known Child’s full name (as shown in question 5) ^ For (write years in format YY) ^ (write months in format MM) ^ (If the child is aged less than 12 months, please just write the number of months you have known the child.) Signature of witness (SIGN HERE) ^ Date (DD/MM/YYYY) ^ This is the end of the witness section. 40. This is where you apply for a PASSPORT for your child. If you do not want a passport for your child, please leave this question blank. I want to apply for a passport for my child (Yes or no) ^ Note: If your your child wears a headcovering please contact us. Only one parent needs to give permission in this question. Please select one of the options below. I give my consent for a passport to be issued to the child named in question of this application. I am the: New Zealand parent (Yes or no) ^ Other parent (Yes or no) ^ Signature (SIGN HERE) ^ Date (DD/MM/YYYY) ^ 41. Citizenship and passport application fees What do you need to pay? Application Fees vary depending on which country you lodge your application in. Choose the country you are sending your application to and select which service you need below. If you reside outside of New Zealand, and are sending your application to New Zealand for processing, we will exclude the GST amount from the New Zealand application fees. Note: You cannot make an urgent application if your case involves an overseas adoption. Select the service you need: Fees if lodged in New Zealand: Citizenship NZD $204.40 (Yes or no) ^ Citizenship & passport NZD $329.40 (Yes or no) ^ Urgent citizenship & passport NZD $544.40 (Yes or no) ^ Courier delivery cost will be charged based on your delivery destination — see below for further details. Fees if lodged in Australia: Citizenship AUD $165.00 (Yes or no) ^ Citizenship & passport AUD $313.00 (Yes or no) ^ Urgent citizenship & passport AUD $566.00 (Yes or no) ^ Courier delivery cost will be charged based on your delivery destination — see below for further details. Fees if lodged in the UK: Citizenship GBP £86.00 (Yes or no) ^ Citizenship & passport GBP £164.00 (Yes or no) ^ Urgent citizenship & passport GBP £297.00 (Yes or no) ^ Courier delivery cost will be charged based on your delivery destination — see below for further details. Courier costs Delivery destination: New Zealand Lodged in New Zealand — NZD $5.00 (including GST) Lodged in Australia — Lodge your application in New Zealand Lodged in the United Kingdom — Lodge your application in New Zealand Delivery destination: Australia Lodged in New Zealand — NZD $13.00 Lodged in Australia — AUD $12.00 Lodged in the United Kingdom — Lodge your application in Australia Delivery destination: United Kingdom Lodged in New Zealand — NZD $27.00 Lodged in Australia — Lodge your application in the United Kingdom Lodged in the United Kingdom — GBP £13.00 Delivery destination: Asia Pacific countries Lodged in New Zealand — NZD $22.00 Lodged in Australia — AUD $20.00 Lodged in the United Kingdom — Lodge your application in New Zealand or Australia Delivery destination: United States Lodged in New Zealand — NZD $32.00 Lodged in Australia — AUD $30.00 Lodged in the United Kingdom — GBP £16.00 Delivery destination: European countries (excluding the UK and countries listed below) Lodged in New Zealand — NZD $43.00 Lodged in Australia — Lodge your application in the United Kingdom Lodged in the United Kingdom — GBP £21.00 Delivery destination: Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Malta, Switzerland, Serbia, Libya, Pakistan, Ukraine Lodged in New Zealand — NZD $51.00 Lodged in Australia — Lodge your application in New Zealand or the United Kingdom Lodged in the United Kingdom — GBP £25.00 Delivery destination: Russia, Iran, Nepal, Belarus Lodged in New Zealand — NZD $56.00 Lodged in Australia — AUD $52.00 Lodged in the United Kingdom — GBP £27.00 Delivery destination: Rest of world Lodged in New Zealand — NZD $45.00 Lodged in Australia — Lodge your application in New Zealand or the United Kingdom Lodged in the United Kingdom — GBP £22.00 42. Payment details for citizenship and passport application fees What do you need to pay? Fees vary depending on which country you are sending your application to. Make sure you have selected the service you require in question 41. Select the method of payment you want: Credit card or debit card (Yes or no) ^ EFTPOS (in person only) (Yes or no) ^ Preloaded payment card (for example, Prezzy card - do not post card) (Yes or no) ^ If credit card, debit card or preloaded card, please complete the card details below. Card details: Visa (Yes or no) ^ MasterCard (Yes or no) ^ Amex (Yes or no) ^ Name as it appears on card ^ Card number ^ Expiry date (MM/YY) ^ Security code/CSC (Last 3 numbers on the reverse side of card. UK only) ^ I authorise the Department of Internal Affairs to charge the total amount across to my credit or debit card. Cardholder signature (CARDHOLDER SIGN HERE) ^ 43. Lodging your application and documents By post If you want to post us your application, 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. New Zealand Courier or post to: The Citizenship (Descent) Office Service Delivery and Operations Department of Internal Affairs PO Box 10680 Wellington 6140 New Zealand Australia Courier or post to: Department of Internal Affairs GPO Box 365 Sydney NSW 2001 Australia (Express Post, Standard Mail, Registered Mail) United Kingdom Courier or post to: Department of Internal Affairs 1 Pall Mall East London SW1Y 5AU United Kingdom Hand deliver to one of our offices For office locations, please visit govt.nz/citizenship or call us on 0800 22 51 51 or if outside New Zealand +64 (4) 462 0651. End of applicant form. Office use only: Date Received (DD MM YY) ^ NOTES 25 May 2024 Name ^ Office use only: Documents List Applicant: Applicant’s birth certificate (Original or photocopy) ^ 2 x passport photos (Original or photocopy) ^ State Issued ID (Original or photocopy) ^ Applicant’s change of name certificate (Original or photocopy) ^ Fee (Original or photocopy) ^ Other: (Original or photocopy) ^ Documents List Applicant Parent: Parent’s passport (Original or photocopy) ^ Parent’s state-issued photo ID (Original or photocopy) ^ Parent’s marriage or civil union certificate (Original or photocopy) ^ Parent’s change of name certificate (Original or photocopy) ^ Other: (Original or photocopy) ^ End of Office use only section.