Register as a citizen by descent and get a passport
If you are a citizen by descent, you must register your citizenship before you can get a New Zealand passport.
Descent registration and passport timeframes:
It takes up to 30 working days to process a descent registration and passport application.
Applications may require checks with external agencies to verify the descent claim. In some cases external checks can take months to complete. We will contact you directly if this applies to your application.
If you need a New Zealand passport to travel immediately for an emergency, call the Passport Office to discuss your situation:
- New Zealand: freephone 0800 22 50 50 (NZ only) or +64 4 462 0650
- Sydney: freephone 1300 559 535 (Australia only) or +61 2 9225 2300
- London: +44 20 7968 2730
For non-urgent applications, follow the standard process below.
Use one of the application forms below to register your citizenship by descent — even if you do not want a passport.
You are not officially a citizen until you have registered.
Fees
For adults aged 16 or over it costs:
- NZD$204.40 to register your citizenship
- NZD$410.40 to register your citizenship and get a passport.
For children aged 15 or under it costs:
- NZD$204.40 to register your citizenship
- NZD$324.40 to register your citizenship and get a passport.
If you live outside New Zealand
In addition to the registration and passport application fees, you must pay the international courier fees when you post your form to the Citizenship Office.
Apply to register your citizenship by descent
Adults aged 16 or over
Complete this form if:
- you were born outside New Zealand, and
- 1 of your parents was a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant when you were born.
Application for New Zealand citizenship by descent and passport — adult (PDF 700KB)
Children aged 15 or under
Complete this form if:
- the child was born outside New Zealand, and
- at least 1 parent was a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant when the child was born.
Application for New Zealand citizenship by descent and passport — child (PDF 696KB)
Who has to sign the form and why
If your claim to New Zealand citizenship is through your mother
Your mother must sign the form.
If your claim to New Zealand citizenship is through your father
Both your mother and your father must sign the form.
What it means when your parent signs the form
When your parent signs the form, it means they are giving consent for their information to be collected and used to:
- verify they are your parent, and
- check if you are eligible for citizenship.
If your parent has died
If your parent cannot sign the form because they have died, you need to provide a death certificate.
Upgrade to citizenship by grant
Citizens by descent may also meet the requirements for citizenship by grant. This will allow you to pass down citizenship to children born outside New Zealand.
This service is not yet available online – you need to download a form and apply in person or by post.
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