Get your child an NZ passport when born overseas
What you need to know
If you are a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant and you have a child overseas, you can register them as a New Zealand citizen by descent and get them an NZ passport.
Citizens by descent can travel on an NZ passport and are entitled to live here indefinitely.
Who can get it
If you are a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant, any children you have outside NZ are NZ citizens by descent. To get them an NZ passport, you need to register their citizenship. You can order them a passport at the same time by ticking a box on the form.
Once you turn 16, you apply for citizenship as an adult.
Get yourself an NZ passport when born overseas
Getting an NZ passport
You can order your child an NZ passport at the same time as you register their citizenship by descent.
How long it takes
It takes up to 30 working days to process a complete application to register your child's citizenship and order them a passport.
You can make an urgent application. This costs more and takes up to 10 working days.
You can not make an urgent application if your case involves an overseas adoption.
What it costs
Registering your child's citizenship by descent and ordering a passport costs NZD$295.70, AUD$318 or GBP£182.
Forms
Application for New Zealand citizenship by descent and passport — child (PDF 1.1MB)
How you apply
1. Documents you need
You must bring or send original documents — not copies.
You need to include these 2 documents with your child’s application:
- your child’s full birth certificate with their parents' names
- 2 passport photos that meet the photo requirements.
If you do not have your child's full birth certificate, you need to get it from the country where your child was born.
2. Complete the application form
Application for New Zealand citizenship by descent and passport — child (PDF 1.1MB)
Both parents need to fill in the application form and someone else needs to witness 1 of the passport photos.
The NZ citizen parent needs to include their most recent New Zealand passport number.
What the witness does
The witness fills in the witness section of the application form. They also write your child's name and the date on the back of 1 of the photos, and then sign it.
The witness must:
- be over 16
- have known your child for at least 1 year, or since birth
- not be related to your child or part of your child's extended family
- not live in the same house as your child.
The witness must also have a current or expired NZ passport, or be a:
- registered medical professional, like a doctor, nurse, dentist, pharmacist or physiotherapist
- registered teacher, like a primary or secondary teacher or university lecturer
- minister of religion
- lawyer
- police officer
- kaumatua.
3. Submit your application form
Send your completed form with your supporting documents and payment to the Department of Internal Affairs in New Zealand, Sydney or London.
You can courier, post or deliver the application in person.
Citizenship Offices contact information
4. Pay the fee
| Application | If lodged in New Zealand | If lodged in Sydney | If lodged in London |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | NZ$204.40 | AUD$192 | GBP£110 |
| Citizenship & passport | NZ$295.70 | AUD$318 | GBP£182 |
| Urgent citizenship & passport | NZ$452.23 | AUD$533 | GBP£306 |
If you want your documents sent to a different country from the one where you lodged your application, you need to add a courier fee.
You can pay by:
- credit card
- cheque or money order in NZD, AUD or GBP depending on which country you are sending your application to, or
- cash or EFTPOS if you are delivering your application in person.
After you apply
Getting your documents back
If you bring your application into a Department of Internal Affairs public counter, your original documents are copied, certified and given back to you straight away.
If you post or courier your application, the Citizenship Office couriers your original documents to you with your child's citizenship certificate and passport, if you applied for one.
If your application is declined, the Citizenship Office sends you a letter and includes your original documents.
When you find out about your application
The Citizenship Office contacts you if they need more information.
If your application is successful, you are couriered your child's citizenship certificate and passport, if you applied for one.
If your application is declined because your child does not have a claim to NZ citizenship by descent, the Citizenship Office emails you or sends you a letter. You may not get a refund.
Withdrawing your application
You can withdraw your application at any time. You may not get a refund.
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