You can ask for your citizenship certificate to show your preferred gender when you:
Extra documents you must include
To apply using a different gender than what’s on your birth certificate you need to provide extra information. If you’re aged 17 or under there are also additional requirements.
You must include these 2 extra documents with your New Zealand citizenship application:
- your original birth certificate — not a copy
- a statutory declaration written by you, that states:
- the gender you want on your citizenship certificate
- how long you have been living with your new gender identity.
Making a statutory declaration
If you are aged 17 or under
If you’re aged 17 or under, you must also provide:
- a statutory declaration from your parent or legal guardian, and
- a letter of support from a registered professional.
The registered professional must be 1 of the following:
- a registered counsellor
- a registered doctor or medical practitioner
- a registered nurse or nurse practitioner
- a registered psychologist
- a registered psychotherapist, or
- a registered social worker.
The professional’s letter of support must:
- be on their official letterhead
- state that you understand what it means to have your citizenship certificate issued in a different gender to the one recorded on your birth registration, and
- confirm that it is something that you want to do.
The registered professional is not required to assess if the gender change is in your best interests or if you physically conform to your new gender.
