There is no urgent citizenship service. In rare circumstances we may be able to assess your application out of the standard queue order. However, this does not affect the time required for completing all necessary checks.
A request for urgency is usually only approved if you are in a situation out of your control and unable to get a travel document.
The Citizenship Office will consider whether you need citizenship:
- to travel for a medical emergency
- to represent New Zealand
- for work or deployment
- for humanitarian reasons.
Medical emergencies
You may meet this criterion if you need to leave the country to:
- help a sick relative, or
- get medical treatment you cannot get here.
It must be critical, and there must be no other option.
Representing New Zealand
You may meet this criterion if you:
- are representing New Zealand in sport or another activity, and
- need citizenship to take part in an upcoming event.
Employment and deployment
You may meet this criterion if you need citizenship to:
- start a new job, or
- join or deploy with the New Zealand Defence Force.
Humanitarian reasons
You may meet this criterion if you are in a position you have no control over for humanitarian reasons.
If you meet one of the above criteria
If you meet one of the above criteria, you must:
- write a letter explaining why you need urgent citizenship
- include evidence for your reasons (such as medical, employment or travel documents)
- email the letter and evidence to citizenship@dia.govt.nz.