Citizenship timeframes
This page explains how your citizenship by grant application is processed. Check this page regularly for up-to-date application processing times.
Check the progress of your application:
To check the progress of your application, click on the link below. Select 'Continue saved application', then log in using RealMe.
Current application and assessment timeframes
These timeframes were updated in July 2025.
The oldest applications we're starting to assess were received in May 2025. If we received your application after May 2025, we cannot provide any further information on the status of your application.
In general:
- within 10 months of submitting their application, 90% of applicants receive an outcome
- within 18 months of submitting their application, 90% of applicants are granted citizenship.
We collect data on the status of New Zealand citizenship applications by the date they were received:
Status of Citizenship by Grant applications by date received at DIA - Dataset - data.govt.nz
Citizenship ceremonies
Citizenship ceremonies are arranged by local councils and the timeframe for attending these varies across New Zealand.
About citizenship application timeframes
How the citizenship process works
All citizenship applications submitted to the Department undergo automated checks as part of a preliminary assessment.
These checks sort applications based on the amount of manual intervention required by a case officer. This preliminary check allows us to process the majority of applications quickly.
Why some applications are processed faster than others
The time it takes to process an application can differ. This is because some applications:
- take less time to process if we can assess some of the requirements automatically
- are impacted by other legislation (such as the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982)
- are submitted with all the correct supporting information, and some are not
- require information from overseas sources and the timeframe on obtaining this information varies.
To help us process your application as quickly as possible, we recommend you:
- apply online, if you can
- meet the requirements for citizenship when you apply
- provide all required supporting information
- supply a photo that meets quality standards.
Check you meet the requirements for NZ citizenship
What we are doing to speed up processing
DIA is continuously looking for opportunities to introduce or improve automated checks, as well as opportunities to improve efficiency in completing manual checks.
DIA is also taking other measures to reduce the processing time for citizenship applications.
These include:
- changes to staff allocation
- more staff training
- technological improvements.
There is no urgent citizenship service
Although 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 the necessary checks.
A request for urgency is usually only approved if you are in a situation out of your control and you have no other option.
All requests for urgent processing must be accompanied by documented evidence as outlined below.
The Citizenship Office will consider whether you need citizenship:
- to travel for a medical emergency
- to represent New Zealand
- for work or deployment
- to stand for election
- for humanitarian reasons.
Requests for urgent processing are not approved for:
- financial reasons, such as not wanting to pay for a passport from your home country or a visa from another country
- a preference to travel on a New Zealand passport
- any other personal preference.
While your application is being processed, make sure your existing overseas passport or travel document is valid. If it is due to expire within the next year, you may need to renew it in case of urgent travel. This also applies to any relevant visas issued by Immigration New Zealand.
Utility links and page information
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