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Citizenship ceremonies

Citizenship ceremonies are currently suspended, but will resume nationwide by 1 March 2021. If you have been approved for citizenship, you may need to attend a citizenship ceremony. Otherwise you will receive your citizenship certificate by courier post.

COVID-19 and citizenship ceremonies:

Citizenship ceremonies have been suspended nationwide since March 2020. Ceremonies will resume in Auckland in December 2020, except Papakura. Other regions will resume ceremonies in early 2021.

The Citizenship Office continues to monitor the situation and follow public health guidance.

If you have received your citizenship certificate by courier, you do not need to attend a citizenship ceremony.

If you need to attend a citizenship ceremony, you will get an invitation letting you know where and when the ceremony will be held.

People who do not have to go to a ceremony

You do not have to go to a ceremony if you are:

  • aged 13 and under
  • already a citizen by descent
  • intellectually disabled and cannot understand the oath or affirmation.

You can still choose to attend a ceremony, if you want to.

Private ceremonies

Private ceremonies are approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs only in certain situations.

If you believe you need to have a private ceremony, you must send a request by email or by post.

In your request:

  • tell us why you want a private ceremony
  • include any evidence to support your reasons.

By email: citizenshipceremonies@dia.govt.nz

By post:

Department of Internal Affairs
Citizenship Ceremonies Team
PO Box 10680
Wellington 6143
New Zealand

Before your ceremony

Your ceremony is held by your local council. After your New Zealand citizenship is approved, your ceremony will usually take place within 2 to 5 months.

You get an invitation about 4 weeks before your ceremony.

The invitation tells you:

  • the date, time and place of the ceremony
  • how many guests you can bring
  • the statement you will read out at the ceremony.

You must attend a ceremony within 1 year of the date your application for New Zealand citizenship was approved.

If you change your address, plan to travel, or are unable to attend the ceremony

Contact the citizenship ceremonies team if you:

  • change your address before you get your invitation
  • plan to travel before your ceremony takes place, or
  • are unable to attend the ceremony you have been invited to.

When you contact the Citizenship Ceremonies Team, include or have ready your:

  • full name
  • date of birth, and
  • New Zealand citizenship reference number.

Email: citizenshipceremonies@dia.govt.nz

Freephone: 0800 22 51 51

During the ceremony

The ceremony can take a couple of hours. There might be speeches or performances and the national anthem is usually played.

You will make an oath or affirmation statement to say you are loyal to New Zealand. You are told what to say on the day.

You choose which statement you want to make in your application:

  • an oath of allegiance — which is a religious statement, or
  • an affirmation of allegiance.

Oath of allegiance

“I (say your name) swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, her heirs and successors according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfil my duties as a New Zealand citizen. So help me God”.

Affirmation of allegiance

“I (say your name) affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, her heirs and successors according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfil my duties as a New Zealand citizen.”

Watch an example of an NZ citizenship ceremony

Citizenship certificates

You will receive your certificate at the ceremony.

Children aged 13 and under will receive their certificate without having to attend a citizenship ceremony.

If you are a family applying for citizenship together, you can all attend the ceremony and get your citizenship certificates at the same time.

NZ passport

After you have attended your ceremony, you can apply for a New Zealand passport, if you want one.

This is a separate process.

New Zealand passports

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