Citizenship Ceremonies

The New Zealand Citizenship Office handles all applications for New Zealand citizenship. It will usually take between five to eight months from the time you make an application to the Office before a decision is heard. This timeframe accounts for application processing and approval from the Minister.

Citizenship Information

Special Conditions

Citizenship Ceremonies

Citizenship Information

There may be many questions you have about the important decision of becoming a New Zealand citizen. More information on citizenship, application forms and charges are available from the Department of Internal Affairs, Citizenship office:

Telephone 0800 22 51 51 (New Zealand only) or +64 4 474 8123 (from overseas)

Email citizenship@dia.govt.nz

Contact Centre hours: Monday to Thursday, 8.00am to 7.00pm, Friday 9.00am to 7.00pm and Saturday 9.00am to 2.00pm. Outside of these hours an answer service operates to assist with urgent enquiries.

Special conditions

To be granted New Zealand citizenship you must meet the requirements of either the Citizenship Act 1977 or the Citizenship Act (Western Samoa) 1982. You may meet the requirements of the Citizenship Act 1977 if you are:

• an adult over 18 years meeting the general requirements

• a child under 20 years meeting the general requirements

• a person married to a New Zealand citizen

• a person born outside New Zealand between 1 January 1949 - 31 December 1977, whose mother was a New Zealand citizen otherwise than by descent when they were born

• a person in exceptional circumstances.

You may meet the requirements of the Citizenship Act (Western Samoa) 1982 if you are a citizen of Samoa.

Citizenship Ceremonies

Public citizenship ceremonies fulfill an important symbolic role by formally welcoming new citizens from many cultures into the New Zealand community.

Your local Council hosts ceremonies to welcome new citizens to the community as the final part of the citizenship application. The ceremonies are held on nominated days throughout the year.

Contact the Council’s Customer Service Center on 295 1300 between the hours of 8.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, to find out when the next citizenship ceremony is taking place in Papakura.