Changes to fees for citizenship

The Department of Internal Affairs says that from 16 November 2006 there will be changes to the way fees are refunded when people withdraw applications for a grant of New Zealand citizenship. There are also changes to how the citizenship registry can be accessed.

Citizenship Manager, Geoff May says the total amount of $460 for adults and $230 for children to become New Zealand citizens by grant remains the same. The fee includes $150 for the initial processing and $310 for the remaining stages for adults, and $75 and $155 for children’s applications. From 16 November 2006, only part of that fee will be refunded if a person withdraws their application. The refund available will be $310 for adults and $155 for children.

“The fee is being split in order to recover the cost of work that we do to establish if someone is eligible for a grant of New Zealand citizenship. Until now the total amount has been refunded to those who withdrew their applications or who were found ineligible.

“It makes it fairer for everyone to split the fee this way. We work on a cost recovery basis and we were faced with possibly having to raise the fee to recoup the cost of working on applications that are later withdrawn,” Mr May says.

Other changes to fees include:

• Fees for confirming citizenship by descent or for those whose status has not previously been recorded will be increased to $200.
• Introduction of a new fee of $110 for an application for advice about the citizenship status of a third party.
• A new fee of $26 to access information on a citizenship register.

There are also new restrictions on who can access information on citizenship registers. Only the applicant or their authorised agent will now be able to access the registry.

For further information go to www.dia.govt.nz

Contact
Marguerite Fahy, Senior Communications Advisor
Department of Internal Affairs
Phone dd 04 382 3700 Mobile 0274 471 4173
e-mail: marguerite.fahy@dia.govt.nz