Kia ora,

 

Thank you for your query about citizenship application processing times.

 

All applications submitted to the Department undergo automated checks as
part of preliminary assessment. These automated checks triage citizenship
applications into different queues based on the amount of manual
intervention required by a case officer. Applications in queues that
require less manual intervention are often processed faster.

 

It’s not possible to tell an applicant the results of their or others’
automated checks without actually undertaking some assessment of the
application. You are not able to influence the results of the automated
checks in order to change your queue position. Please note that lodging
another application is unlikely to result in your application being
processed more quickly.

 

We acknowledge there is a variation in processing times between
applications in the different queues, as indicated in the general
timeframes advertised on our [1]website. I can confirm that the oldest
applications being allocated for assessment are from April 2022.

 

We understand it may seem disconcerting when others who applied after you
receive their citizenship outcome in a quicker timeframe, but we hope this
information clarifies the situation and we thank you for your patience.

 

A case officer will be in contact once your application has been allocated
for assessment.

 

We do not have an urgent service for citizenship by grant applications.

 

However, in rare circumstances we may consider assessing your application
out of the standard queue order. This does not affect the time it takes to
complete the checks for assessing your eligibility for New Zealand
citizenship.

 

A request for out of queue processing is usually only approved if you are
in a situation out of your control and unable to get a travel document.

 

If you already hold a travel document from your country of citizenship, it
is unlikely we would consider out of queue processing for travel under any
of the criteria listed on the website.

 

You can find the criteria for urgent requests here:
[2]https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-cit...

 

If you have already submitted an application and you wish to request your
application to be assessed out of the standard queue order, send us your:

 

·         full name

·         date of birth

·         country of birth

·         full delivery address as stated in your application

·         reasons for requiring citizenship urgently

·         evidence for requiring citizenship urgently (if applicable).

 

Your request will be passed on to the appropriate team for consideration.

 

For any other enquiries please reply to this email, visit our website at
[3]https://www.govt.nz/browse/nz-passports-...,
or contact us by phone.

 

Nâku noa, nâ

 

Mani 

Life and Identity Services Officer | Âpiha Ratonga Tuakiri Ora |
Citizenship Office

NZ: 0800 22 51 51 | Outside NZ: +64 4 462 0651

Mon to Fri 9:00am to 5:30pm

Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua

 

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