Latest Citizenship Timeline - adults only

[Gaida]

Question about brief travel outside NZ while applying for citizenship:

The eligibility period is approaching, and I plan to travel outside NZ for 2-3 weeks in the year after applying. This travel will occur 6-10 weeks after applying for citizenship.
EXAMPLE: Apply 1 July
TRAVEL: 7AUG - 27AUG

Will this travel delay the processing of the application? I'm aware that you cannot get citizenship while you are overseas.

1) Does this mean DIA will not even proceed with reviewing/approving the application while you are overseas?
2) Is there a possibility to be put in the "slow queue/bucket" due to the travel?

Even with approval, citizenship is not officially granted until the ceremony, so there will be plenty of time to return to NZ and get invited to a ceremony.

Trying to avoid delays. Thanks for suggestions.

[Kelerei]

1) Does this mean DIA will not even proceed with reviewing/approving the application while you are overseas?

I do not know, but I consider this to be unlikely. I can think of no valid reason why processing of your application would not proceed. Of course, it is unlikely that you will be allocated to a citizenship ceremony until your return, for reasons that should be obvious.

2) Is there a possibility to be put in the "slow queue/bucket" due to the travel?

Again, I do not know for sure, but I believe that this is possible: for example, an automated check could theoretically flag some or all planned travel as needing manual assessment to ascertain whether or not the applicant meets the intention to reside requirement.

[mara_visa]

Question about brief travel outside NZ while applying for citizenship:

The eligibility period is approaching, and I plan to travel outside NZ for 2-3 weeks in the year after applying. This travel will occur 6-10 weeks after applying for citizenship.
EXAMPLE: Apply 1 July
TRAVEL: 7AUG - 27AUG

Will this travel delay the processing of the application? I'm aware that you cannot get citizenship while you are overseas.

1) Does this mean DIA will not even proceed with reviewing/approving the application while you are overseas?
2) Is there a possibility to be put in the "slow queue/bucket" due to the travel?

Even with approval, citizenship is not officially granted until the ceremony, so there will be plenty of time to return to NZ and get invited to a ceremony.

Trying to avoid delays. Thanks for suggestions.

I was in a similar situation to the one described by you (i.e. short travel out of NZ relatively soon after submitting application). I don't know what the rules are but my very recent personal experience was this: Applied online, informed DIA of travel plans, waited for outcome but did not receive outcome before travelling, travelled out of NZ, received approval email while out of NZ, returned a week later as planned. Had no problems entering the country as visa still valid (I assume until ceremony). So, as you can see, my application actually got approved while I was away. The process took +/- 11 weeks to receive approval email from the time I applied online.

[Kelerei]

Had no problems entering the country as visa still valid (I assume until ceremony).

Just a quick note: your assumption is correct. You are not a citizen until you have taken the oath of allegiance at the citizenship ceremony (Section 11 of the Citizenship Act 1977), and thus it is only at this point where INZ must cancel your visa (Section 64 of the Immigration Act 2009).

[Wrightwoo]

Just a quick note: your assumption is correct. You are not a citizen until you have taken the oath of allegiance at the citizenship ceremony (Section 11 of the Citizenship Act 1977), and thus it is only at this point where INZ must cancel your visa (Section 64 of the Immigration Act 2009).

Incorrect, your PR visa will be invalid once your citizenship is approved. That's why you need to inform DIA about your travel plan.

[JandM]

Wrightwoo, do you have a source other than those Acts of Parliament Kelerei has mentioned?

[Gaida]

Had no problems entering the country as visa still valid (I assume until ceremony)

Thank you everyone for your replies. Kelerei, it is a pleasure to see your name again. Thanks to both you and JandM for your incredible years of service to all of us going through this process.

I found no support for Wrightwoo's assertion.

I have found the following information that while the grant of citizenship is AUTHORIZED by DIA by application, citizenship is only GRANTED by law at the ceremony. 2 resources:

1) https://oag.parliament.nz/2013/citizenship/part3.htm

Under "Loss of Citizenship", Section 3.28, it is noted, "A decision to authorise the grant of citizenship can be rescinded at any time before the date the person becomes a citizen, if the Minister is no longer satisfied that the person meets the requirements for citizenship. In practical terms, that means that the Minister's decision to authorise the grant of citizenship can be rescinded at any time before a citizenship ceremony takes place."

2) From the Citizenship Act of 1977, Sections 9B and 12 are relevant:

Section 9B: "Notwithstanding that the Minister may have authorised a grant of citizenship under section 8 or section 9, the Minister may rescind that authorisation at any time before the date that the person becomes a citizen under section 12, if no longer satisfied that the person meets the requirements for a grant of citizenship."

Section 12: "Certificate of New Zealand citizenship
(1)
Where the Minister authorises the grant of New Zealand citizenship to any person, the Secretary shall issue to that person a certificate of New Zealand citizenship in the prescribed form.
(2)
A person to whom a certificate of New Zealand citizenship is issued under subsection (1) shall be a New Zealand citizen as from the specified date.
(3)
Where a certificate of New Zealand citizenship is issued to a person who is a New Zealand citizen by descent, he shall cease to have that status as from the specified date.
(4)
For the purposes of subsections (2) and (3) the specified date shall be—
(a)
in the case of a person required under section 11 to take an oath of allegiance, the date on which he takes that oath or makes an affirmation to the same effect:
(b)
in every other case, the date specified in the certificate."

You must:
- take the oath of allegiance
- receive a citizenship certificate

For most candidates, this will occur at the citizenship ceremony, NOT when the authorization is granted by DIA. (An example of an exception was during Covid when citizenship ceremonies were cancelled - then grant would presumably have occurred when receiving the certificate by mail...)

[nzfrog]

Hello there
My husband's citizenship application is in process and he is planning to visit his parents in France end of September for 2 weeks. Applied in July 2022. No CO assigned yet.
Does he have to inform DIA about his trip in a month?
Thank you so much in advance!

[HansNZ]

I'm curious, IF someone's citizenship application had been approved, he/she went to another country (e.g., Australia) to work (on his/her passport with a work visa), came back just to take the ceremony, would DIA know?

Do DIA check the travel history before issuing the certificate or even before inviting to the ceremony?

[JandM]

Hello there
My husband's citizenship application is in process and he is planning to visit his parents in France end of September for 2 weeks. Applied in July 2022. No CO assigned yet.
Does he have to inform DIA about his trip in a month?
Thank you so much in advance!

Yes, he should tell them about the trip and the reason for it, so there's no query in official minds surrounding his intention to live in NZ.