Change your name while waiting for citizenship application to be approved

[ht8990]

Hello lovely people

I have been informed that my citizenship application has been picked up by a C/O and if external checks are all clear, I should expect to get an outcome in 3-4 weeks from today 10th of June 2022.

I'm also about to start a legal name change process and with current processing time (30 working days), I suppose my name change will be completed during the time I'm waiting for citizenship certificate printing.

My questions are
1. Will the name change complicate my citizenship application even if I've already received the Approval in Principle?
2. Will DIA carry out further checks once I inform them my legal name is now changed after they sent me approval in principle?

Thank you all so much.

[Kelerei]

All we can say for sure is that you will need to inform the Citizenship Office of this, and take things from there.

[ht8990]

All we can say for sure is that you will need to inform the Citizenship Office of this, and take things from there.

I will inform them for sure. But do you mean I should inform them right after I lodge my name change request or only after I receive the name change confirmation? Thanks

[TheNewKiwi]

Personally, I would wait to change your name until your citizenship is fully processed and your certificate is in hand. Just to keep things simple. Then just put a copy of your name change certificate with your citizenship certificate for future use. Or are you trying to get your new name on your certificate? I changed my name before I applied for citizenship so I would have my new name on my citizenship certificate. Because DIA won't print you a new one afterward.

I would call them and ask about what to do before you file your name change. I think only DIA can answer your questions accurately.

[ht8990]

Thank you both for the advice.

I have called DIA and they have told me that I have to inform DIA straightaway once my name change application is submitted rather than wait until I get name change completed.

So I would wait until after my printing date to submit a name change. Even though it'd be nice to have new name on citizenship cert, it's not worth the extra wait time.

[Sackboy]

Hi ht8990,

If you don’t mind sharing, how did you get the information if a C/O has picked up your citizenship application?

Did you ring the DIA or did you get an email from the DIA?

[HansNZ]

Does a citizenship certificate show the new name or both old and new names?

[Kelerei]

Does a citizenship certificate show the new name or both old and new names?

I presume it would show whatever the person's name is at the time of citizenship being granted.

[TheNewKiwi]

Does a citizenship certificate show the new name or both old and new names?

It only shows one name; the one you have at the time citizenship is granted. My name change was prior to citizenship, so my new name will appear. My friend is changing their name after already having citizenship, and will not be able to get a new certificate with their new name. They will need to submit a name change certificate along with their citizenship certificate when it is needed. But once you have your passport, the need to show a citizenship certificate is negligible.

[HansNZ]

What would be the "current name" in the citizen application form if someone has changed his/her name in NZ but still uses the existing overseas passport (with the old name on it) at the time of submission? Is it the name in the passport (I.e. the old name) or the new one?