8 September 2023
45 Pipitea Street, Wellington 6011
Phone +64 4 495 7200
dia.govt.nz
Fardeen
[FYI request #23835 email]
Tēnā koe Fardeen
OIA request 23/24 0109 – Request for information on the processing of citizenship by grant
applications.
Thank you for your Official Information Act (Act) request received by the Department of Internal
Affairs (Department) on 14 August 2023.
You requested –
1. Can you explain what is identity check?
2. when identity check start after submit online application for citizenship?
3. how long roughly it take the processes of identity checking?
4. what Internal and externa agencies involve in identity checking?
5. some applicants waiting for their indetity check more than 8 month,how it possible take
that much time?
Clarification of your request was sought on 23 August 2023. On 25 August 2023 you advised the
following –
"your application going through identity check" this is the answer from your customers
services,once applicants call them on the progresses of their application so better you ask
your customers services team to clarify"what they meant by "Identity check"
Identity check is not a term used in the processing of a citizenship by grant application so we
have been unable to determine what information you would like. Therefore, I must refuse your
request pursuant to section 18(e) of the Act: the document alleged to contain the information
requested does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found.
We believe the term ‘identity check’ may have been used by mistake by the Life and Identity
Services Officer (LISO) you spoke with. Using this term may have caused some confusion. The
Department can look into this matter more if you are able to provide more information about
the call. If you would like to do that, please get in touch with us directly at
[email address] using a personal email address. This allows you to
provide more information, such as the time of the call and your contact details.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
Kate Raggett
Manager Operational Policy and Official Correspondence
Service Delivery and Operations
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