20 March 2024
45 Pipitea Street, Wel ington 6011
Phone +64 4 495 7200
dia.govt.nz
John
fyi-request-25810-
[email address]
Tēnā koe John
OIA request 23/24 0634 Request for citizenship timeframes/processing
Thank you for your Official Information Act (Act) request received by the Department of Internal
Affairs (Department) on 21 February 2024.
You requested –
1. What measures have the DIA implemented to reduce the citizenship application backlog?
2. How effective of these measures in reducing the backlog?
3. Is there any timeframe that DIA estimates the backlog can be cleaned and return to
normal timeframe of citizenship application? and how is the progress?
4. Any further planned measures to further reduce the backlog and what is the timeline of
the planned measures implementation, and the expected results and effectiveness of the
planned measures?
On the same day you submitted additional questions –
5. after an online application has been submitted, when the automated check wil be
initiated?
6. If the application passes al automated checks, when wil it be moved to the appropriate
workstream?
In response to your request I can provide you with the fol owing information.
Question one, two and three
A number of initiatives have been implemented over the past couple of years. The Department
applies a range of automated tests against the criteria to reduce processing times for al
applications, one of which is the increased use of the citizenship system’s automated checking
capabilities. Around 40% of applications can be assessed using predominantly automated
checks, and in those cases the Department is able to complete assessment within two months –
this means that some applications are now processed more quickly than others.
Applications that pass the automated checks are grouped together, and then processed based
on the date they were received.
94% of applicants are granted citizenship within 19 months of submitting their application.
Citizenship timeframes are published on www.govt.nz and searching ‘citizenship timeframes’.
Question four
The Department is continual y refining its systems, reviewing processes, recruiting new staff and
maintaining appropriate staffing levels.
Question five and six
The automated check initiates as soon as the application is submitted.
On completion of the automated checks, the application is automatical y assigned to the
appropriate workstream.
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, the Department has
decided to proactively release a copy of this response on the DIA website. Al requestor data,
including your name and contact details, wil be removed prior to release. The released
response wil be made available here: https://www.dia.govt.nz/Official-Information-Act-
Requests-2.
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
Julia Taylor
Manager Operational Policy and Official Correspondence
Service Delivery and Operations
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