22 October 2025
45 Pipitea Street, Wellington 6011
Phone +64 4 495 7200
dia.govt.nz
John Luke
fyi-request-32380-
[email address]
Tēnā koe John
OIA request 25/26 0336 Request for Citizenship Policy
Thank you for your Official Information Act (Act) request received by the Department of Internal
Affairs (Department) on 24 September 2025.
You requested –
I am writing to seek clarification regarding the requirements and processes involved in
applying for New Zealand citizenship.
Declaration of Civil Matters:
1. Are applicants required to declare any past or ongoing civil cases from their home
country as part of their citizenship application? For example, if an individual has
been declared bankrupt in their country of origin, are they obligated to disclose
this?
2. Verification Measures:
What procedures or checks are in place to verify information related to civil
matters or financial history in an applicant's home country?
3. Eligibility Despite Civil History:
Would someone who has had a civil case or bankruptcy in their home country still
be eligible to apply for New Zealand citizenship?
4. Post-Approval Concerns:
Would the department be open to receiving information about an individual who
has already been granted New Zealand citizenship but may have withheld
relevant civil or financial information during their application?
In response to your request, I can provide you with the following information.
link to page 2
Questions one and three
The disqualifying factors for a grant of citizenship are set out in section 9A of the Citizenship Act
19771 and apply to some convictions.
Some bankruptcies reflect deliberate behaviour that goes to character while others come about
through no fault of the person who becomes bankrupt. For example, a business failure after a
natural disaster, collapse of a debtor, or loss of income after personal injury. Similarly, it will
depend on the nature of the civil case as many civil disputes would have no bearing on an
applicant’s character, although some might.
Question two
The Department does not routinely make checks on civil matters and financial history in an
applicant’s country of origin as a matter of course. The Department may, in rare cases conduct
specific, targeted checks
where relevant to an investigation.
Question four
The Department can receive information, but please note only matters which relate to the good
character prior to the granting of citizenship would be relevant.
The Minister of Internal Affairs can revoke a grant of New Zealand citizenship only if there is
sufficient evidence which proves that the grant was a result of committing fraud, false
representations or deliberately hiding relevant information. Evidence is required to be
disclosed to the applicant and is subject to the review of a High Court Judge to determine if the
revocation is reasonable.
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. All requestor data,
including your name and contact details, will be removed prior to release. The released
response will 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
John Crawford-Smith
Principal Advisor
Regulatory and Identity Services
1 Link to section 9A of the Citizenship Act 1977 -
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1977/0061/latest/whole.html#DLM443867
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