Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,

I have a few questions regarding Citizenship Endorsement applications and related processes. I am seeking clarification at a policy and practice level.

1. Foreign passport requirement for Citizenship Endorsement applications
Form INZ1174 states that applicants need to provide their foreign passport for endorsement, but it does not specify whether the passport must be the original or whether a certified copy is acceptable.

By contrast, the Citizenship Endorsement lodgement guide referenced in OIA request 2324-2258 states that for the foreign passport, “Certified copy or original is required”.

Can you confirm whether either a certified copy or the original foreign passport is acceptable for a Citizenship Endorsement application?

2. Endorsing multiple foreign passports
Can a New Zealand citizen apply to endorse two or more valid foreign passports, even if not within a single application?

For example, if a New Zealand citizen also holds Canadian and Thai citizenship, can they apply for a Citizenship Endorsement for the Canadian passport and then subsequently apply for an endorsement for the Thai passport, provided both passports are valid?

3. NZ dual citizen travelling solely on a foreign passport without a Citizenship Endorsement
What delays, issues, or additional steps might a New Zealand citizen face if they travel in and out of New Zealand using only a foreign passport without a Citizenship Endorsement?

Similar to the response provided in OIA request 2324-1444, can you explain what would typically occur in the following situations, including how border systems (such as eGate, where relevant) would handle the traveler:
- At airline check-in in New Zealand when departing overseas (assuming the foreign passport is valid for entry to the destination country);
- At New Zealand border control when departing New Zealand; and
- At New Zealand border control when returning to New Zealand.

In OIA 2324-1444, the response explains what may occur when a person checks in for a flight returning to New Zealand. I am seeking similar clarification for the situations listed above.

4. Dual citizen travelling with both a foreign passport (without endorsement) and a New Zealand passport
This question may relate to a different department, but I am including it here for guidance.

OIA 24-575
https://fyi.org.nz/request/28484/respons... notes that, to use eGate, passport details and passenger details must match.

If a New Zealand–United States dual citizen uses their US passport (without a Citizenship Endorsement) to check in for a flight from New Zealand to the United States, and then proceeds to border control:

Can the person use their New Zealand passport at eGate?

If not, is the correct process that the person must present their New Zealand passport to an officer at manual passport control?

I understand that the US passport could not be used at eGate, as it would not be linked to any visa or endorsement. Please confirm whether the above understanding is correct.

5. Current policy and SOP for assessing Citizenship Endorsement applications
Can you share the latest policy and any SOPs used when assessing Citizenship Endorsement applications?

I note that the Citizenship Endorsement lodgment guide appears to be at least partially out of date, as the application fee stated in the guide is no longer correct.

6. Future plans for an online Citizenship Endorsement application
Does the Department / INZ have any plans to move the Citizenship Endorsement application process to an online system?
If so, what is the expected timeframe?
If not, what are the reasons this is not being considered?

Yours faithfully,

David Singh