New Zealand citizens travelling on a foreign passport

To enter New Zealand as a New Zealand citizen, you must have evidence of your citizenship. This evidence is either a New Zealand passport or a New Zealand Citizen Endorsement in your foreign passport.

An endorsement may be a label in your foreign passport or an electronic record linked to your foreign passport. An endorsement lasts as long as the foreign passport it is endorsed in (or linked to, if electronic only).

Applying for a New Zealand passport

Travelling to New Zealand on a New Zealand passport is the easiest way to travel to New Zealand if you are a New Zealand citizen. Visit the Department of Internal Affairs' Identity and Passports website to learn more about getting a New Zealand passport.

Apply for your passport — Identity and Passports

If you decide to apply for a New Zealand passport - make sure that you allow enough time for your passport application to be processed before you travel.

Applying for a New Zealand Citizen endorsement

If you apply for a New Zealand Citizen endorsement you must provide:

• your foreign passport
• evidence of your New Zealand citizenship (if it is the first time you are applying for an endorsement)
• either an acceptable photo of your head and shoulders or a New Zealand passport (for us to check the photo)
• the completed form 'New Zealand Citizen Endorsement Application' and the required fee.
• a declaration that you have previously held a foreign passport with a New Zealand citizen endorsement, if you have had one before. You can note this in section C of the application form.

New Zealand Citizen Endorsement Application (INZ 1174) PDF 287KB

Acceptable photos

Check our Fees, decision times and where to apply page to find out where to send your application.

Fees, decision times and where to apply

Evidence of New Zealand citizenship

If you are applying for an endorsement for the first time, you will need to prove you are a New Zealand citizen by providing one of the following:

• a New Zealand passport
• a New Zealand birth certificate (if issued on or after 1 January 2006, the birth certificate must show that you have New Zealand citizenship)
• a certificate of New Zealand citizenship issued under the Citizenship Act 1977
• a certificate of confirmation of New Zealand citizenship by descent issued under the Citizenship Act 1977, or
• an evidentiary certificate issued under the Citizenship Act 1977 confirming New Zealand citizenship.

Travelling on multiple passports

You do not have to leave and enter New Zealand on the same passport, or vice versa.

For example if you hold a foreign passport and a New Zealand passport, you can:

• travel to the country you hold a passport for on your foreign passport, and return to New Zealand on your New Zealand passport, or
• travel to New Zealand on your New Zealand passport and depart New Zealand on your foreign passport.

Make sure to also check the policy of the country you are travelling to/from around travelling on multiple passports.