Am Loolah

So ...

I decided to look in to getting the kids' their full NZ Citizenship as they currently have Citizenship By Descent - as recommended by the wonderful JAJ!

The following email confused me:-

"New Zealand citizens by descent have all the rights of New Zealand citizenship except that they cannot pass their citizenship on to any of their children who are born overseas.

Citizens by descent can receive a grant of New Zealand citizenship providing they meet all the normal requirements of the grant application process.

If you wish to upgrade from Citizenship by Descent to a Grant of Citizenship, you are required to meet all the requirements of the standard grant of New Zealand Citizenship.

Ordinary Residence Requirement:

For Applicants under 16, they must be currently residing in New Zealand and there must be the intention to remain residing in New Zealand.

For Applicants 16 and over, they must meet all the requirements of the Standard Grant of New Zealand Citizenship - this includes ordinary residency.

The requirements for a grant of New Zealand Citizenship are that the applicant:


* Intends, if granted New Zealand citizenship, to continue to reside in New Zealand
* Is able to understand and speak English
* Is of good character
* Understands the responsibilities and privileges of New Zealand citizenship
* Is a permanent resident of New Zealand


Applicants must have resided in New Zealand for three years. If meeting the three year requirement takes the applicant past 21 April 2010, this will then come under the five year rule, and applicants must have resided in New Zealand for five years.

Upgraded applicants are not required to attend a citizenship ceremony; their certificates will be posted to them.

All applicants are required to complete the Application for New Zealand Citizenship form, and may be required to send in documents."

So I rang them.

We arrived in NZ on the 9th April 2007 to live. This is perhaps why I was confused!

It seems the younger three kids aged 6, 10 and 14 can have full NZ Citizenship granted immediately upon completion of the correct forms and correct fee. But, the 17 year old has to wait until she has been here 3 years - on the 9th April 2010. If we don't apply for her between then and the 21st April 2010 she has to wait another 2 years! So that's a no brainer.

I, on the other hand, still have to wait the full 5 years. It's not very clear or simple or is it just me?

Anway - thought it might be of use to others in the same boat.

Matewx

Read your post hun, as it seems crystal clear to me from what you wrote anyway!

Am Loolah

Yes - thank you for your input! When I read it back before I posted this thread I could see it made sense - but only after I'd rung them. I think I was confused because it was one rule for 3 of the kids and another for the eldest! My thoughts were if any other BE user was as I am, it could be helpful!

MnB

Hi AmLoolah...thanks for posting this info, our kids have citizenship by descent, and whilst they have decided to remain in UK at the moment this will be good to pass on to them.

It took me a couple of reads to get it sorted in my head!.....can understand why you needed to phone!!

Thanks again B x

Matewx

I had to give MY input!! you know me now!!!

Ok now MnB is being blonde too...

MnB

have always been blonde ......so am prone to a few 'moments' luckily!!!
oh ...and Matewx your input always welcome, lol x

BEVS

In these cases, JAJ is your friend.

Am Loolah

He is indeed - have just been filling the Husband in on the email and subsequent phonecall - to which his response was "None of my daughters will ever fall pregnant ... "

When I pointed out we only had a week's window for the 17 year old to get full citizenship before waiting another 2 years to enable her to pass on full citizenship to a child born to a non-Kiwi outside of NZ - well you can just imagine his response ...

I put some kind of "made up on the spot" theory about "if she wanted to go to Uni in OZ she'd need to be a full citizen to pay Domestic Uni fees .."

He liked that version better - it doesn't matter if it's true or not .......

MnB

Dads & daughters .....eh?! Men & saving money....always a good one to use to get the message across!!

Matewx

ahaha dads!!

My former work mate was SO stressed when his girl started taking the pills... I (Yes ME!!) had to explain that the pill is not only for contraception... lol

Then I reminded him, that whether he wants it or not, she will do it anyway!!

BEVS

There is only one Loolah.

southerner

Thanks Loolah - great to see your post. Can I ask how much is the cost of applying for the grant?

JAJ

http://www.citizenship.govt.nz