Articles tagged with Citizenship Processing

NZ Citizenship Processing Hits Target After Six Years of Delays, Minister Says

1 week ago | 140 views

After six years of delays, New Zealand's citizenship by grant processing has met timeliness targets for six consecutive months, with 94.6% of applications processed within 75 days in 2025. This improvement results from a focus on efficiency, prioritizing older applications, and has coincided with a 12% increase in applications and record processing volumes. Minister Brooke van Velden praised staff efforts and emphasized the importance of granting citizenship to those contributing to the country, while applications can be submitted online or by post.

Tags: Brooke van Velden Department of Internal Affairs citizenship processing New Zealand citizenship applications timeliness targets citizenship by grant citizenship office application backlog citizenship outcomes

New Zealand Citizenship Wait Times Cut by 72% with Faster Processing

4 months ago | 724 views

Citizenship application wait times in New Zealand have decreased by 72% since Labour last governed, with average processing now taking 51 days compared to 180 days in October 2023. Despite consistent application numbers over the past three years, the Government has focused on efficient service delivery to reduce stress and provide certainty for applicants who have already spent at least five years in the country. Minister Brooke van Velden thanked the processing teams and emphasized the importance of reliable government services, noting applications can be submitted online or by post.

Tags: Brooke van Velden Labour New Zealand citizenship Department of Internal Affairs Government citizenship applications wait times citizenship processing New Zealand Government

Minister of Internal Affairs Celebrates Decrease in Citizenship Application Wait Times

9 months ago | 925 views

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden notes a significant decrease in the number of people awaiting citizenship decisions, with the current backlog reduced to just over 13,700 from a high of 37,690 in April 2022. Efforts to streamline processes and reduce wait times have led to improved efficiency and quicker processing times, with the oldest applications now being picked up within two months compared to an 11-month delay in the past. Van Velden emphasizes the importance of celebrating the milestone of becoming a New Zealand citizen and acknowledges the contributions of individuals waiting for citizenship to the economy and communities.

Tags: Brooke van Velden Minister of Internal Affairs Citizenship by Grant application Department of Internal Affairs New Zealand citizen citizenship delays citizenship processing economy communities backlog