How to obtain New Zealand documents

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The following certificates are issued by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) Births, Deaths & Marriages(external link) in New Zealand, and not by NZ Embassies. For official/administration purposes, remember to request a certificate and not a printout.

1. New Zealand Birth Certificate

New Zealand Birth Certificate (BDM 93B)/Extrait d'acte de naissance

It is advisable to order an official translation as well as an apostille, even if the French authorities haven't (yet) requested these.

2. New Zealand Marriage or Civil Union Certificate

New Zealand Marriage or Civil Union Certificate (BDM 93M or 93C)/Extrait d'acte de mariage ou de PACS néo-zélandais

You can order a certificate(external link) from the Department of Internal Affairs.

  • Delay approx. 2 weeks

3. New Zealand Death Certificate

New Zealand Death Certificate (BDM 93D)/Extrait d'acte de décès

Get a death certificate(external link) from the Department of Internal Affairs.

  • Delay approx. 2 weeks

4. Certificate of No Impediment

Certificate of No Impediment to a Marriage or a Civil Union of a New Zealand citizen in another country (BDM 189)/Certificat de célibat pour un mariage ou un PACS

States that, following a search of New Zealand registers, no lawful impediment to a marriage or a civil union(external link) has been found. Issued after a minimum legal two week stand-down period from receipt of application.

It is recommended to also order an official translation as well as an apostille, even if the French authorities haven't (yet) requested these.

For a civil union in France (PACS), a Certificate of No Impediment to a Civil Union (CONI) is required to fulfil the 'no lawful impediment' component of the certificat de coûtume requested by the Mairie.

You may, confusingly, get asked for an attestation de non-délivrance de certificat de célibat (attestation from countries that do not issue certificates of no-impediment). This cannot be issued because a CONI can indeed be obtained from New Zealand.

5. Translations

You can order a translation of the above document(s) from the Department of Internal Affairs Translation Agency(external link), whose translations are recognised by the French administration. Quotes for translations of other types of documents can also be requested.

Alternatively, translations can be obtained in France from an official translator (traducteur agréé(external link)).

6. Apostille

Apostille (Authentification/Légalisation)

French administration often requires foreign documents to be authenticated/legalised. Apostille certification(external link) will satisfy this requirement.

Prior to ordering documents from New Zealand, ask the Mairie or other relevant French authority if authentication is actually required, as an apostille can only be obtained from New Zealand.

Complete and send the apostille certification(external link) and document (e.g. birth certificate) applications to the address on the form. You can tick to request a translation on the apostille form.

If you already have your New Zealand document, an e-apostille can be obtained instead.

7. New Zealand Divorce or Dissolution of a Civil Union Order

For information on how to obtain a copy of your divorce papers or dissolution order, contact the Family Court(external link) at which your divorce/dissolution was processed.

If the marriage and divorce both occurred in New Zealand, the details will be added as an endorsement to the marriage entry and will appear on any subsequently-issued marriage certificate.

8. Statement of Criminal Record

Statement of Criminal Record/Attestation tenant lieu de casier judiciare

New Zealand does not issue the equivalent of the French casier judiciaire, however the New Zealand Ministry of Justice can issue a copy of your criminal record to you or to a third party.

Requests must be made on the application form on the New Zealand Ministry of Justice(external link) website.

The following services can be obtained directly from the New Zealand Embassy in Paris:

9. Certificate of Consent to Marry/ Certificat de Coutume

Certificate of Consent to Marry/Certificat de coûtume

States simply that a New Zealand citizen who is older than 18 years is free to marry or enter into a civil union without the consent of any other person. The certificate is issued in French only and is not nominative.

New Zealanders intending to enter into a Civil Union (PACS) in France should also obtain a Certificate of No Impediment to a Civil Union (n°4 above) because the Certificat de Coûtume issued by the Embassy does not provide applicant-specific civil status information.

Email a copy of the biodata page of your NZ passport, proof of payment and a return postal address. Important: if your name is not on the mailbox, include one that is or the letter will not be delivered. (e.g. John Jones chez M. et Mme Dupont).

  • Biodata page of your NZ passport
  • Delay: within one week
  • Fee: 50 €
  • Proof of payment

10. Certified True Copy of a New Zealand Document

Certified True Copy of a New Zealand Document/Certifié conforme à l'original

Note: a certified true copy is not authentication. For authentication of a document, see Apostille (n°6 above).

We are only able to certify as a true copy an original document that we have sighted.

  • Call 01 4501 4343 for an appointment
  • Original document(s) required
  • Fee: 25 €
  • Proof of payment

11. Witnessing of Signature, Affidavits, Affirmations and Statutory Declarations

Document to be signed and/or sworn in front of a Commonwealth representative (as defined by section 10 of the Oaths and Declaration Act, 1957). Note we are not able to provide notarial services for a power of attorney.

  • Call 01 4501 4343 for an appointment
  • Original of document to be witnessed/sworn
  • Photo ID (passport) of the applicant (signatory)
  • Fee: 50 €
  • Proof of payment

12. Embassy bank account

Payment for services 9, 10 and 11 above must be made by online bank transfer to the NZ Embassy Paris account. Credit cards, cheques and cash are not accepted. Please follow these instructions:

a. Embassy bank account details

  • New Zealand Embassy
  • BIC/SWIFT code: CITIFRPP
  • IBAN: FR76 1168 9007 0000 6573 3301 862

b. In the online bank payment reference field, enter the applicant's name (not the bank account name, if different). Please make payment at least two working days before your appointment.

c. Once payment has been made, send an email to embassy.nz.fr@gmail.com, either with a screen shot of payment or stating:

  • Applicant's name, bank name and account holder's name (if different)
  • The service you have requested
  • The amount and date of payment

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