We must confirm that you are either your parents’ biological or adopted child.

Biological child

If you are the biological child of your parents, your full birth certificate should show this.

Legally adopted

If you have been legally adopted you must provide the original or certified copy of the Notice of Adoption Order from your home country, along with documents that show your adoption order has the same effect as a New Zealand adoption under section 17 of the Adoption Act 1955.

 

Evidence that an overseas adoption meets this requirement includes:

• a ruling from a New Zealand court
  or
• the New Zealand Immigration Service processing officer’s assessment, where there are clear precedents for the country concerned.

Note: Notices of interim orders are not evidence of adoption.

Adopted by custom

If you have been adopted by custom, acceptable evidence of a customary adoption is a written declaration by the adoptive parents stating:

• that you have been adopted by them
• the date of the adoption
• the country in which the adoption took place.

Note: The New Zealand Immigration Service may seek confirmation of a customary adoption from the person’s biological parent(s), or adoptive parents(s), as applicable.