If you cannot get a passport
What to do if your passport is not recognised by Immigration New Zealand, or you are unable to get a passport.
Certificate of identity
A certificate of identity is a document issued by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). A certificate of identity allows you to leave and return to New Zealand if you cannot get a passport. You may be able to apply for a certificate of identity if:
- you cannot get a passport due to circumstances outside of your control, or
- passports from your country of citizenship are not recognised by Immigration New Zealand.
You must be in New Zealand on a valid visa to apply.
Apply for a certificate of identity
You can find out more about applying for a certificate of identity on DIA's Passports New Zealand website.
Certificate of identity or refugee travel document — DIA Passports New Zealand
Transferring your visa
If you are successful in applying for a certificate of identity, you must transfer your valid visa to your new certificate of identity before you use it to travel.
Application for transfer or confirmation of a visa
Passports we do not recognise
We do not recognise passports from some countries, territories and authorities. This means that we will not issue a visa into these passports, and we will not accept these passports for travel to New Zealand.