How to obtain New Zealand certificates

Devil's Punchbowl Falls, Arthur's Pass
Photographer: Graham Charles

How do I obtain a:

1. New Zealand Birth Certificate
2. New Zealand Marriage Certificate
3. New Zealand Civil Union Certificate
4. New Zealand Death Certificate
5. Certificate of No Impediment (to a marriage)
6. Certificate of No Impediment (to a civil union)
7. Apostille certification
8. NZ Divorce/Dissolution of a Civil Union Order
9. Certificate of consent (Certificat de coûtume)
10. Certified true copy of New Zealand documents
11. Affidavit or witnessing of signature on a legal document
12. Statement of criminal record (Casier judiciaire)

The following certificates are issued by the Births, Deaths & Marriages (BDM) central registry office of the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) in Wellington. Both certificates and printouts of certain documents are now issued, however printouts are not acceptable for official purposes and cannot be used in the same way as a certificate. A printout is a copy of the information from the original registration and is often used by genealogists.

Complete the appropriate application form (below) then send directly to BDM, with fee payment. Translations of certificates can be requested through BDM at the time of issue. Alternatively, some translations can be obtained through the New Zealand Embassy in Paris

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

• Delay approx. 2 weeks

2. New Zealand Marriage Certificate (BDM 93M)
Extrait d'acte de mariage

• Delay approx. 2 weeks

3. New Zealand Civil Union Certificate (BDM 93C)
Extrait d’acte de PACS néo-zélandais

• Delay approx. 2 weeks

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

• Delay approx. 2 weeks

5. Certificate of No Impediment to a Marriage of a NZ citizen in another country (BDM 189)
Certificat de célibat
States that you are currently free from marital ties in New Zealand and names your future spouse. Issued by the BDM central registry office in Wellington after a minimum legal two week stand-down period from receipt of application.

• Delay 6 weeks maximum

6. Certificate of No Impediment to a Civil Union of a NZ citizen in another country (BDM 389)
Certificat de célibat pour un PACS
States that, following a search of New Zealand registers, no lawful impediment to the civil union has been found. Issued by the BDM central registry in Wellington after a minimum legal two week stand-down period from receipt of application.

• Delay 6 weeks maximum

7. Apostille Certification
Légalisation/apostille
Before certain New Zealand documents can be used in France, document legalisation (apostille certification) may be necessary. Prior to ordering your documents, check with the Mairie or other relevant French authority if an apostille is required and if so, on which documents, as apostille certification can only be obtained from the Department of Internal Affairs in New Zealand. Complete and attach the apostille certification form to your certificate application(s).

The following documents can be obtained directly from the consular service of the New Zealand Embassy in Paris (payment by French Euro cheque or cash; credit cards not accepted):
 

8. NZ Divorce/Dissolution of a Civil Union Order
Please contact the Ministry of Justice for further information about how to obtain a copy of your divorce papers or dissolution order. If the civil union and dissolution both occurred in New Zealand, the details will be added as an endorsement to the civil union entry, and will appear on any subsequent civil union certificate.

9. Certificate of Consent to Marry
Certificat de coûtume
States that a New Zealand citizen who is older than 18 years is free to marry without the consent of any other person. The certificate is issued in French. Note that New Zealanders wishing to PACS should obtain a Certificate de Célibat pour un PACS (No Impediment to Civil Union; see no. 6 above) and not a Certificat de Coûtume as stipulated on the list provided by the French authorities.

• Documents required: There is no form to fill out. Just send a photocopy of the biodata page of your New Zealand passport with your return address and a cheque for 40 € made out to the New Zealand Embassy Paris
• Delay: One week

10. Certified True Copy of a New Zealand Document
Certification de documents
We are only able to certify as a true copy an original document which we have sighted. If you wish to have an original document authenticated, this can only be done by the Authentications Unit of the Department of Internal Affairs in Wellington. The process can be complicated so please check the DIA website for further information.

Certified true copy of original New Zealand document:

• Documents required: Original document(s)
• Call 01 45 01 43 41 for an appointment as original documents must be sighted
• Cost: 20 €

11. Witnessing of Signature, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations
Légalisation de documents
Document to be signed and/or affidavit sworn in front of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Embassy) official.

• Documents required: Original of document to be witnessed/sworn and photo ID (passport) of the applicant (signatory)
• Call 01 45 01 43 41 for an appointment 

Cost: 40 €

Legalising of New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs-witnessed documents
Légalisation de signatures officielles du Ministère des Affaires Etrangères néo-zélandais
Confirms the authenticity of New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade signatures on certified New Zealand documents. 

• Documents required: Document to be witnessed
• Call 01 45 01 43 41 for an appointment
• Cost: 60 €

The New Zealand Ministry of Justice can issue the following certificate:

12. Statement of Criminal Record
Attestation tenant lieu de casier judiciare
New Zealand does not issue the equivalent of the French "casier judiciaire no.3", 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 in writing directly to the New Zealand Ministry of Justice ("Criminal records" link).