Frequently asked questions about identity documents

There are a range of frequently asked questions related to identity documents which you may find useful when submitting your certified identity document online.  

Yes, you can update your citizenship or residency status if your circumstances have changed, or the original information provided is incorrect.

Just like the identity documents you originally submitted; your new identity documents must also be certified.

For more information, please see Certifying copies of your documents for admissions.

To update your citizenship or residency status, please submit your certified identity documents by completing the Student Declaration Form for Identity Documents.

Once you have submitted your certified documents and they have been processed, your citizenship or residency status will be updated. This may take between two to five working days. 

If you’ve applied for the University for the first time and your application documents are under a different name, such as your birth name, you will need to provide evidence of your name change.

This can include a:

• Marriage certificate
• New Zealand birth certificate (this must include your previous name and new name)
• Name change certificate
• Dissolution document
• Name change by statutory declaration

Your evidence must be certified by an approved person before you submit it in your application.

For more information about certifying, please see Certifying copies of your documents for admission.

If you’re a current student or have studied with the University previously, please see Changing your name on your university record.

If you have an expired passport, we can accept a certified copy of your expired passport, if you’re:

• A New Zealand citizen
• A New Zealand permanent resident
• A New Zealand resident
• An Australian citizen

Please note, your expired passport must have expired in the last five years.

If you’re an Australian permanent resident or are an international citizen, we cannot accept a certified copy of your expired passport.

We cannot accept a cancelled passport.

If you’re a New Zealand permanent resident or resident and have lost your passport, you need to contact New Zealand Immigration to apply for:

• A Letter of Confirmation of Permanent Residence

This letter must have your:

• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Residence status

When submitting your letter, you must also give a certified copy of your birth certificate.

For more information about certifying, please see Certifying copies of your documents for admission.

You can upload your documents online through your application portal.

If you’re a domestic applicant and have refugee status in New Zealand, you will need to provide certified copies of:

• Certificate of identity or passport
• Evidence of refugee status
  • Resident visa label
  • A letter from Immigration New Zealand confirming your residency status under Quota programme. This should include your full legal name, date of birth and date of residency
  • A letter from Immigration New Zealand confirming that you have refugee status and that you have applied for residency. This should include your full legal name and date of birth

If you have refugee status in Australia, you cannot provide evidence of your refugee status to the University of Auckland.

For more information, please see Domestic or international status.