Internal Affairs Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is warning the public about unofficial websites over-charging for citizenship services.
The department said it had received several reports about rogue websites that charged an additional fee to apply, on top of the application fee.
"The only official website to apply for New Zealand citizenship by grant is DIA general manager of services and access, Adrian Jarvis said.
"DIA's citizenship by grant service is a secure online process, that makes it easy for potential New Zealanders to apply for citizenship online, while protecting their identity information."
DIA said some third-party sites were charging customers up to $195 on top of the DIA application fee.
On these sites, customers filled in all the same information required for a citizenship application but were charged by the third-party to submit it.
"It's important to be diligent about who your share your identity information with," Jarvis said.
DIA said using a third-party also increased the risk of scams. Despite paying for the service, there was no guarantee if or when the citizenship application will be lodged with DIA.
"All our services, including passports, citizenship, and births deaths and marriages should be applied for using a govt.nz website," Jarvis said.
"That way you can be confident you're getting trusted services, at the right cost and that your information is being protected."
- For citizenship by grant visit: www.govt.nz/app;y-for-citizenship
- For passport services visit: www.passports.govt.nz
- For births, deaths and marriages, including certificate orders visit: http://www.govt.nz/organisations/births-deaths-and-marriages
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