Welcome to the Citizen's Corner

The Citizen's Corner is a dedicated information space for Indian nationals living, working, studying or travelling in New Zealand. It brings together in one place the emergency contact details of the Consulate, guidance on the situations in which Indian nationals most often need assistance, the official portals through which services and grievances are handled, and a set of New Zealand helpline numbers that may be needed before the Consulate can be reached.

Indian nationals are encouraged to register with the Consulate, to keep their passport and New Zealand visa valid at all times, to observe local law, and to use only official channels for consular services and for the redressal of grievances.

For passport, visa, Overseas Citizen of India, attestation and other formal services, applicants should continue to use the Consular Services section of this website. The Citizen's Corner is a broader guidance and information page and does not replace it.

1. Emergency contact and helpline

Emergency number of the Consulate (24x7): +64 21 222 7651

For death and medical emergencies only. Please do not use this number for status checks or general enquiries.

Callers are advised to first send a brief SMS to this number setting out the nature of the emergency and the assistance required. The message will be responded to as soon as possible.

For general enquiries during working hours:

Telephone: +64 9 610 4430 and +64 9 610 4431, or +64 9 218 8216

Monday to Friday, in-person public enquiry 0930 to 1230 hours, by prior appointment only. The Consulate is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Check holiday here: https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/content/Scan_0001-3.pdf 

Service-wise email:

Consulate General of India, Auckland

Level 14, SAP Tower, 151 Queen Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Website: https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in 

2. Consular services at a glance

Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin may access the following services through this Consulate. Each link opens the relevant page of this website, which sets out the eligibility, documents, fees and processing time.

•  Passport services - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/passport-services/
•  Visa services - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/apply-for-visa/
•  Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) services - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/oci/
•  Surrender of Indian passport and renunciation of Indian citizenship - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/surrender-certificate-renunciation-of-indian-citizenship/
•  Police Clearance Certificate - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/police-clearance-certificate/
•  Miscellaneous consular services, including attestation, affidavits, powers of attorney, life certificates, birth registration and NRI certificates - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/misc-consular-services/
•  Emergency Certificate, for an Indian national whose passport is lost, damaged or expired and who needs to return to India - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/emergency-centificate/
•  Emergency visa, for New Zealand passport holders of Indian origin and their family members travelling to India on account of a critical illness or a death in the family - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/emergency-visa/
•  Carrying of mortal remains or ashes to India - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/carrying-of-mortal-remains/

3. Register with the Consulate

Registration allows the Consulate to reach registered nationals quickly with advisories, and to contact the family in an emergency. Indian nationals arriving in New Zealand for work, study or a long stay are strongly encouraged to register.

•  Registration of Indian nationals - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/register/
•  Registration of Indian students - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/registerstd.php
•  Global Pravasi Rishta Portal, the Ministry of External Affairs platform connecting the Government of India with the overseas Indian community - https://pravasirishta.gov.in/

4. Jurisdiction, working hours, appointments and fees

Consular jurisdiction

The Consulate General of India, Auckland has jurisdiction over the regions of Northland, Auckland and Waikato. Applicants residing anywhere else in New Zealand must apply to the High Commission of India, Wellington, at https://www.hciwellington.gov.in, which also covers the Republic of Samoa, Niue, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands.

Public working hours

•  Submission of applications in person: 0930 to 1230 hours, by prior appointment only
•  Public enquiry in person: 0930 to 1230 hours, by prior appointment only
•  Delivery of documents to applicants: 1600 to 1700 hours
•  Emergency cases involving death or a medical emergency, on production of documentary evidence: 1400 to 1600 hours on working days
•  Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays

An appointment is not required for the carriage of mortal remains, or for an Emergency Certificate, both of which are dealt with on the day. Details are on the respective pages.

Appointments, fees and holidays

•  Book an appointment online - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/apt/
•  Fees for miscellaneous consular services - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/content/Fee-amount-and-Mode-of-Payment.pdf
•  List of holidays 2026 - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/content/Scan_0001-3.pdf
•  Important information, must read before applying - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/important-information-must-read/

5. If you lose your passport

An Indian passport is a document of the Government of India. Its loss must be reported promptly.

1. Report the loss to the New Zealand Police and obtain a copy of the police report or the report reference number. For a non-emergency report, call 105 or use https://www.police.govt.nz 

2. Inform the Consulate at ppt.auckland@mea.gov.in, attaching the police report and a copy of the lost passport if you have one.

3. Apply for a re-issue of passport in lieu of the lost passport through the Passport Seva portal for Indian Missions, at https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in, and book an appointment at https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/apt/ 

4. If you must travel to India before a new passport can be issued, apply for an Emergency Certificate at https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/emergency-centificate/ 

5. Contact Immigration New Zealand to have your New Zealand visa transferred to the new passport, at https://www.immigration.govt.nz 

Applicants are advised not to hand over their passport or original documents to an employer, an agent or any other unauthorised person. Employment New Zealand treats an employer keeping a worker's passport as a sign of migrant exploitation, and such cases may be reported on the Migrant Exploitation line, 0800 200 088.

6. If you are arrested or detained

An Indian national who is arrested or detained in New Zealand has the right to ask the New Zealand authorities to inform the Consulate. Please exercise that right, or ask a family member or friend to inform the Consulate at cons.auckland@mea.gov.in or on the emergency number.

On being informed, the Consulate may:

•  seek consular access and, where permitted, visit the detained national
•  inform the family in India, with the national's consent
•  take up any complaint of ill-treatment or of denial of due process with the authorities
•  issue an Emergency Certificate for return to India where the passport is not available

The Consulate cannot interfere in judicial proceedings, act as a lawyer, pay legal fees or fines, secure release from custody, or influence the outcome of a case. New Zealand law applies to every person in New Zealand, whatever their nationality.

7. In the event of the death of an Indian national

The Consulate assists the family in completing the formalities. Next of kin, friends or the employer should contact the Consulate on the 24x7 emergency number, +64 21 222 7651, or at cons.auckland@mea.gov.in

The Consulate can:

•  issue the certificate required for the transportation of the body or ashes to India, free of charge, at https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/carrying-of-mortal-remains/
•  advise on the New Zealand documentation required, including the death certificate and the original embalmer's or funeral parlour certificate
•  advise on the apostille of New Zealand documents where required. In New Zealand, apostilles are issued by the Authentication Unit of the Department of Internal Affairs - https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/proving-and-protecting-your-identity/use-your-nz-documents-overseas
•  inform the next of kin in India through the Ministry of External Affairs

Applications for the carriage of mortal remains are accepted without an appointment, from 1000 to 1230 hours on working days.

8. Indian students in New Zealand

•  Register as a student with the Consulate at https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/registerstd.php as soon as you arrive. Registration helps the Consulate reach you in an emergency.
•  Study only with an education provider that is a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021, which is administered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. The Code is at https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/tertiary/the-code/, and whether a particular provider is a signatory may be checked on the New Zealand Qualifications Authority provider search at https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers/index.do. Applicants are advised to verify any offer directly with the institution, and to use only licensed immigration advisers.
•  Students are advised not to rely on unverified agents or unofficial channels for admission, accommodation, employment or immigration promises, and not to pay fees into a personal bank account.
•  Observe the conditions of your student visa, in particular the limits on hours of work. Details at https://www.immigration.govt.nz
•  Keep the Consulate's emergency number saved on your telephone, and give your family in India the Consulate's contact details.
•  Students may also register on the MADAD portal at https://www.madad.gov.in/madad/

9. Indian workers and professionals

•  Verify the terms of your employment before leaving India, and keep a signed copy of the contract.
•  Do not surrender your passport to an employer or a recruiting agent. There is no lawful reason for either to retain it.
•  New Zealand is not among the countries notified for emigration clearance under the Emigration Act, so an Indian worker coming to New Zealand does not require clearance and is not covered by the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana on that basis. Guidance for intending emigrants, including the list of notified countries, is at https://www.mea.gov.in/issues-of-intending-emigrants and on the eMigrate portal at https://emigrate.gov.in
•  Employment New Zealand treats an employer keeping a worker's passport as a sign of migrant exploitation. Such cases may be reported on the Migrant Exploitation line, 0800 200 088 - https://www.employment.govt.nz/resolving-problems/migrant-exploitation
•  The Overseas Workers Resource Centre of the Ministry of External Affairs operates a 24x7 toll-free helpline in India on 1800-11-3090, and may also be reached on +91 124 234 1002.
•  Complaints regarding wages, working conditions or the conduct of a recruiting agent may be lodged on the MADAD portal, at https://www.madad.gov.in/madad/

10. Women in distress

Any Indian woman in distress in New Zealand, whether on account of family violence, abandonment, a matrimonial dispute or any other cause, may approach the Consulate at cons.auckland@mea.gov.in or on the emergency number. Such approaches are treated in confidence to the extent permitted.

If you are in immediate danger, call 111 first. That is the New Zealand emergency number for Police, Fire and Ambulance.

New Zealand support services, all free and confidential:

•  Shakti, a 24x7 multilingual crisis line for Asian, African and Middle Eastern women: 0800 742 584 (0800 SHAKTI) - https://www.police.govt.nz/advice/family-violence/help
•  Women's Refuge Crisisline, 24 hours: 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) - https://www.police.govt.nz/advice/family-violence/help
•  Family violence information and help, 24 hours: 0800 456 450 - https://www.police.govt.nz/advice/family-violence/help
•  Victim Support, 24 hours: 0800 842 846 - https://www.police.govt.nz/advice-services/advice-victims/support-victims

The National Commission for Women operates a 24x7 helpline for women in distress in India, on +91 7827170170.

Indian women married to overseas Indians who face abandonment or a matrimonial dispute may consult the Ministry of External Affairs guidance at https://www.mea.gov.in/MIINMOI.htm , which sets out the counselling, legal and financial assistance available.

11. Senior citizens and other vulnerable persons

Elderly Indian nationals visiting or residing in New Zealand, and persons who fall ill, lose their means of support or are otherwise stranded, may contact the Consulate for assistance and guidance.

•  Free health advice is available around the clock from Healthline on 0800 611 116. Interpreters are available on request.
•  Free and confidential emotional support is available from 1737, by call or text, at any hour - https://www.mhwc.govt.nz/where-to-get-support/
•  Samaritans Aotearoa New Zealand, 24 hours: 0800 726 666 - https://www.mhwc.govt.nz/where-to-get-support/
•  Life certificates for pensioners are issued by the Consulate. Details at https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/misc-consular-services/
•  Where an Indian national is in genuine distress and has no other means, assistance may be considered from the Indian Community Welfare Fund, subject to its guidelines and to the availability of funds. Details at https://www.mea.gov.in/icwf

12. Grievances and feedback

The Consulate attaches importance to the prompt redressal of consular grievances. A grievance may be lodged through any of the following channels.

1. Write to the Consulate at cons.auckland@mea.gov.in, which is the Public Grievances address. Please quote the application or file number and set out the facts briefly.

2. Lodge the grievance on MADAD, the Consular Grievances Monitoring System of the Ministry of External Affairs, at https://www.madad.gov.in/madad/. A grievance registered on MADAD is tracked centrally and the applicant can follow its progress online.

3. Lodge it on the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) at https://pgportal.gov.in 

The Overseas Workers Resource Centre of the Ministry of External Affairs operates a 24x7 toll-free helpline in India on 1800-11-3090. The Passport Seva national call centre may be reached on 1800-258-1800.

Comments on this website, as distinct from a consular grievance, may be sent through the feedback form at https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/feedback/ 

Guidance on the services the Government of India provides to its nationals abroad, and on those it cannot provide, is available in the Ministry's Guide to Consular Services at https://www.mea.gov.in/guide-to-consular-services-menu 

13. Right to Information

Applications under the Right to Information Act, 2005 may be filed online at https://rtionline.gov.in or addressed to the Central Public Information Officer of this Consulate. The particulars of the Central Public Information Officer and the First Appellate Authority are published at https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/page/right-to-information/ 

14. Advisories and public notices

Indian nationals are advised to check the Consulate's advisories regularly and to follow the Consulate's official social media accounts, on which advisories are also issued.

•  Announcements, public advisories and updates - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/section/home-page-ticker/
•  Press releases - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/section/press-releases/
•  News - https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/section/news/
•  X (formerly Twitter): @IndiaInAuckland - https://x.com/IndiaInAuckland
•  Instagram: @indiainauckland - https://www.instagram.com/indiainauckland/
•  Facebook: India In Auckland - https://www.facebook.com/indiainauckland/

15. Emergency and helpline numbers in New Zealand

In a life-threatening emergency, call 111 before contacting the Consulate.

16. Useful links