Venkat Raman
Auckland, May 22, 2025
The Office of the Consul General of India in Auckland will hold an ‘Open Day’ for people of Indian origin and others accessing its services on Saturday, May 24, 2025 from 10 am to 2 pm.
The event will be held at the temporary offices of the Consulate on the 13th Floor, 151 Queen Street (SAP Building) in Auckland Central Business District.
If any of the following applies to you, please take up your case at the Open Day:
- New Passport: If you have applied for a new Indian Passport and submitted all documents more than 30 days ago
- Police Clearance Certificate: Same as above- 30 days since the submission
- Surrender of Indian Passport: If you have not heard from the Consulate Office in Auckland 90 days after submission
- Please carry all relevant documents with you
- Since this is an Open Day event, there is no prior appointment and hence please be prepared to wait; please be patient
While the Consul General Dr Madan Mohan Sethi is keen to organise ‘Open Day’ events regularly to engage closely with the Indian Diaspora, this weekend will be largely for clarifying issues and addressing complaints of delays in processing visa applications, renewing passports, the existing confusion on fees remitted to the Indian High Commission and equally important, the telephone access (or the difficulty in doing so) to the Consulate.
Confusion and Complaints
Dr Sethi acknowledged that complaints generally concern ‘a lack of prompt service and behaviour of the Consulate Staff,’ both of which are being addressed immediately.
“I wish to reiterate that the Consulate has been established to efficiently assist Indian nationals, people of Indian origin and others needing our services. Unfortunately, more than 40% of the applications received through courier are incomplete, do not contain the requisite documents or are not properly completed. Some applicants remit payment for the service to the office of the High Commission in Wellington but send the application to the Consulate in Auckland. They later request us to transfer the fees to the Consulate. All these cause confusion even at our end and delays. We are however trying to meet these challenges,” he said.
“While the Consulate Office in Auckland works under the supervision of the High Commission of India in Wellington, we are two separate entities for accounting and revenue purposes,” he added.
Services rendered
Dr Sethi said that since its opening on September 5, 2024, the Consulate Office in Auckland has delivered about 3000 new passports, 3600 Police Clearance Certificates and 3000 Miscellaneous Services Applications. The Consulate also processed 1100 passports surrendered by Indian nationals after obtaining New Zealand citizenship during this period.
“Our permanent office is being set up on the 14th Floor of the same building and this involves various systems and procedures. Since we are currently operating from a temporary location (although just a floor below), there are limitations. We hope that our permanent office will be commissioned soon and thereafter, our services will improve to the level expected by our people,” he said.
The Correct Procedures
Dr Sethi said that if all procedures are followed properly, the Consulate will be able to process applications quickly. As Indian Newslink discovered, telephone calls are not answered at times because callers tend to engage officials in lengthy conversations, leading to the frustration of those waiting in line and eventually terminating the call.
Passport Renewal
While applying for renewal of your Indian Passport, please observe the following:
- Submit the Correct Application, which displays the name and address of the Consulate on the top of the front page of the application form
- Pay the requisite fee to the Consulate
- Attach the payment receipt along with other required documents
- Local, New Zealand addresses must carry proof
- Do not call the Consulate the next day and ask if the passport is ready. The Consulate will arrange for the dispatch of the Passport when ready
Police Clearance Certificate
A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is required for various consular services for both Indian and foreign nationals and is issued by the Consulate Office.
While applying for renewal of your Indian Passport, please observe the following:
- All PCC applications must be sent by Courier
- Attach a full-colour copy of the First and Last Page of your current (valid) passport attested by the Justice of the Peace
- Attach a copy of the current (valid) New Zealand Visa
- One passport-size photograph (taken within six months from the date of the application) which shows you clearly, pasted on the Application. Do not staple or pin the photograph.
- Pay the PCC Service Fee as prescribed (currently NZ$ 45) by bank transfer
- Attach the receipt of payment made by bank transfer
Surrender of Indian Passport
All Indian Nationals are required to surrender their Indian passports upon becoming a citizen of another country (in this case New Zealand). Failure to do so within the specified time limit could invite penalties, refusal of OCI and sometimes even visit visas.
While surrendering your Indian Passport, please observe the following:
- Please visit https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/ to complete an online registration and print the duly filled application form. In the case of minors, both parents should sign on the last page/declaration of the form)
- Complete the Application form and affix your signature
- Paste one latest photograph of size 51 mm X 51 mm (2” X 2”) taken within the past six months on the Application form. Do not staple or pin the photo
- Attach your Original Indian Passport
Reporting the loss of an Indian Passport
While reporting the loss of your Indian Passport, please observe the following:
- Complete the prescribed Application Form
- Attach a Photocopy of your lost Indian Passport
- Attach a Travel Summary from Immigration New Zealand
- A Copy of the Police Report or FIR Copy with the Number of the lost Indian Passport mentioned
Other Services
For other services such as Attestation of documents, Issue of Certificate of Name Change, Issue of documents to Minors and Overseas Citizenship of India, please visit the Consulate of India in Auckland website https://www.cgiauckland.gov.in/
