NEW ZEALAND OVERSEAS DOCUMENTS GUIDE
Quick answer: Some overseas countries require a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage or Civil Union (CONI) before allowing you to marry or enter a civil union there. The certificate is issued through New Zealand Births, Deaths and Marriages and confirms that, after the required searches and inquiries, no lawful impediment has been shown and you are eligible under New Zealand law to marry or enter a civil union.
What is a Certificate of No Impediment?
A Certificate of No Impediment is a New Zealand document used when a person intends to marry or enter a civil union overseas. Under the Marriage Act 1955, a person intending to marry outside New Zealand may apply to the Registrar-General for a certificate of no impediment.
The Registrar-General carries out appropriate searches and inquiries. The certificate can be issued if no lawful impediment has been shown to exist and the statutory requirements have been met.
Who may need a CONI?
You may need one if the country where you plan to marry or enter a civil union requires evidence from New Zealand that you are legally free to do so. The exact requirement comes from the overseas authority, not from NZ Document Assist.
Different countries can use different names for similar documents, so show the overseas authority the New Zealand document description if there is any uncertainty. For the wider preparation process, see Documents for Overseas Use.
How long does a Certificate of No Impediment take?
There is a statutory waiting period. Current New Zealand guidance says to allow 14 days plus delivery time for the application to be processed.
The Marriage Act provides that a CONI can only be issued after the relevant 14-day period and if the Registrar-General is satisfied that no lawful impediment has been shown.
If the document also requires authentication or an apostille, current BDM guidance recommends allowing around 4 weeks overall.
How much does a New Zealand CONI cost?
The current base government fee for applying for a Certificate of No Impediment is NZ$170. Additional costs can apply depending on the country where you intend to marry, and postage charges may also apply.
This fee is separate from any apostille, authentication, translation, courier or NZ Document Assist coordination charges.
Does a Certificate of No Impediment need an apostille?
Sometimes. The overseas authority may require the CONI to be apostilled or authenticated before it will accept it.
If the destination is on the apostille pathway, an apostille may be appropriate. Other countries may require authentication instead. See our Apostille vs Authentication NZ guide and NZ Apostille Requirements before preparing the certificate.
Can you get an e-apostille for a CONI?
New Zealand offers both paper apostilles and e-apostilles. Whether an electronic apostille is suitable depends on what the overseas authority will accept.
Ask the receiving authority before choosing. See our Paper Apostille vs E-Apostille NZ guide.
What is a single status certificate?
This is where terminology gets confusing. Some countries ask for a “single status certificate” or a similarly named document.
Current BDM guidance says Births, Deaths and Marriages does not have a product with that exact name. It can instead provide a certificate of search stating that a search of the marriage and civil union registers has been carried out from a specified date, usually from when the applicant turned 16.
A certificate of search is mainly used for purposes such as immigration, visas, foreign passport applications or registration of an event overseas. That is different from a CONI used for an intended overseas marriage or civil union.
CONI vs certificate of search
| Document | Typical purpose |
|---|---|
| Certificate of No Impediment | Evidence relevant to eligibility to marry or enter a civil union overseas |
| Certificate of search | May be requested as evidence of single status for immigration, visa, foreign passport or overseas registration purposes |
Always use the document the overseas organisation specifically asks for.
What information is needed for a CONI application?
New Zealand's prescribed information requirements include details about the applicant, the intended spouse or partner, the intended marriage or civil union, previous relationships where relevant, and other identifying information required by the Registrar-General.
The rules were updated in 2026 so that the prescribed application information is now set out in the regulations rather than relying on the old prescribed Form 5. For that reason, use the current BDM application process rather than an old saved form found elsewhere online.
What if you were previously married?
The application requirements include information about previous marriages or civil unions and how they ended, such as by dissolution, divorce or death. Depending on the overseas country's requirements, you may also need supporting documents such as divorce or dissolution papers.
See our Apostille Divorce Papers NZ guide if those documents also need to be prepared for overseas use.
Will you also need a birth certificate?
Possibly. Overseas marriage authorities can require several documents, not just the CONI. A recent New Zealand birth certificate is one common additional requirement in some countries.
If a birth certificate also needs apostille certification, see our NZ Birth Certificate Apostille guide.
Does the CONI expire?
New Zealand BDM guidance warns that some countries treat a Certificate of No Impediment or certificate of search as valid only for a certain period after it is issued.
That makes timing important: check the overseas authority's validity window before ordering the document too early.
What about translation?
The overseas country may require the CONI and other documents to be translated. Translation requirements vary by authority and country, so check before arranging translation.
See our Translation Coordination service if translation forms part of your document pathway.
A practical checklist before applying
- Contact the overseas marriage authority. Ask exactly which documents it requires.
- Confirm whether it wants a CONI or another form of single-status evidence.
- Ask how recently the document must have been issued.
- Confirm apostille or authentication requirements.
- Ask whether translation is required.
- Allow enough time. The CONI has a 14-day statutory waiting period, plus delivery and any apostille/authentication processing.
Need help coordinating the paperwork?
NZ Document Assist provides administrative document assistance and coordination only. We can help organise the document pathway, apostille or authentication coordination, translation coordination and document-return logistics. You can see the stages we coordinate on How It Works. We do not provide legal or immigration advice and cannot determine the overseas country's marriage requirements for you.
View Apostille Coordination Ask About Your Overseas Marriage Documents
Frequently asked questions
What is a Certificate of No Impediment in New Zealand?
It is a certificate issued through the Registrar-General process for a person intending to marry or enter a civil union overseas, after the required searches and inquiries show no lawful impediment.
How much does a New Zealand Certificate of No Impediment cost?
The current base government application fee is NZ$170. Additional country-specific and delivery costs may apply.
How long does a CONI take?
Current BDM guidance says to allow 14 days plus delivery time. If apostille or authentication is also required, it recommends allowing around 4 weeks overall.
Does a CONI automatically come with an apostille?
No. Apostille or authentication is a separate requirement. Check whether the overseas authority requires it.
Is a CONI the same as a single status certificate?
Not exactly. BDM says it does not issue a product formally called a single status certificate, but it can provide a certificate of search for certain purposes. A CONI is specifically relevant to an intended marriage or civil union overseas.
Can I apply using an old BDM189 form I saved?
Use the current BDM application process. New Zealand's prescribed-information rules for CONI applications were amended in June 2026, so relying on an old saved form can create avoidable problems.