Assistance for New Zealanders overseas
If you’re a New Zealand citizen, we can help you in several ways if you get into difficulties overseas – see the Safe Travel website(external link) for more information.
We can:
- provide advice on lost or stolen passports(external link) if you need to travel urgently
- help you contact family or friends to request emergency funds(external link)
- provide a list of English-speaking lawyers, and contact family and friends on your behalf, if you are detained or arrested(external link)
- provide advice on local medical facilities, help contact your family and or insurance provider if you are ill or injured(external link)
- help with arrangements following a death overseas(external link)
- in certain circumstances, provide notarial services such as witnessing affidavits, statutory declarations and other documents for use under New Zealand law
- account for New Zealanders who may have been affected by a major overseas crises, such as civil unrest and natural disasters.
For more information visit Safe Travel(external link) and Safe Travel on Facebook(external link).
Notarial services United Arab Emirates
In certain circumstances, we can witness affidavits, affirmations, statutory declarations and other documents for use under New Zealand law.
The witnessing must take place at the New Zealand Embassy in Abu Dhabi or at the New Zealand Consulate in Dubai.
New Zealand Embassy in Abu Dhabi
Notarial services are by appointment only during the following times:
Monday and Wednesday from 11am–1pm.
To make an appointment phone us during opening hours on +971-2-496-3333 or Email us
New Zealand Consulate General in Dubai
Notarial services are by appointment only during the following times:
Tuesday and Thursday from 11am–1pm.
To make an appointment phone us during opening hours on +971 4 2700100 or Email us
Notarial costs
- Certifying a document which is a true copy of the original: AED 125 / AED 62.5 for each additional copy of the same document.
- Preparing consular letter: AED 250
- Taking an affidavit, affirmation or statutory declaration (documents prepared by solicitor or applicant): AED 250
- Witnessing signature on document: AED 250
- Verifying local foreign ministry signature/seal on foreign document for use in New Zealand: AED 250
- Verifying MFAT signature/seal on document for use overseas that has been forwarded by Consular Division or direct from the client: AED 375
Notarial Services Qatar
The New Zealand Embassy in Abu Dhabi does not provide notarial services for New Zealand citizens resident in Qatar.
If you require certified copies, witnessing of signatures or other notarial services, please try a local lawyer in Qatar in the first instance. A list of local lawyers can be obtained here(external link) and the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular section can also advise lawyers that they recommend for certain services.
New Zealand citizens that need to have documents authenticated for use in Qatar need to follow these steps:
- Send notarised documents to the Department of Internal Affairs in Wellington(external link)
- Once authenticated, make arrangements to send your documents to the Qatari Embassy in Canberra, Australia(external link) - there is no Qatar Embassy in New Zealand. Contact details, services provided and costs are available here or on the Qatar Embassy’s consular services webpage.