The Department of Internal Affairs says it is dealing with record numbers of New Zealanders born overseas registering their citizenship by descent.
It said more than 11,000 overseas-born New Zealanders registered their citizenship last year.
Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Jeff Montgomery said this means they avoid potential travel delays if they decide to return to their homeland.
He said New Zealanders around the globe must make sure their children are registered as citizens by descent to enable them access to this country's passport.