Residency application document checklist
The documents most residency and citizenship applications ask for — and the ones that take longest to obtain.
Prepared for: Date: 1 October 2026
Every programme has its own list, and requirements change. This checklist covers the documents that appear again and again, so you can start gathering them early. Your consultant will confirm exactly which apply to your application, in which format, and for which family members.
Start with anything that has to be ordered from an authority — police certificates, official copies and apostilles can take weeks. Keep scans of everything in one secure place.
For every applicant and family member
- Passport — valid for well beyond your planned application and travel dates, with copies of all used pages if requested
- Previous passports, where you still hold them
- National identity card, where your country issues one
- Birth certificate — ideally the full or long-form version listing both parents
- Passport-style photographs to the destination's exact specification
- Proof of current address, such as a recent utility statement or tenancy agreement
For the family unit
- Marriage certificate, or evidence of a registered partnership
- Divorce, custody or guardianship documents, where relevant
- Adoption papers, where relevant
- Consent from the other parent where a child is included without both parents applying
- Evidence of dependency for adult children or parents included in the application, if the programme allows it
Background and health
- Police clearance certificates from your country of citizenship and from each country where you have lived for a significant period — these usually have a short validity window, so time them with your consultant
- Medical certificate or health declaration, if the programme requires one
- Health insurance meeting the destination's requirements, where applicable
Professional and financial background
- CV or résumé setting out your education and career history
- Employment letter, business registration documents or professional licences
- Bank statements and account reference letters, in the period and format requested
- Tax returns or tax residence certificates for the years requested
- Source of funds documents — evidence of where the money for your application comes from, such as sale agreements, dividend records or loan documents
- Source of wealth documents — how your wealth was built over time, such as company accounts, inheritance or property records
Formalities
- Certified translations of any document not in an accepted language
- Apostille or consular legalisation, where required for documents issued in your country
- Certified copies, where originals cannot be submitted
- Signed application forms and declarations — your consultant will prepare these with you
Keeping track
| Document | Who | Ordered | Received | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Requirements differ between programmes and change often. Kaitu confirms the current requirements for your situation before anything is ordered or submitted.