The Wellington Phoenix can sign another import in the January transfer window, after the club's new all-time leading scorer Roy Krishna was granted New Zealand citizenship at a ceremony in the capital on Thursday.

"We're extremely pleased, there's no doubt it. We've been working on it for quite some time and you never know if these things are going to go in your favour or not but when it came through last week we were pretty pleased about it," general manager David Dome said.

Despite living in the country for the past decade, the 31-year-old was considered an import in the A-League as he was not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand.

As a Fijian international he remains ineligible to play for the All Whites.

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Having one of their best players counted as a local is a massive coup for the ninth-placed Phoenix, as they can now strengthen the squad with another overseas recruit when the transfer window opens.

The four Phoenix players occupying import spots are Steven Taylor, Filip Kurto, Michal Kopczynski and Mandi.

"It opens up a few different doorways. We were always looking at someone in the January window, whether it's an import or a guest but this gives us a little more flexibility.

"Mark [Rudan] and his team have been looking for awhile and have never stopped looking but now we can carry on with a bit more gusto."

On Sunday, Krishna overtook Paul Ifill as the Phoenix's all-time leading scorer when he netted his 34th goal in a 1-1 draw with Perth Glory, where defender Ryan Lowry was controversially shown a red card following intervention from the Video Assistant Referee.

"He's come from pretty challenging circumstances to make a career out of football and he's one of Fiji's greatest sporting exports," Dome said.

"It's terrific for him, he's obviously played a number of years for us and he's been consistent with his scoring and overtaken a club legend in Paul Ifill, so he has to be regarded right up there as one of our best players."

Krishna is off-contract at the end of the current season. On Wednesday he rubbished a report linking him with a move to Asia.

"It's total rubbish. I have no idea [where that came from]. I'd love to [stay with the Phoenix long-term] but my main focus is to do well and for myself. Hopefully we can get to the playoffs and do well."

The Phoenix are away to Sydney FC on Saturday.