Tejal Somvanshi
New Zealand travelers will pay more for their passports starting May 2, 2025. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has announced price increases for both adult and child passports.
The New Prices
Adult passports will cost $247, up from $215 – a $32 increase. Child passports will rise from $125 to $144 – a $19 increase. All prices include GST.
Why Prices Are Going Up
The DIA points to several factors behind the price hike:
- Rising wages for staff who process and produce passports
- Increased costs for the technology and systems that keep passports secure
- Higher insurance costs
- More expensive materials used to make the physical passport booklets
“New Zealand operates a user-pays system,” explains Briget Ridden, Acting Deputy Secretary of Regulatory and Identity Services at the DIA. “As the cost of delivering this service has increased, we need to adjust the application fee.”
Paying for a Premium Product
The money collected from passport fees goes directly back into passport services and helps maintain the New Zealand passport’s strong international standing. This reputation allows Kiwis to travel to over 185 countries without visas or with visas on arrival.
While the price is rising, the New Zealand passport remains among the world’s most powerful travel documents. However, it’s also now one of the more expensive globally. For comparison, an Australian adult passport recently increased to approximately NZ$450.
Efforts to Control Costs
The DIA says it’s working to minimize costs where possible. “We are conscious of putting up fees only where necessary,” Ridden notes. “We’re already taking steps to increase efficiency and minimize costs. This includes better use of technology and scaling back on non-essential system upgrades.”
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A Busy Year for Renewals
This price increase comes during what’s expected to be a busy year for passport renewals. It’s been nearly 10 years since New Zealand introduced 10-year passports for adults in October 2015, replacing the previous 5-year documents.
Adrian Jarvis, DIA General Manager of Services and Access, says they’re preparing for a surge in applications. “This year we’re probably going to be looking at over 564,000 renewals. However, next year, that increases to over 743,000. So this year, we’ll see a 32% increase in our 2024 numbers. In 2026 we’ll see almost a 75% increase.”
In 2024, the DIA issued 416,067 passports in total, with 183,677 of those being children’s passports.
Plan Ahead for Travel
The DIA advises Kiwis booking overseas travel to plan well ahead. Passports should be at the top of the to-do list when organizing international trips.
This advice comes after significant delays in passport processing last year. At one point in 2024, wait times stretched to 10 weeks following a major software upgrade. The usual processing time is around 10 days.
Many countries require that passports remain valid for at least six months beyond a traveler’s planned departure date. It’s also important to ensure your passport has enough blank pages for entry and exit stamps.
For those planning international travel, checking passport expiry dates well in advance of booking flights could save both stress and money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Adult passport fees are increasing by $32, from $215 to $247 (including GST). Child passport fees are increasing by $19, from $125 to $144 (including GST). The new fees take effect on May 2, 2025.
The Department of Internal Affairs cites rising costs of passport production, including increased wages, more expensive technology and systems, higher insurance costs, and pricier materials used to make the physical passport booklets. New Zealand operates on a user-pays system for passports, meaning these costs are passed on to applicants.
The normal processing time is about 10 days. However, there have been delays in the past due to system upgrades. In 2024, processing times stretched to 10 weeks following a major software upgrade. It’s recommended to apply well in advance of planned travel.
While the New Zealand passport is now one of the more expensive globally, it’s also one of the most powerful. It allows Kiwis to travel to over 185 countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival. For comparison, an Australian adult passport recently increased to approximately NZ$450, making it more expensive than the New Zealand passport.
In 2024, the Department of Internal Affairs issued 416,067 passports in total, with 183,677 of those being children’s passports. The DIA expects to issue over 564,000 renewals in 2025 and over 743,000 in 2026, representing significant increases due to the 10-year adult passports introduced in 2015 now coming up for renewal.
Many countries require that your passport remains valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date. It’s also important to ensure your passport has enough blank pages for entry and exit stamps. Check your passport’s expiry date well before booking international travel to avoid complications or having to pay rush processing fees.
