The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has today announced an increase in passport and travel document application fees.

From 2 May 2025, the price of an adult passport will increase from $215 to $247, and the price of a child passport from $125 to $144 (incl. GST).

To continue to deliver sustainable, secure and efficient passport services the Department must adjust the cost of passports periodically.

This increase is a result of the rising costs of producing passports. These costs are linked to increasing costs of wages, systems and technology, insurance and the materials that go into making a passport.

“New Zealand operates a user-pays system, as the cost of delivering this service has increased, we need to adjust the application fee,” says Briget Ridden Acting Deputy Secretary, Regulatory and Identity Services.

“We are conscious of putting up fees only where necessary and are already taking steps to increase efficiency and minimise costs. This includes better use of technology and scaling back on non-essential system upgrades.”

The revenue collected by charging for passports goes directly to the delivery of passport services and maintaining the passport’s reputation globally which allows New Zealanders to travel to over 185 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.

The New Zealand passport application process is one of the only fully online application processes in the world, meaning New Zealanders can apply from anywhere, anytime.

© Scoop Media