Coasties, if you’re planning to head overseas soon, make sure your passport is up to date!

As of 2 May 2025, the cost of obtaining a New Zealand passport has risen.

The price for an adult passport has increased from $215 to $247, and the price for a child passport has gone up from $125 to $144 (including GST).

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) states this fee increase is necessary to cover the growing costs involved in producing passports, including rising wages, technology, materials, and insurance.

Briget Ridden, Acting Deputy Secretary of Regulatory and Identity Services, explained, "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 upgrades.

The revenue generated by passport applications helps to maintain New Zealand’s global reputation, ensuring that Kiwis can continue to travel to over 185 countries without needing a visa or with visa-on-arrival access.

New Zealand’s fully online passport application process remains one of the most convenient in the world, allowing Kiwis to apply from anywhere, anytime.

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