Passport fees to increase from May 2

The price of an adult passport will increase from $215 to $247 on May 2. Photo / Getty Images

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

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

The department says that, to continue to deliver sustainable, secure and efficient passport services, it must adjust the cost periodically.

The cost of producing passports has risen, linked to increases in wages, systems and technology, insurance and materials.

“New Zealand operates a user-pays system. As the cost of delivering this service has increased, we need to adjust the application fee,” Briget Ridden, acting deputy secretary of regulatory and identity services, said.

“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 from passport fees went directly to the delivery of services and maintaining the passport’s reputation globally, which allowed New Zealanders to travel to more than 185 countries visa-free or to get a visa on arrival, she said.

The application process is one of only a few that are fully online, meaning New Zealanders can apply from anywhere at any time.