Passport fees are set to increase. Photo: 123rf
Passport fees are set to increase from tomorrow, as a result of rising costs to produce them.
From 2 May, the price of an adult passport will go up by around $30 from $215 to $247 (incl. GST).
For a child's passport, the price will increase by around $20, from $125 to $144 (incl. GST).
The Department of Internal Affairs said the costs are linked to increased wages, technology, insurance and the materials to make the passports.
DIA's acting deputy secretary of regulatory and identity service, Briget Ridden, said New Zealand operates a user-pays system.
"As the cost of delivering this service has increased, we need to adjust the application fee," Ridden said.
Ridden said the department is conscious of putting up fees "only where necessary" and it's taking steps to "increase efficiency and minimise costs".
"This includes better use of technology and scaling back on non-essential system upgrades."
Money collected by charging for passports goes directly to the "delivery of passport services" and maintaining the passport's "reputation globally."
New Zealanders are able to travel visa-free or with with a visa on arrival to over 185 countries.
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