The New Zealand Passport will increase by $24 to cover falling applications.
The cost of an adult passport has just increased by $8 and is set to go up by a further $16 over the next two years. From 25 May, cost of a New Zealand passport increased from $191 to $199 and from $111 to $115 for children.
Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti announced the new costs on Wednesday afternoon, following a department review.
The increased cost was due to fewer New Zealanders renewing travel documents over the past two years, along with other factors. Annual renewals dropped from 730,000 a year before the pandemic to just 150,000 in 2020/21.
The cost of administration would have to be passed onto fewer passport holders. The DIA said the increases were in line with those made by Australia, Canada and the United States.
By May 2023 the cost of an adult passport will be $206 increasing further to $215 by 2024.
Children's passports will also be marked up by $6 and will increase by a further $10 in May 2024, to $125. Adult books are valid for 10 years, and children's passports expire after 5 years.
"Cabinet has decided to go with the smallest incremental increases between 2022 and 2024 that was presented to it, in order to avoid a more significant one off increase," she said.
While the increase was necessary, Tinetti said the government was "keeping the increase to a minimum and returning the passport service to full cost recovery."
The worlds' best valuable passports
Although the price increase makes travel more expensive for New Zealanders, other countries pay far more for their passports.
Australia has one of the world's most expensive passports. It costs $308 to renew an adult Australian passport for 10 years.
