Govt unveils online passport renewals

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Why passports just got cheaper

3News NZ

People can now apply for new passports online

People can now apply for new passports online

By 3 News online staff

The Government has cut the cost of getting a passport and revealed a new system that allows online renewals.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain announced the changes today as part of the Government’s push for online services.

Since 2005, a passport with a five-year lifetime had a price tag of more than $150. Before then, it cost around $70 for a passport valid for 10 years.

Mr Tremain says savings will be made in three application categories:

  • First-time adult application, printed format: $140.00 (down from $153.00);
  • Adult renewal, printed format: $134.50 (down from 153.00);
  • Adult renewal, online: $124.50..

All applicants may also be required to pay a courier fee of $10.

The changes don’t include urgent or after-hours passports,  which will still cost up to $664.30.

“The Government is committed to returning savings to passport holders and providing even better public services at lower cost," says Mr Tremain.

He says the goal is to move 70 percent of the Government's transactions with the public online by 2017. 

3 News

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Comments

6/11/2012 8:06:28 p.m.

robbie wrote:

Any fee above $25.00 is a bloody joke and a bad one at that. Passports should be a birth right. OK I understand security and the prospect of international terrorisim and worse - so here it is ALL Pasports $25.00 if you are caught cheating - you get shot and dumped in a ditch, end of story. The out come is normal people like you and me, don't get caught up in this sh.t and don't have to pay over the moon prices for being a mobile person. DUH!!!

2/11/2012 4:33:10 p.m.

Mike wrote:

Adult renewal on-line will save time/money.

They aren't saying you can get a passport with no checking, just that instead of filling a form, sending this and a passport phot to the department, you do this part on-line instead of the department entering the information. This should also improve data as someone entering data on-line will be more accurate than filling the form in, and someone entering that data, more hands gives more mistakes.

The passport process will still have someone in the department lok at the new photo, compare it to the existing on file, may even have facial recognition softwre check the two to see that they are similar enough.

2/11/2012 9:46:28 a.m.

kim Dotcom wrote:

I cant even get a passport. Im a nz citizen with a previous passport,(no criminal history) but when i replied for a renewal, they couldnt find any evidence of me having one??. Do i still have my old passport they asked?, yes i said, whats the number? so i tell them ,and guess what, they dont have it on their computor. Could you go and see a Justice of the Peace they said and have it confirmed. Sorry, your kidding right?. I want my money back. All $153.00 of it. Im a nz citizen and i now dont exist?.

1/11/2012 7:59:21 p.m.

alison wrote:

Yes I am going to say it. What about the possibility of a security breach. My first thoughts are with all the latest govts stuff ups what makes this any safer?

1/11/2012 4:07:54 p.m.

jan wrote:

Good point Kelvyn. Still we are so close to being barcoded now so we should at least get something out of it, like a free passport. This is another red hearing report. 5 years, $150 plus courier, then they say but if you do it normally it still takes a long time to get processed. All take take take is what the governments do.

1/11/2012 11:33:35 a.m.

Carlos wrote:

Don't smile just once for the photo daniel lang, get the passport and a one-way ticket to anywhere out of NZ !

1/11/2012 11:27:28 a.m.

Greg wrote:

Its still a rip off because of the 5 year status, its effectively 4 because countries require you to have 6months + of valid dates on your passport.

1/11/2012 12:07:40 a.m.

kelvyn wrote:

I do think as a New Zealand citizen you should be entitled to the first passport FREE with perhaps a nominal fee for renewals. A passport which identifies your nationality should be provided at no cost to citizens.

31/10/2012 11:31:58 p.m.

Daniel Lang wrote:

Yeah, no smiling in New Zealand because they want us to look like thugs

31/10/2012 7:41:57 p.m.

Steve wrote:

Passports are currently couriered back at no cost, Tremain says a $10 fee for courier, plus passport at $134.50 = $144.50 a massive saving of $8.50 every 5 years, thanks a bunch,another typical national party number fudge.