New Zealand Digital Passport Photo

About the document

New Zealand’s passport

Despite the fact that New Zealand’s passport is one of the most powerful in the world, only 70% of the country's population has it. This document is issued by the Department of Internal Affairs to New Zealand citizens and authorizes its holders to travel internationally. Since 2005 New Zealand’s passports are biometric. NZ passport is valid for New Zealanders aged 16 and over whereas minors’ passports have the 5-year validity.

New Zealand's Passport application - where and how to apply?

There are only a few offices of the Department of Internal Affairs that are authorized to issue passports. You can apply to New Zealand in the office located in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. If you stay abroad, there are only two offices - in Sydney and in London - where you can submit your passport application. However, in New Zealand's diplomatic missions all over the world, you can ask about application forms and assistance in communicating with an issuing office.

These offices operate also via the Internet which means that you can apply online for your passport and document.

If this is your first passport, you need a “RealMe” verified account in the same name you want in your passport. If you renew your passport, your verification document is your expired passport. So, pick up one of them and submit also:

• referee details – their passport number, name, phone number, email address (optional), date of birth
• one digital photo was taken in the last 6 months, in colour, as a .JPG or .JPEG file
• a credit or debit card to pay the passport

The standard passport fee for an adult passport is $191 and $111 for children, including delivery within New Zealand.

Witness and Identity Referee

A witness and identity referee is a person who can verify your identity as part of your passport application.

The witness needs to complete the accurate part in the application form and sign it.

They must also write your full name, their signature, and the date on the back of one of your photos to confirm your identity.

This must be a person who:

• is 16 years or older
• has known you for more than one year, or since birth for a child under 12 months
• has a valid New Zealand passport (this can be current or expired, but not lost, stolen or damaged)

During the passport application process, you have to give the referee personal details like their name, date of birth, passport number, and contact data.

A witness and identity referee must not be related to you, neither your partner, husband or wife. They must not be living at the same address. You can ask to be your witness, your teacher, police officer, your employer, or doctor. Of course, this person may also be your friend, just not a member of your family.

Types of New Zealand’s passports

The most popular travel document issued for New Zealanders is the ordinary passport, but there are some other types of passport such as diplomatic passports issued to diplomats, top-ranking government officials, and diplomatic couriers and official passports issued to individuals representing the New Zealand government on official business.

Anyway, a holder of a diplomatic or official passport of New Zealand, while traveling for private purposes, not officially, must use their ordinary passport.

If a citizen has an emergency situation and must go on urgent travel, they may apply for the Emergency Travel Document. 

Non-citizens can apply in New Zealand offices for a Certificate of Identity (for residents who are unable to obtain a national passport) or a Refugee Travel Document issued for recognized refugees in New Zealand.

All adult passports and passport renewals can be applied via the Internet. 

Processing time and passport delivery

Usually, the processing time is up to 10 working days plus delivery and 2-3 days in the situation of emergency (plus delivery time)

When your passport is ready, you will get notification in the case of missing some documents or details, the office that is processing your application will contact you too. You will be informed when your passport is sent. The document will be couriered to you.