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Kiwis are being urged to check their passport expiry dates now, with a major surge in renewal applications expected over the next two years.
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the spike is being driven by the anniversary of the switch from five-year to ten-year passports in late 2015.
In November 2015, New Zealand extended passport validity from five years to ten years, meaning passports renewed in 2015 and 2016 are now approaching their expiry dates.
“The Department of Internal Affairs is forecasting a surge in applications due to the anniversary of the ten-year passports,” van Velden says.
“I encourage New Zealanders to make sure their passport is up to date before they need it.”
The Department of Internal Affairs expects more than 1.3 million passports to expire over the next two years.
Around 622,000 passport applications are forecast in 2026, with a further 759,000 passports due to expire in 2027.
“So, if your passport needs renewing soon, so will hundreds of thousands of others,” van Velden says.
She says the department has already made major improvements to passport processing times, reducing them from 25 days in 2023 to just three days for all applications, including non-urgent renewals.
“New Zealanders rightly expect excellent service, and I’m proud that our passport team has delivered exactly that,” she says.
“This represents a great improvement in service delivery that will benefit every New Zealand family planning to travel overseas.”
Van Velden is encouraging anyone with a passport expiring in 2026 to renew early to avoid delays during peak demand.
“If your passport expires in 2026, renew now before the rush. Don’t let an expired passport get in the way of your travel,” she says.
Most people can renew their passport online at passport.govt.nz, using a fast and secure digital application process.
