Passport fees to decrease in new Govt changes

Passport fees are being trimmed by the Government.

As of Friday people will be able to apply for a passport over the internet.

Currently it costs just over $153 to get an adult passport.

Charges for a first passport are to be set at $140, renewing a passport will cost between $124.50 and $134.50 depending on whether the application is done online or done by post.

Promises are being made security will be up to scratch for online passport applications.

But despite recent security and privacy scandals at IRD, ACC, and Work and Income, Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain is adamant the system will be secure.

"I've had assurances from my officials the system is secure and we've gone to significant steps to ensure that security by employing outside auditors to review the system, to do a 'deep dive' on it and to make sure it's as robust as possible."

Extra money in reserves is why the cost of passports is coming down

Since the more expensive biometric passports were phased in seven years ago, Internal Affairs has made a $27 million surplus from issuing them.

Rules mean that money can't be used anywhere else and Chris Tremain says that's part of the reason the fee is now coming down from over $150 to up to $135.

"We've set the fee at a level that should see that $27 million reduced significantly over a five year period. We've specifically done it so that all those who have paid what you might call the 'normal fee' will get to benefit from the lower fee reduction over a five year period."

Photo: NZ Herald