Ten year passports are on the way back, but they won't be cheap.

Cabinet is expected to decide in the next few weeks to extend the passport validity period back to 10 years.

It was cut to five years in 2005.

In the past few months there's been an independent review of passport security measures, and another review of the costs of processing a passport.

The two reports were finished in December and sent to Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne to make a recommendation.