More than 1.3 million New Zealand passports will be expiring in the next two years, prompting a Government call for Kiwis to renew them now to avoid a potential logjam and lengthy delays.

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is anticipating a swell of applications for new passports in 2026 as travel documents renewed in 2015 and 2016 quickly approach their 10-year renewal.

Around 622,000 passports will expire in 2026 and a further 759,00 will run out in 2027.

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is urging New Zealanders to prepare for the pile-up and plan to lodge their papers early.

“So if you haven’t checked your passport in a long time, please do check it and get in early,” she told Newstalk ZB.

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is urging New Zealanders to prepare for the pile-up and plan to renew their papers early. Photo / Mark Mitchell

“It’s only taking three days for passport applications to be processed at the moment.

“If your passport expires in 2026, renew now before the rush. Don’t let an expired passport get in the way of your travel.”

Careful planning could help travellers avoid getting caught out while arranging their overseas trips, with Van Velden suggesting Kiwis check the expiry date on their passports this summer.

Even passports that are several months out from expiry can be denied by immigration, with some countries, including Australia, requiring as much as six months’ validity on arrival.

The forecasts of potential backlogs follow travellers’ complaints last year that applications for passport renewal were taking up to 10 weeks to be processed.

Van Velden said the DIA has been working hard to address the system issues, “dramatically” reducing processing times from 25 days in 2023 to just three days in 2025.

“This represents a great improvement in service delivery that will benefit every New Zealand family planning to travel overseas.”

The minister said quite a few people applied for 10-year passports when they were first introduced.

“We’re ramping up with the expectation that many people’s passports will be expiring at the exact same time.”

Van Velden said more staff had been brought in, and others had been seconded from within the DIA in anticipation of the upcoming surge.

The passports website is currently advising applicants to allow for 20 days of processing.

Adult passports are valid for 10 years and cost about $247, while renewals for children must be done every five years at a price of $144.