Apply for a New Zealand passport

If you need your passport in 2 days or sooner, apply for an urgent passport online, then call us straight away.

How to apply

1. Prepare: To make sure you have everything you need before you start, check the list under 'What you need for your application'.

2. Log in: Go to 'Start now' at the bottom of this page and then log in using RealMe — see the 'A login' section below for details.

3. Pay: You will be asked for payment details at the end of the application. See the 'Payment' section below for details.

4. Submit: After you submit your application, we'll assess it and contact you if needed. To find out how long it is likely to take, see passport timeframes.

5. Delivery: Once ready, your passport will be delivered or available to pick up — see the 'Delivery details' section below for details.

An application can take at least 20 minutes to complete. For your security, the application will time out after 15 minutes of inactivity.

Renewing or replacing a passport

If you have a current New Zealand passport, it will be cancelled once you submit this application. You will not be able to use it for travel.

• You can have a new name or gender printed in your renewed passport — see the 'Your details' section on this page for more information.
• You can use this application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport, even if you don't have all the details from your previous passport.

Applying for a first passport

• You must be a New Zealand citizen to apply for a New Zealand passport.
• If you were born outside New Zealand, you may be a citizen by descent. You must register your citizenship before you can get a New Zealand passport.

Group applications

• A group application can include a mixture of renewal and first passport applications.
• It cannot include a mixture of standard and urgent applications.
• If you are applying for your own passport at the same time as your children's, fill out the adult application first so you can copy shared details to the child applications.
• Passports will be sent to a single delivery address.

What you need for your application

You need a RealMe username and password.

If you already have a RealMe login, you can use this.

If you do not already have a RealMe login, you will be prompted to create one during your passport application.

Your login will let you return to your saved application for up to 30 days.

You can create additional passport applications using the same RealMe login.

If you are applying for a group, check you have the required details for each applicant.

If you have had a New Zealand passport before

If you have had a New Zealand passport before, you need your:

• most recent New Zealand passport — if you do not have it because it has been lost, stolen or damaged, you can fill out a declaration instead
• gender, height (in centimetres) and eye colour
• contact number, email and address.

If this is your first New Zealand passport

To apply for your first New Zealand passport, you need your:

• name, date of birth and place of birth
• gender, height (in centimetres) and eye colour
• contact number, email and address
• parents' full names, as stated on your birth certificate.

Change your name or gender

You can choose which name and gender will be printed in your new passport.

• Change your name in your passport
• Change your gender in your passport

You can verify your identity online by completing an identity check during your application. The identity check helps to confirm you are who you say you are.

When you get to this section of the application, you will need to:

• use a cellphone, tablet or computer with internet access and a camera, and
• follow instructions to take a live photo (selfie).

An identity referee is someone who can confirm that you are who you say you are.

The referee must:

• be aged 16 or older
• have a current or expired New Zealand passport
• have known the applicant for at least 1 year — or since birth, if the applicant is under 1 year old
• be able to complete an online identity check
• agree to be your referee (we may contact them)
• be available if we call or email them to verify details about your application — this will help avoid delays.

The referee cannot:

• be related to you or part of your extended family (this includes spouses and partners)
• live at the same address as you.

You need the referee’s:

• current or expired New Zealand passport number
• full name
• phone number
• date of birth
• email address.

If the applicant does not know anyone who can be a referee, see Identity referee or witness

If you are applying in a group

• You need an identity referee for each person applying.
• You can use the same identity referee as long as they meet the above requirements for each person applying.

You can get your photo taken:

• at a pharmacy or Warehouse Stationery store
• by a professional photographer, or
• by a friend, family member or colleague, if you have access to a phone or camera.

The image must be:

• less than 6 months old
• of only you
• in colour
• digital (in .jpeg format)
• clear, sharp and in focus.

If you get your photo taken by a friend or family member, first make sure you understand what to do — and what not to do.

Applicants aged 15 years and under need consent from a parent or guardian to apply for a passport.

Only a parent named on the child's birth record or a legal guardian can give consent.

The consent giver must:

• fill in the ‘consent giver’ section
• provide their full name, contact information, details of any name changes, and their relationship to the child.

If you are applying in a group

Fill out the adult applications first. You can then copy shared details to the child applications.

You can pay securely online by credit, debit or prepaid (such as Prezzy®) card.

If you are not eligible for a New Zealand passport, there may not be a refund.

Delivery in New Zealand

The passport will be sent by tracked courier.

You can have the passport delivered to:

• a street address
• a PO Box or Private Bag, or
• an NZ Post Parcel Collect location near you.

If you choose the urgent service, you can also pick up the passport from a DIA office in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.

Delivery outside New Zealand

The passport will be sent by tracked courier.

You can have the passport delivered to:

• a street address, or
• a PO Box or Private Bag.

If you choose the urgent service and you are in Australia or the UK, you can also pick up the passport from a DIA office in Sydney or London.

Delivery costs

In addition to the passport application fee, you will also need to pay for the cost of courier delivery. The amount that you need to pay for courier delivery is automatically calculated when you complete your application.

If you are applying in a group

You must choose a single delivery address and service (standard or urgent).

Passports will be sent as they are ready, so you may receive them at different times.

Start now

For your security, the application will time out after 15 minutes of inactivity.

Once you start the application, you will be given the option to save at the end of each section.

If you log in to the saved application within 30 days, your saved information will still be there.

The fastest way to apply for your passport is online – no paper, postage or visits to our office needed. Paper applications can take longer as they need extra processing.

If you do need to apply by post or in person, download and print a PDF passport application form.