Passport & Travel

Who issues NZ passports

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), through its passport service. Applications are made online at passports.govt.nz. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is a different agency that issues visas to non-citizens; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) handles foreign policy and consular help abroad; the New Zealand Customs Service handles goods crossing the border.

Validity and renewal

Standard adult passports are issued with a 10-year validity. Children's passports (under 16) are issued for 5 years. You can renew before the expiry date. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel date, which is a border-entry rule of the destination country rather than an NZ rule.

Right of entry for NZ citizens

Section 13 of the Immigration Act 2009 makes clear that only people who are not New Zealand citizens require a visa and entry permission. A New Zealand citizen has an automatic right to enter — they cannot be refused entry on the basis of holding the wrong document, although they must still establish their citizenship at the border (most commonly by presenting an NZ passport).

Dual citizenship

NZ permits dual (or multiple) citizenship. Many New Zealanders also hold British, Australian, Samoan, Indian, Chinese, Filipino, South African or other citizenship. NZ does not require you to renounce other citizenships when you become a New Zealander. The other country's rules may have their own restrictions — for example, some countries (such as India) do not permit dual citizenship and may automatically remove their citizenship if you take NZ citizenship. That is a matter of the other country's law, not New Zealand's.

Passport misuse offences

The Passports Act 1992 makes it an offence to let another person use your NZ passport, to use someone else's passport as if it were yours, or to make false or misleading statements in a passport application. Passports are NZ Government property.

Help when overseas

If you lose your NZ passport overseas, you can apply for a new passport or an emergency travel document through New Zealand's consular services — typically online through DIA, supported by your nearest NZ embassy, high commission or consulate. You do not need to fly back to NZ to apply.

"Immigration NZ issues passports."

No. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) issues passports. Immigration NZ (INZ) handles visas for non-citizens.

"An NZ passport lets you enter any country."

No. Many countries require an NZ passport holder to apply for a visa or visa waiver before arrival — for example, the United States ESTA, the UK ETA, and various Schengen rules. Your NZ passport guarantees the right to enter New Zealand; entry to other countries depends on their rules.

"NZ does not allow dual citizenship."

False — New Zealand explicitly permits dual citizenship. The confusion usually comes from the other country: some countries (like India) do not permit it. Check the rules of the other country before applying.

"You can lend your passport to a family member to travel."

No. Letting another person use your NZ passport, even a family member, is an offence under the Passports Act 1992.

"You must return to New Zealand to apply for a new passport."

No. NZ citizens overseas can apply through DIA online and use consular services for support if needed. Returning to NZ is not required.

"As a citizen I'll never have to identify myself at the NZ border."

You have the right to enter NZ as a citizen — but you still need to establish your citizenship to the border officer, usually by presenting your NZ passport. If you don't have one with you, additional checks may delay your entry but cannot block it.