Move to make overseas travel cheaper

People travelling abroad could pay less for their passport.

This is one issue the Government is discussing in Parliament today.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain said lower passport fees were being considered as the Government moved to enable online passport applications.

"Online applications have been trialled successfully and will be available to the public by the end of the year,'' he
said.

"This will streamline the process of applying for a passport and reduce costs, providing the opportunity to look at the level of fees.''

Passport fees are set at cost recovery level, currently $153.30 for a standard adult passport. Revenue from passports is only spent on passports.

Mr Tremain said the change to a five-year passport had increased the volume of renewals and a growing surplus had built up in the account, meaning there was "scope" to reduce fees.

Mr Tremain said changing passport fees would require a change to regulations.

He asked officials to report back on different options for fee reductions, including a lower fee for online applications.

"This will contribute significantly to the Government's Better Public Services Result 10: That New Zealanders can complete their transactions easily with government in a digital environment,'' he said.

"This aims to have 70 per cent uptake of digital and online services for key transactions by 2017, including passport applications.''

Mr Tremain said passports consistently rated among the top public services in the Kiwis Count figures, produced by the State Services Commission.

He said this was an opportunity to return some savings to passport holders and provide better public services at a lower cost.