Getting a New Zealand passport for your baby

The short version

A New Zealand baby needs their own passport to travel overseas. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) states that a child passport is valid for a maximum of 5 years, and a standard child passport costs NZD $144, plus courier delivery. DIA asks you to allow at least 4 weeks (20 working days) for processing, plus delivery time.

Two rules make this simpler than you might expect: the consent of only one parent or guardian is needed, and a baby born in New Zealand does not need to send a birth certificate. The step most worth getting right is the photo.

Before you apply: birth registration and citizenship

Register the birth first; our guide to registering a birth in New Zealand explains how. DIA's guide notes for the child application state that children born on or after 1 January 2006 are only New Zealand citizens if at least one parent was a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand, Niue, the Cook Islands or Tokelau at the time of the birth.

The New Zealand birth record will clearly state if a child born in New Zealand is not a citizen by birth. If your baby is not a citizen by birth, they must obtain citizenship before they are entitled to a passport. For a baby born overseas to a New Zealand parent without a citizenship certificate yet, DIA says the child's status must be determined through the New Zealand Citizenship Office before a passport can issue.

What documents do you need?

For most New Zealand-born babies, very little. DIA's document table for the child application lists no document required for a child born in New Zealand. It says that in most cases it only needs original documents if they were issued outside New Zealand. A child born in Niue, the Cook Islands or Tokelau needs the original birth certificate showing place of birth and the parents' names.

What you do need is:

• a photo of your baby that meets the requirements
• an identity referee (online) or a witness (paper form)
• consent from one parent or legal guardian
• a way to pay, and a delivery address

Consent: one parent is enough

Children aged 15 and under need parental consent, and DIA says consent can be given by a parent named on the child's birth record, or by a legal guardian appointed through a court process or in a parent's will. DIA states that the consent of only 1 parent or guardian is needed for a New Zealand passport to be issued to a child.

The guide notes add that a parenting order will not stop the other parent or guardian getting a passport for the child. If a New Zealand court has made an order preventing the child leaving the country, or an overseas order is registered in New Zealand, DIA will not issue a passport until the court directs it. If you are worried about a child being taken overseas without your consent, DIA recommends getting advice from a lawyer.

The identity referee or witness

Online applications need an identity referee; paper applications need a witness. DIA says the person must:

• be aged 16 or older
• have known the applicant for more than 1 year, or since birth for a child under 1
• have a current or expired New Zealand passport
• agree to act, and be available if DIA calls or emails

They must not be part of your immediate or extended family, including cousins, in-laws and ex-spouses, your partner, or someone living at your address. An online referee does not sign anything, but may be asked to complete an identity check online using a RealMe login. A paper witness signs the declaration and writes the child's full name, their signature and the date on the back of one photo.

Photo rules for babies

DIA's instruction for babies is specific: lay your baby on a plain, light-coloured sheet and take the photo from above. The photo should show the baby's entire face with their eyes open, and no other people or objects should be visible. Time it for when your baby is awake and settled.

A digital photo must be:

• a colour portrait with a 3:4 aspect ratio, in .jpg or .jpeg format
• between 250KB and 5MB in size
• 900 to 4,500 pixels wide and 1,200 to 6,000 pixels high
• less than 6 months old

DIA rejects selfies, says photos must not be edited, filtered or changed with AI tools, and offers an online photo checker to test the photo before you apply. A paper application needs 2 identical colour photos, 35 mm by 45 mm.

How much does a baby passport cost in New Zealand?

DIA's costs page was last updated on 2 May 2025, and its guide notes say fees are set by the Passport (Fees) Regulations 2025. Online delivery costs range from NZD $7 to NZD $78 depending on where the passport is sent.

How long does it take?

DIA asks you to allow at least 4 weeks (20 working days) for processing, and to add delivery time. Its weekly figure on 5 October 2026 was that 84.6% of passports had been issued within 10 working days in the previous week. It also says that first-time and child applications can take longer because of additional checks.

If you pay for urgent processing, DIA aims to process the application within 3 working days, depending on demand. If you need to travel sooner, apply for an urgent passport and call straight away; the after-hours service runs from 5pm to 10pm on weekdays and 8am to 10pm at weekends and on public holidays in New Zealand, on 0800 22 50 50.

Travelling before the passport arrives

DIA's advice is to plan your trip around both delivery time and the entry requirements of your destination. A baby cannot travel overseas on a parent's passport (see can babies travel without a passport?), so book once the passport arrives or once an urgent application is in. Whether an airline will carry a newborn is a separate question: see when babies can fly and the travel with a baby checklist. Families with an Australian parent can compare the rules in our guide to an Australian passport for your baby.

Where to get help

DIA's New Zealand Passports website is the official source and has a status checker. The contact centre is on 0800 22 50 50 within New Zealand. For the other deadlines that follow a birth, use our new baby paperwork deadlines calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a child passport in New Zealand?

A standard child passport costs NZD $144, applied for online or on a paper form processed in New Zealand, plus a courier cost of NZD $7 to a New Zealand address. Urgent processing costs NZD $391 in total, and the after-hours call-out service costs NZD $898. The passport lasts a maximum of 5 years.

Do both parents need to consent to a New Zealand baby passport?

No. DIA states that the consent of only one parent or guardian is needed for a New Zealand passport to be issued to a child. Consent can come from a parent named on the birth record or a legal guardian. A parenting order does not stop the other parent applying, but a court order preventing travel does.

Do my baby's eyes need to be open in a New Zealand passport photo?

Yes. DIA asks you to lay your baby on a plain, light-coloured sheet, photograph from above and show the baby's entire face with their eyes open. No other people or objects should be visible. Use DIA's online photo checker before you apply, because a rejected photo delays the passport.