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How to Apply for a New Zealand Passport Preventing Children Being Taken from New Zealand |
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Important Notices for New Zealand Passport Holders
Keeping your passport safe while travellingAlways remember your passport is your most valuable document when travelling.DO:
Travel to or through the United States of America using an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) From 1 July 2009 all holders of a New Zealand Emergency Travel Document travelling to or transiting through the USA will require a visa. If you are transiting through the USA you should seek a transit visa (class C1) from the nearest US Embassy prior to your departure. A transit visa may be able to be issued in 24 hours. If you are planning on entering the USA then you will require a non-immigrant visa (class B1 - Business or B2 – Tourist) from the USA authorities. USA Customs & Border Protection may exercise discretion at ports of entry if you are travelling for medical or other emergency reasons, but you may be detained for further processing and/or denied admission. For more information visit Customs and Border Protection. Information about on-line registration for travellers to the United States; required at least 72 hours before departureNote: Important change, from 8 September 2010 a fee of US$14.00 will be charged for a new or renewed application.New Zealanders travelling to the United States without a visa must obtain on-line authorisation to travel at least 72 hours before departure, under a new automated system, which became mandatory from 12 January 2009. The Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) assists in determining eligibility to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). New Zealand is one of over 30 countries included in the programme which allows visitors for tourism or business to spend up to 90 days in the United States. US Customs and Border Protection has announced that from 8 September 2010 a fee of US$14.00 will be charged for a new or renewed application. This is payable by credit card or debit card online at the official US Government website. Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, however, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommends that applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel. In most cases you will receive a response within seconds. Applicants must complete an on-line form, accessible from the official US Government site https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Information to be supplied includes personal details, passport information, the airline you are booked on and other details. ESTA permits will be generally valid, unless revoked, for up to two years or until the traveller's passport expires, whichever comes first, and is valid for multiple entries into the United States. An approved travel authorisation via ESTA is not a guarantee of admissibility to the United States at a port of entry. ESTA approval only authorizes a traveller to board a carrier for travel to the United States under the VWP. For more information about ESTA, please visit www.cbp.gov/ESTA. Frequently asked questions about ESTA can be viewed on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. Information about machine-readable passports for travellers to the United StatesFrom 26 October 2004 all New Zealand citizens travelling to, or through, the United States of America (USA) should have a machine-readable passport to satisfy US visa waiver requirements. The visa-waiver programme allows citizens of certain countries to enter the USA without a visa for a specified period, subject to the rules of their programme.The US visa-waiver programme applies to passport holders from over 30 countries, including New Zealand, if they are travelling to, or through, the USA for travel or business purposes for a maximum period of 90 days. These countries are defined by the USA as 'visa-waiver' countries. All New Zealand citizens travelling to, or through, the USA from 26 October 2004 who do not hold a machine-readable passport must either:
If you are unsure whether your current passport is machine-readable, check the following guidelines. If your passport is a machine-readable version then the passport number will begin with:
Most non machine-readable passports are likely to have been issued outside New Zealand, Australia or the United Kingdom. SmartGate self processing through Australian passport controlNew Zealand and Australia ePassport holders (aged 18 and over) who are travelling to Australia now have the option to self-process through Australian passport control. SmartGate is available in most Australian international airports. For further information visit Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.SmartGate self processing through New Zealand passport control New Zealand and Australian ePassport holders (aged 18 and over) who are arriving at Auckland and Wellington airports will have the option to self-process through New Zealand passport control using SmartGate. SmartGate will also be introduced at Christchurch airport in 2010 for passenger arrivals who are New Zealand and Australian ePassport holders (aged 18 and over). SmartGate for departures at all three airports will be operational by 2011. For further information visit www.border.govt.nz. Unpaid fines could stop you travelling overseasIf you owe reparation, or your fines are overdue, you could be stopped from arriving or departing any New Zealand international airport. For more information call the Ministry of Justice on 0800 PAYORSTAY (0800 729 677) or visit www.payorstay.govt.nz.New Zealand ePassportThe ePassport has been introduced to further enhance the security of the New Zealand passport and ensure New Zealand fully complies with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and meets the requirements of the US Visa Waiver Programme (VWP).New Zealand's first ePassport was introduced in November 2005 (the 'traditional style' ePassport). The next version of the ePassport (the 'new style' ePassport) has been issued since November 2009. New Zealand prides itself on having one of the best passports in the world. These enhancements will strengthen the already good reputation of the New Zealand passport. For further information please see the ePassport Frequently Asked Questions. Passports Amendment Act 2005The Passports Amendment Act 2005 came into effect on 21 April 2005. As a result of this legislation there have been some important changes to the New Zealand passport:
Civil UnionsThe Civil Union Act came into effect on 26 April 2005. From this date, names taken by Civil Union* can appear in the New Zealand Passport.A Civil Union is a legal relationship recognised in law in New Zealand. The Civil Union Act 2004 provides the criteria, rules and processes for two people to have their relationship solemnised as a civil union (by way of a formal ceremony) and officially registered in New Zealand. A Civil Union may be entered into by couples of the same sex or by couples of different sexes. See Civil Unions for further information. If you wish to have a name taken by Civil Union in your passport, please ensure you complete the relevant 'Name by Marriage or Civil Union' section on page seven of the application form. If you have an older version of the form that does not reflect the Civil Union Act, please complete the 'Name by Marriage' section on page seven, and indicate you are taking the name by Civil Union. Alternatively, you can download the most current passport application form, which reflects the Civil Union Act changes. If we cannot verify your Civil Union by computer, you may be asked to provide your original Civil Union Certificate. (*only Civil Unions recognised in New Zealand) Passport requirements for travel to LibyaOn 11 November 2007, the Libyan Government reintroduced a requirement that all travellers entering Libya have an approved Arabic translation of the bio data page inserted in their passport.New Zealanders intending to travel to Libya should contact us at the earliest opportunity prior to departure, to obtain an Arabic translation of their biodata page. (the biodata page is on the inside cover of the New Zealand passport and contains biographical information about the passport holder). If you are already travelling overseas, the New Zealand High Commission in London (Passport Office) and the New Zealand Embassy in Cairo can provide the necessary translation stamp in the visa page along with covering letter. For Libyan visa’s processed in the United Kingdom, the passport and covering letter also need to be referred by the applicant to the London Chamber of Commerce for further endorsement before lodging all documents for a visa with the nearest Libyan Embassy. You are required to send the following:
Travellers are reminded that if your passport shows an Israeli visa or border stamp, you are unlikely to get an entry visa to Libya. Further information is provided through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade travel website www.safetravel.govt.nz Syrian Visa Applications If you are applying for a Syrian visa you must obtain an authenticated letter confirming the details of your passport from the New Zealand Passport Office. To apply for a letter confirming the details of your passport, either fax or post a request for a ‘Letter Confirming the Details of my Passport; for use in obtaining a Syrian visa’ to the address below. With the request you must include a photocopy of the biodata page of your passport, and your full address and phone number. You can post or fax your request to: New Zealand Passport Office Business Support PO Box 10526 Wellington 6143 Fax: (+64 4) 382 3403 In your request for the letter you will need to state that the letter will need to be forwarded to The Authentication Unit. The authentication of the letter will cost NZ$65.00. You can either contact the Authentication Unit directly to make the credit card payment, or send your payment to the Passport Office with your request for the letter. Please state in your letter which option you have chosen. The Authentication Unit's contact details are: Authentication Unit Department of Internal Affairs PO Box 805 Wellington 6140 Phone: (+64 4) 470 2928 or freephone 0800 872 675 (New Zealand only) The Authentication Unit will send you the authenticated letter so that you can send it with your visa application to the Syrian Embassy. The authenticated letter will be sent to you by standard post unless you provide either, a prepaid self addressed courier bag or purchase a return courier bag from us. Courier bags for delivery within New Zealand cost NZ$5.00. If the letter is required to be sent outside of New Zealand please contact the Authentication Unit for the international courier fees. |
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Last updated: 13/08/2010 |
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