Acting Internal Affairs Minister David Seymour has announced that wait times for passports are decreasing, with the Department of Internal Affairs reporting the highest ever monthly figure for digital uptake in passport applications.

“As of Friday, July 5, the passport application queue has reduced by 34.4 percent, a reduction of 18,557 from a peak of 53,847 at the beginning of May,” stated Seymour.

“The upgrade to the passport system implemented in March was the most significant in over a decade. I am pleased to see New Zealanders are already benefitting from the new options that make applying for a passport online a lot easier,” he added.

Seymour highlighted the Government's efforts in addressing concerns over the lengthy wait times for passports. A dedicated team has been established within the Department, with more staff reallocated to tackle the issue. Regular monitoring and IT tuning of the new system have been implemented to enhance its efficiency, alongside additional support and training for staff across domestic and international sites.

“As the Acting Minister for Internal Affairs, I’d like to acknowledge the way Brooke van Velden has managed a difficult situation she did not create but had to take responsibility for,” said Seymour.

In March, an upgrade to the passport processing software caused unexpected delays, which were a significant concern to Minister van Velden due to the stress and uncertainty it caused for Kiwis planning international travel. She requested ongoing updates on the issue until it was resolved.

In June, the Department issued 43,488 passports, almost 6,000 more than the number of applications received. The Department exceeded its goal of issuing 75 percent of passports within six weeks, achieving a 77 percent issuance rate. For July, it is expected that 75 percent of passports will be issued within two weeks and 95 percent within six weeks. By the end of August, over 90 percent of passports are expected to be processed within two weeks.

The percentage of applications issued within two weeks in June was 32 percent, lower than the 50 percent target, but this came amid record numbers of digital applications.