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New Zealand to return to 10-year passports in 2016

Xinhua, May 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

New Zealanders are expected to start traveling the world on 10-year passports from next year, following public dissatisfaction with the current five-year passports.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne said Monday that the government had listened to New Zealanders and adult passports would again be valid for 10 years once the law had been changed.

"The 10-year validity period gives greater convenience to most adult passport holders, as they will need to renew their passport less frequently," Dunne said in a statement.

"Because a child's appearance can change significantly over time, the child passport will remain valid for five years as is international convention."

The government switched from 10-year to five-year passports in 2005 in the expectation that other countries would do likewise in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States.

However, 10-year passports remained the international norm and critics argued the introduction of biometric passports lessened the risk of fraud and counterfeiting.

Travelers have also complained about the inconvenience of having to renew passports more frequently and that the government has used five-year passports to collect extra revenue. Endi