This note is not part of the regulations, but is intended to indicate their general effect.

These regulations, which come into force on the day after their notification in the Gazette, amend the Passport (Fees) Regulations 1996.

Passports are now only issued by passports offices in New Zealand, London, and Sydney.

Overseas missions and overseas posts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade may receive and check applications and forward them to a passports office in New Zealand, London, or Sydney (for which an additional handling fee of $50 is now payable). Overseas missions and overseas posts will continue to issue emergency travel documents.

The fees for various applications processed in New Zealand increase as follows:

• the fee for an adult passport increases from $71 to $150:

• the fee for a child passport increases from $36 to $80:

• the fee for a refugee travel document or certificate of identity increases from $35 to $80:

• the priority service fee for urgent applications increases from $75 to $150:

• the callout fee payable when staff must work outside ordinary working hours increases from $330 to $500.

The fees charged by passports offices in London and Sydney are also increased.

Amendments are also made—

• to remove references to the endorsement of passports and certificates of identity because the Passports Act 1992 no longer allows endorsement of these documents; and

• to remove references to the renewal of passports and other travel documents because they are no longer renewed; new documents are issued instead.