An emergency travel document is a temporary document you can use to return to New Zealand or your usual country of residence.
You can apply for an emergency travel document if you are outside New Zealand, and:
- your passport is expired, lost, stolen or damaged
- you need to travel urgently, and
- you will not get your new passport before you travel.
You cannot get an emergency travel document if you are in New Zealand. If you are in New Zealand, you should apply for an urgent passport.
Depending on where you are in the world, it may be better to apply online for an urgent passport. Getting a new passport can be quicker, it costs less, and it's valid for longer.
Apply for your passport
Not all countries accept emergency travel documents
Some countries, like the USA, do not accept emergency travel documents, even if you are just transiting through.
Before you travel, you should check with the embassy or high commission of the countries you intend to travel to, or transit through, to find out if they will accept an emergency travel document.
Foreign representatives to New Zealand
Before you apply
Before you apply, you should contact your nearest New Zealand embassy or high commission to find out if they issue emergency travel documents. Not all New Zealand embassies and high commissions issue emergency travel documents.
Cost
An emergency travel document costs NZD$530.
Validity
An emergency travel document is usually valid for 7 months.
Before it expires, you must send it to the Passport Office so they can issue you a standard passport.
How to apply
Download and fill out the application form below, and return it to a New Zealand embassy or high commission.
Safe travel embassy locator
Download an application form
Emergency travel document application form (PDF 1.6MB)
