A drive to save money and enhance security means British nationals living in New Zealand now have to apply for a new passport in Britain.
The British High Commission in Wellington says from Monday, applications have to be sent directly to the British passport office in Liverpool in England, instead of the processing centre in Wellington.
Applicants can complete the passport application form and payment online and then send photographs and supporting documentation to Liverpool.
The Passport Office says bringing all applications back to Britain will achieve economies of scale making processing cheaper for both the service and applicants.
The second reason is that repatriating the service to one place in Britain will reduce the risk of identity theft and passport fraud.
Passport processing times will remain the same.