The new ten year passports will now be available from the end of November, a month earlier than originally planned.
The average price for a ten-year passport will be $180 and people will be able to apply for them from 30 November subject to the law being changed as planned.
Anyone who applies for a passport before that date will receive a document valid for only five years.
The existing five-year passports will not be able to be transferred to ten year ones, and anyone wanting the longer validity will have to apply for a new passport.
Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne said children's passports would remain valid for five years because their appearance can change significantly over time.
