Australian Passport Overseas

As passports are used to travel out of your home country, it is logical that some people may not be able to apply for a new passport at their hometown’s post office. This article will cover the basics of applying for an Australian passport overseas and applies to everyone, whether you’re an expat, a tourist, a student, or any Australian indeed!

Table of contents

• How do I apply for an Australian passport overseas
• What happens if you lose your Australian passport overseas
• Australian passport overseas: fees
• How long does it take to renew an Australian passport overseas?
• Who can be a guarantor for an Australian passport application
• Documents required for Australian passport applications overseas
• Australian passport photo requirements

How do I apply for an Australian passport overseas

The process of applying for an Australian passport abroad is practically similar to the process of applying for it at home. Here are the general steps:

1. Gather the required documents (depends on your age and whether you are qualified to renew), including two passport application photos;
2. Have someone be your guarantor;
3. Fill in your application, whether online or request a form at your local Australian diplomatic or consular mission;
4. Lodge your application Embassy or Consulate and pay the fee, which may depend on your Embassy or Consulate;
5. Wait for the passport to be processed and ready.

What happens if you lose your Australian passport overseas

If you lose your passport in another country, you must immediately report it to the nearest Australian diplomatic or consular mission. Take care to not delay as the Australian Passports Act 2005 penalizes people who do not report the loss or theft as soon as possible. This is important to protect you from identity theft. These strict regulations also mean that in case you find your passport after reporting it as lost, you will not be able to use it again.

If your passport is stolen, it is also recommended that you report the theft to the police and keep a copy of the report.

Australian passport overseas: fees

The application cost depends on which validity period you are applying for (which options are related to age), plus the overseas surcharge. These are the fees as presented by the Australian Passport Office. Your Embassy or Consulate may charge depending on local currency.

These are the standard Australian passport fees:

• 10 – year validity passport (for persons aged 16 and over): AU$308;
• 5 - year validity passport (for children under 16 and optional for persons 75 and over): AU$155.

As for the overseas surcharge:

• Adults: AU$138;
• Children: AU$67.

There are also fees for priority processing and special circumstances (replacements and emergency travel documents).

How long does it take to renew an Australian passport overseas?

The processing time (that is, the time between lodging the application and receiving your passport) is up to 6 weeks. Apply in time to make sure you travel without a hitch.

There are emergency travel documents available, that are processed in less time. However, it is reserved, as is mentioned in the name, for emergency situations.

Who can be a guarantor for an Australian passport application

A guarantor is needed to confirm your identity. Unless you’re eligible to renew, you will need one.

A guarantor must be:

• someone with a current and valid Australian passport, or
• a person of any nationality who’s employed in an approved occupational group. To understand who qualifies, check with your local Australian Consulate or Embassy.

However, they cannot be your relative of any kind, be in a de facto relationship with you, or live together with you (at the same address). As for children’s guarantors, the disqualifier widens: the guarantor may not be related to, be in a de facto relationship with, or live together with both the applying child and those who have parental responsibility for the child.

Documents required for Australian passport applications overseas

If you are not renewing, have these documents:

• Your full birth certificate;
• Evidence of Australian citizenship;
• Identity documents showing your photo, signature, and current residential address;
• Documents that prove any change of name or change of gender, if applicable;
• Two passport application photos that satisfy guidelines.

For children, have these documents:

• The applying child’s full birth certificate;
• Evidence that the child is an Australian citizen: this may be the child’s Australian birth certificate or Australian citizenship certificate;
• Documents that prove any change of name, if applicable;
• As applicable, documents to establish who has parental responsibility for the child, such as court orders and additional passport forms;
• Two passport-sized photos that satisfy the photo requirements

For renewals, here are the documents required:

• Two passport photos fulfilling requirements;
• All supporting documents that are requested on the application form.

You can fill out the application form for renewals here or get one from an Embassy or Consulate.

Australian passport photo requirements

Check your photo against these requirements:

• The picture must be in colour and of good quality. The lighting and contrast must be even. No blurred, pixelated, or otherwise distorted photos may be accepted;
• The photo background must be white;
• The photo size is 3.5x4.5 cm;
• The height of your head in the picture (from crown to chin) should be about 35 mm;
• The photos may not be printed using an inkjet printer;
• Your face must be fully visible, and your eyes must look straight into the camera. Keep a neutral facial expression;
• Your face must be centred in the picture;
• Hearing aids are allowed if used regularly;
• Headwear should only for religious or medical purposes. They should not obscure facial features.

Here is an example:

Make sure your photos are up to par by using Visafoto, an online service that’s been taking care of passport and visa photos since 2013. We’ll adjust your photos to all the needed parameters and provide a template ready for printing so you can focus on other aspects of the application. Just don’t forget to print it according to the guidelines.

Just upload a portrait of you taken in decent lighting, with a proper dress code, and correctly posed. Visafoto will take care of the rest.

Take an image with a smartphone or camera against any background, upload it here and instantly get a professional photo for your visa, passport, or ID.

You will get two files from Visafoto: a digital photo for electronic applications and a template ready for printing.