Australian passport renewal in the UK: applications, fees and photo requirements
If you are an Australian citizen in the UK, you may be able to renew your passport by post through the Australian High Commission in London. Eligible adults use the shorter PC7 renewal form, and some children aged 15 or younger can also apply by post. Other applications require an appointment. You complete the form online, but you must print it and lodge it with physical passport photos.
This guide explains which route applies, what to send, how much renewal costs and how long it takes. It also covers a detail that may cause trouble: an Australian passport photo has different rules from a standard UK passport photo, especially for printing.
Table of contents
- Can you renew an Australian passport in the UK?
- How to renew an Australian passport from the UK
- Documents needed for Australian passport renewal in the UK
- Australian passport renewal fees in the UK
- How long does Australian passport renewal take in the UK?
- Australian passport photo requirements in the UK
- Get your Australian passport photo ready with Visafoto
- Where can you print Australian passport photos in the UK?
- What if your Australian passport photo is rejected?
- Receiving your new passport and travelling during renewal
- Australian passport renewal checklist for UK applicants
- Frequently asked questions
Can you renew an Australian passport in the UK?
Yes. Australian citizens living in or temporarily visiting the UK can apply through the Australian High Commission in London. Your age, previous passport and any changes to your details determine whether you can post the application or need to attend an appointment.
| Your situation | Form and submission route |
|---|---|
| Adult who meets the renewal conditions | PC7 adult renewal form, submitted by post |
| Child aged 15 or younger who qualifies for a subsequent passport | Overseas passport form, submitted by post |
| First passport, changed details, lost or stolen passport, or other non-qualifying application | Overseas passport form, normally submitted in person by appointment |
| Applicant aged 16 or 17 | Overseas passport form, submitted in person with a parent |
The Australian Passport Office application portal helps you generate the right form. Completing that form online is not the same as lodging an online passport application. You must print and submit it by the route that applies to you.
Who can renew an adult Australian passport by post?
The PC7 is a shorter adult renewal form for applicants whose previous passport record can be used without changing their personal details. To use the UK postal route, all of these conditions must apply:
- Your last Australian passport was issued when you were at least 16.
- It expired in 2016 or later and was valid for at least two years when issued.
- You are not changing your name, gender, date of birth or place of birth.
- The passport has not been lost, stolen, damaged or cancelled.
If you meet these conditions, follow the High Commission's adult postal-renewal instructions. A PC7 application does not require a guarantor, and you should not send your previous passport with it.
When do you need an in-person appointment?
An adult who cannot use PC7 generally needs the longer overseas passport application and an appointment. This includes someone applying for a first adult passport, changing personal details, replacing a lost or stolen passport, or replacing an emergency or limited-validity passport. The application portal will direct you to the appropriate form after you answer its questions.
The High Commission operates an appointment system for in-person applications. It does not offer a walk-in drop-off service. Appointments are normally in London, although occasional outreach visits may be announced for other UK cities.
What is the route for a child's passport renewal?
A child aged 15 or younger may qualify to renew by post if they have previously held a full-validity Australian passport, their name and gender are unchanged, and that passport has not been lost, stolen or cancelled. This still uses the overseas passport application, not the adult PC7 form. A guarantor and parental consent are required.
A first passport for a child, or a child application that does not meet the postal conditions, must be lodged in person by a parent. Children aged 15 or younger do not normally need to attend the appointment. Applicants aged 16 or 17 must attend with one parent, even if they have held an Australian passport before. The High Commission's child postal-renewal instructions set out the conditions and documents for that route.
How to renew an Australian passport from the UK
For an eligible adult postal renewal, the process is straightforward once you have checked the photo and printing requirements.
- Confirm your route. Check the PC7 conditions above. If you do not qualify, use the overseas application route and book an appointment.
- Complete the form in the Australian Passport Office application portal. Create an account, say that you are applying from overseas and answer the eligibility questions. Download the form the portal generates.
- Print, sign and date the form. For PC7, sign the applicant declaration in black ink, keeping your signature inside its box. The signature date must be within six months of lodgement. Do not use correction fluid or tape.
- Prepare two Australian passport photos. They must meet Australian size, image and print standards. Write your full name in black ink on the back of one adult PC7 photo. For a child application, the guarantor must endorse one photo as instructed on the form.
- Complete the payment authorisation form. The High Commission does not take payment through the online application portal. It charges your card after receiving and assessing the application.
- Lodge the application. If you qualify for postal renewal, send the printed documents in an A4 envelope by tracked Royal Mail. Do not use a courier. If you need an appointment, take the printed form, photos and required original documents to the High Commission.
- Keep your tracking details. The High Commission emails a payment receipt when processing begins. You can also check your application status through the Australian Passport Office.
For an adult PC7 postal application, address the envelope to Passport Office (adult renewal), Australian High Commission, Strand, London WC2B 4LA. The child postal route uses Passport Office (child renewal) on the first address line. Check your route's current instructions before posting, particularly if you have special documents or circumstances.
Documents needed for Australian passport renewal in the UK
The short adult postal route needs only three items: the completed and signed PC7 form, at least two Australian-standard passport photos, and the completed payment authorisation form. Protect the prints from creases and marks in the envelope. Do not post your old passport or other original documents with a routine PC7 renewal.
For a qualifying child renewal by post, prepare the overseas passport application with its parental consent and guarantor sections completed, two photos with one endorsed by the guarantor, photocopies of both parents' government-issued photo ID and proof of address, and the payment authorisation form. Evidence of a parent's name change or other documents may be needed in particular cases. Do not assume that an exceptional case, such as one involving a court order or incomplete parental consent, follows the standard postal checklist.
For an in-person overseas application, bring the printed form and original supporting documents requested for your circumstances. These may include proof of Australian citizenship and identity, a birth certificate or evidence of a name change. The application portal and the High Commission's instructions will identify the documents for your route. Adult applicants lodge their own applications; a parent lodges a child's application.
Australian passport renewal fees in the UK
The High Commission charges passport fees in Australian dollars. As listed in its UK guidance on 29 September 2026, the fees are:
| Passport service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Ordinary adult passport | AUD 611 |
| Passport for a child aged 16 or 17 | AUD 514 |
| Passport for a child aged 15 or younger | AUD 305 |
| Optional five-year passport for an applicant aged 75 or older | AUD 402 |
| Emergency passport, any age | AUD 265 |
An applicant aged 75 or older can choose the ordinary ten-year adult passport instead of the lower-cost five-year option. The emergency passport is a separate, limited travel document, not a faster version of ordinary renewal. Fees can change, so check the amount before you submit. The High Commission accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit or debit cards; a UK card issuer may add its own charge. Its passport FAQs explain the current fees and payment process.
How long does Australian passport renewal take in the UK?
Allow at least six weeks from lodging a complete application to receiving the passport. A missing signature, unsuitable photo or incomplete supporting document can delay the start of processing. For a postal application, an emailed payment receipt indicates that the High Commission has accepted the application for processing; a Royal Mail delivery notification alone does not mean assessment is complete.
There is no priority or fast-track service for ordinary Australian passports issued overseas. If you have urgent travel within three weeks, check whether you can apply for an emergency passport. Do not book travel on the assumption that an ordinary passport will arrive earlier than the published estimate.
Australian passport photo requirements in the UK
You need two printed colour photos, taken less than six months ago. The prints must meet the Australian Passport Office's photo guidelines, not just the size setting on a UK photo booth. A standard UK 35 × 45 mm print is within the lower end of Australia's permitted overall dimensions, but its face position, image quality and printing method must also meet Australian rules.
| Requirement | Australian passport photo rule |
|---|---|
| Print size | 35-40 mm wide and 45-50 mm high |
| Face height | 32-36 mm from chin to crown (the top of the skull, not the hair) |
| Age of photo | Less than six months |
| Background | Plain white or light grey, contrasting with the face |
| Colour, dye-sublimation process rather than inkjet, glossy paper of at least 200 gsm |
Your face must be centred, upright and looking directly at the camera. Keep a neutral expression, eyes open and the edges of your face visible. Lighting should be even, without shadows, reflections or red-eye. The image must be sharp and show your natural appearance: do not smooth skin, remove identifying marks, digitally replace the background or otherwise retouch the photo. Glasses are allowed only when they cannot be removed for medical reasons, and the eyes must remain visible without reflections. A plain religious head covering is permitted if it does not hide the face.
The High Commission does not accept photos from UK photo booths because their output may not have enough resolution. It also advises against selfies and warns that phone photos can be distorted. A child's photo follows the same size and quality rules, though a child under three may have an open mouth; no other person or object may appear in the frame.
Get your Australian passport photo ready with Visafoto
Visafoto helps with one of the fiddly parts of an Australian passport application: preparing an image to the correct Australian crop, background, face position and print layout. It is particularly useful when a standard UK passport-photo template gives you the wrong framing. Select Australia and passport photo in Visafoto, then upload a recent, sharp portrait. The service prepares a digital result and a printable template, so you do not need to measure and lay out the photos by hand. It also imrove the quality and the lighting conditions on the image.
Example of the photo you can upload:
The result:
Download the printable version and arrange printing on glossy paper. Keep the digital version too: the High Commission may request a JPEG later if a photo is rejected during eligibility assessment, but a digital file does not replace the two prints required with the original application.
Visafoto offers 24/7 support if you need help checking or replacing the prepared image. If a government authority rejects the photo, Visafoto offers a full refund under its money-back guarantee. The Australian Passport Office cautions against online photo services, so using one is your choice; neither Visafoto nor a print service can guarantee that the High Commission will accept the final photos.
Where can you print Australian passport photos in the UK?
Our guide to where to print passport-size photos in the UK explains local printing options. It mainly discusses UK passport-photo printing, so use it to find a service, not as proof that its home-print or kiosk methods meet the stricter Australian print rules. Confirm the paper and printing process for your Australian photos before you pay.
Before ordering prints, ask whether the service uses dye-sublimation printing and glossy photo paper of at least 200 gsm. Check the finished photos for correct measurements, clear detail, even colour and an undamaged surface. Do not trim them down yourself; the High Commission can trim accepted prints if necessary.
What if your Australian passport photo is rejected?
A photo problem can put the application on hold. If the High Commission rejects the prints at its first assessment, it will ask for replacement physical photos. If a photo is rejected later during eligibility processing, it may instead request a JPEG. Follow the instructions in the message you receive; do not email a digital image in place of prints unless asked.
Check why the photo failed before sending a replacement. Common points to inspect are face height, shadows behind the head, blur, graininess, visible retouching and the print process. For replacement prints sent by post, use tracked delivery and protect them from bending or scratches. If you purchased the photo from Visafoto and the High Commission rejected it, you can request a 100% refund from Visafoto. You can also contact support for help preparing a replacement.
Receiving your new passport and travelling during renewal
The High Commission normally sends the new passport to the UK residential address on your application using Royal Mail Special Delivery. Collection from the office is available only in exceptional circumstances. If you are visiting the UK rather than living there, you need a UK delivery arrangement and enough time in the country to receive the document.
For an eligible postal renewal, keep your current passport. If it is still valid, you can continue to use it while the new application is processed. The previous passport is automatically cancelled 30 days after the new passport is issued, so do not plan later travel on its remaining printed validity. If you need to travel soon, consider the delivery period and any entry rules for your destination before you post your application.
Australian passport renewal checklist for UK applicants
- Confirm whether you qualify for PC7, child postal renewal or an in-person application.
- Complete the correct overseas application in the portal and print every page.
- Sign and date the required sections in black ink; obtain witness and guarantor signatures if your form requires them.
- Prepare two recent Australian-standard printed photos and mark the back of one as instructed for your route.
- Gather the supporting documents for your route, including parental documents where required.
- Complete the payment authorisation form if applying by post.
- Use the correct address line and tracked Royal Mail for a postal application, or book the appropriate appointment.
- Keep your application number, postal tracking and payment receipt.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew my Australian passport entirely online from the UK?
No. You can complete the application form online, but you must print it and lodge the application by post or in person, depending on your eligibility. Two physical photos are required at lodgement.
Can I renew by post if my passport has expired?
Possibly. The UK PC7 postal route accepts a previous passport that expired in 2016 or later, provided all the other PC7 conditions are met. If it does not qualify, use the overseas application and appointment route.
Do I need a guarantor for an adult PC7 renewal?
No. A guarantor is required for the longer overseas passport application, including child applications, but not for the adult PC7 renewal form.
Should I send my old passport with a postal renewal?
No. Do not post your old passport or other original documents with a routine adult PC7 or qualifying child postal renewal. Check the separate instructions if your case needs exceptional supporting documents.
Can I apply while visiting the UK?
Yes, if you are an Australian citizen temporarily in the UK, the High Commission can accept an application there. You need a UK address for delivery or an agreed collection arrangement, and you must remain long enough to receive the passport.
Is an emergency passport the same as fast-track renewal?
No. There is no fast-track service for an ordinary Australian passport application lodged overseas. An emergency passport is a separate temporary document for eligible urgent travel, and not every destination accepts it.
Last updated: 29 September 2026.