Australian Passport Renewal. The requirements, cost and time needed.

Roberto Efflandrin

Published: 24.11.21

6 minute read

As Australia slowly begins to reopen to the world, many people are starting to think about heading overseas again. Some wish to reunite with loved ones abroad while others are hoping to chase international dreams that have been on pause. If you’re thinking about travelling overseas soon, you’ll need to make sure your Australian passport is still valid.

If your passport is expired or about to expire, you can read on to find out what you’ll need to do to renew it from within Australia and overseas. We’ll also give you a few travel tips for how you can save on fees when you spend, using a Wise debit card.

💸 Hold over 50 currencies in your account and spend at the real exchange rate with the Wise card while abroad.

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How to renew your Australian passport

When you go to renew your passport you can do a “passport renewal” or a “streamlined passport renewal”. To do streamlined renewal your current passport needs to have been:³

Issued when you were 16 or older,
Originally valid for a period longer than 2 years,
Issued with your current date of birth, place of birth, name and gender,
Still valid, or expired within the last three years,
Not cancelled or reported lost or stolen.

If you can’t do a streamlined renewal then you can just do a renewal. They have different application forms and you’d need to supply different documents.

If you need to apply for your first passport, check our Australian Passport application guide instead.

Renew your passport at a participating Australia Post outlet

Here are the steps you’ll need to take to renew your passport through Australia Post.¹

Gather your original documents and passport photos.
Complete the application form.
a. For a standard renewal you can fill out the online form then print it or get a blank paper form from a participating Australia Post outlet.
b. For a streamlined renewal you can complete the form online and print it or call the Australian Passport Office who will confirm you qualify then send you a prefilled form by email or post.
Go into a participating Australia Post outlet to lodge your renewal form and pay the fee. Just a reminder that some outlets want you to book an appointment² so it’s best to check in advance if you’ll need one.

Renew your Australian passport at a Passport Office

If you need to travel urgently for a reason the Passport Office sees as being an “unforeseen compassionate or compelling reason”, you can lodge your application directly with them².

To organise this just call 131 232. The Passport Office will advise if you're eligible and organise a time for you to come in and lodge your renewal.

Renew your passport overseas at an Australian diplomatic or consular mission

If you’re overseas you can still renew your passport by visiting your local Australian diplomatic or consular mission.¹

Gather your original documents and passport photos.
Complete the application form.
c. For a standard renewal, you can complete the form online and print it or go to an Australian diplomatic or consular mission to get a blank paper copy.
d. For a streamlined renewal, you can complete the online form then print it or contact an Australian diplomatic or consular mission who will confirm you qualify before sending you a prefilled form by email or post.
Head into an Australian diplomatic or consular mission to lodge your passport renewal form and pay any fees. These places often require an appointment and there’s a chance they could be closed or fully booked so it's a good idea to check when you’d be able to come in before you go.²

Can you renew your Australian passport online?

Even though you can fill out the forms online it isn’t possible to lodge your renewal online². You’ll need to lodge your application and pay the fee at a participating Australia Post outlet or overseas mission.

How to renew your Australian child passport

There are a couple of differences when it comes to renewing a child’s Australian passport.⁵

There’s no streamlined passport renewal option.
A child's passport generally has to be signed by anyone who has parental responsibilities to show they’ve given consent.

Here’s how much it will cost to renew your Australian passport

Type of passport	Fee to renew it ⁴
Passport with 10 years validity (citizens aged 16 and over)	$301
Passport with 5 years validity (citizens aged under 16)	$152
Passport with 5 years validity (optional for citizens aged 75 and over)	$152

There are additional fees on top of the standard Australian passport renewal fees for overseas applicants:

Type of Applicant	Overseas Surcharge ⁴
Adult Applicant (citizens aged 16 and over)	$135
Child Applicant (citizens aged under 16)	$66

What documents and info do you need to renew your Australian passport?

To complete the passport renewal process you’ll need the following.¹

Your full birth certificate,
Evidence of your Australian citizenship,
Identity documents with your current photo, address and signature,
Proof of any change of name or gender,
Completed application form,
Two passport photos that meet the Australian passport photo guidelines,
The full name, phone number and passport details or electoral roll address of a referee (online form) or guarantor (paper form) who can confirm your identity.

They need to have known you for more than a year and it can’t be a relative, de facto or someone who lives in the same household. In the case of a baby under 1 year old, the person should have known them since birth.

If you’re overseas your guarantor or referee can be an Australian passport holder or someone from an occupation group that’s been approved by the Australian diplomatic or consular mission you’re applying to.

Requirements for streamlined renewal

The requirements are slightly different if you qualify for a streamlined renewal.³

Completed application form,
Two passport photos that meet the Australian passport photo guidelines,
Your most recent passport.

How long does it take to renew your Australian passport?

The time frame for an Australian passport renewal is up to 6 weeks from when you lodged your application.¹ Make sure to provide all required documentation and information to avoid delays due to the initial rush with passport renewals..

If you need it in less than 6 weeks it's possible to get it expedited with priority processing.

Passport offices and contact details

If you need to get in touch with the Australian Passport Office or want to make an appointment you can call them on 131 232. There are offices in every state which you can usually visit by appointment.

Adelaide Passport Office in South Australia (SA)
Brisbane Passport Office in Queensland (QLD)
Canberra Passport Office in the ACT
Darwin Passport Office in the Northern Territory (NT)
Hobart Passport Office in Tasmania (TAS)
Melbourne Passport Office in Victoria (VIC)
Perth Passport Office in Western Australia (WA)
Sydney Passport Office in New South Wales (NSW)

Wise (https://wise.com/au/account/)

FAQ section

Can I get urgent, expedited passports?

When you lodge your passport renewal application it’s possible to pay a $220 surcharge for priority processing⁴ if you’re eligible. Priority processing is only available from within Australia or in London.

Your passport will be ready to mail or collect from an Australian Passport Office or the Australian High Commision United Kingdom in London two business days after they receive your application⁶.

What if I’m overseas and need an urgent passport?

If you're overseas and need a passport urgently you can apply for an emergency passport from an Australian diplomatic or consular mission⁶. The fee for an emergency passport is $189⁴ and be aware that it doesn’t have a chip in it like the normal passports do.

What are the passport photo requirements?

There is a list of requirements that pictures for Australian Passports must meet. The key points are as follows.⁷

Specifications

35mm – 40mm wide and 45mm – 50mm high,
Face should be 32mm – 36mm from chin to crown,
Clear, high quality colour print.
Less than 6 months old,
White or light grey background,
Uniform lighting,
Face centred and looking straight at the camera,
Hair not covering the face,
Eyes open, mouth closed and a neutral facial expression.

How do I get a form for streamlined renewal?

You can do the form online using the Auspassport application portal. If you want a paper copy you’ll need to contact the Australian Passport Office (within Australia) or an Australian diplomatic or consular mission (overseas)¹.

When should I renew my passport?

When you renew your passport will depend on its condition and validity. It needs to be renewed if it has expired. It may also need to be renewed or replaced depending on the requirements of the country you are travelling to. For example, some countries require 6 months validity left on your passport before they will issue a visa and others will refuse entry if your passport is water damaged or ripped.

What else should I know before I travel?

Once your passport has been renewed and you are ready to travel, make sure you study carefully the travel rules of the country you’ll be visiting. Covid-19 and other related vaccines and documentation are of the utmost importance, due to the current pandemic.

You may also need additional travel certificates. You’ll find full guidance on the Australian travel health site.

Wrapping up.

Once you’ve made sure your passport is ready to go, it's time to start planning your trip overseas. One of the most frustrating things about travelling can be the sheer amount of fees banks charge when you spend your money abroad. Wise is a great alternative for managing your money, spending and also making international transfers.

By opening a Wise Multi-currency account, you can order a Wise debit card that can be used to make payments in over 50 different currencies.

As long as you choose to pay in the local currency while abroad, your money will be exchanged using the real exchange rate and you’ll only pay a small conversion fee.

Check out the Wise card pricing calculator to see how much you could save on fees during your international travels using a Wise debit card.

Open your Wise account in minutes 🚀

Sources:

Australian Passport Office: How to Get an Adult Passport
Australian Passport Office: Lodging a Passport Application
Australian Passport Office: Passport Renewal
Australian Passport Office: Passport Fees
Australian Passport Office: How to get a child passport
Australian Passport Office: Urgent applications
Australian Passport Office: Photo guidelines
Sources checked on: 20 November 2021

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