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

Thinking about travelling overseas soon? You’ll need to make sure your Australian passport is still valid, or will remain valid for the duration of your trip.

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.

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Australian passport renewal

There are certain conditions that need to be met before you can renew your passport. Your current passport¹:

• was issued when you were 16 or older,
• was originally issued with a validity of at least 2 years
• issued with your current date of birth, place of birth, name and gender
• was issued after the 1st of January 2006
• is not cancelled or reported lost or stolen.

All these requirements above must be met. If even 1 requirement is not fulfilled, you will have to go through the full passport application process.¹

Read more: How to apply for an Australian Passport

Australian passport renewal form options:

There are various ways you can get your passport renewal form and begin the process:

• Filling the online form on the online portal. A sign in to your AusPassport account is required
• Calling the number 131 232 to request a pre-filled form sent out to you if you can’t do this online
• Through your local Australian diplomatic or consular mission, if you are abroad

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.²

• gather your original documents and passport photos
• fill the online form on the online portal or the pre-filled renewal form you are sent once you call 131 232
• go into a participating Australia Post outlet to lodge your renewal form and
• pay the fee

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 them.

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.
2. Complete the application form.
3. Head into an Australian diplomatic or consular mission to lodge your passport renewal form and
4. pay the fees

These places may require an appointment, so it’s a good idea to check when you’d be able to come in before you go.

Cost to renew your Australian passport

Here are the fees (in Australian dollars) valid as of 1 January 2024. These are subject to change, so you can find the latest fees here.³

Type of passport / service	Fee to renew it³
Passport with 10 years validity (citizens aged 16 and over)	$346
Passport with 5 years validity (citizens aged under 16)	$175
Passport with 5 years validity (optional for citizens aged 75 and over)	$175
Replacement passport	$217
Emergency passport overseas	$217
Priority processing (if eligible)	$252

As seen on 30 June 2024

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

Type of Applicant	Overseas Surcharge³
Adult Applicant (citizens aged 16 and over)	$155
Child Applicant (citizens aged under 16)	$76

As seen on 30 June 2024

Supported payment methods

Payment of the processing fee is done when you lodge your application. The supported payment methods are ³:

• Cash, EFTPOS, MasterCard, Visa or AMEX cards or at Australia Post outlets
• All of the above except cash and AMEX cards at passport offices

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

To complete the passport renewal process you’ll need the following.⁴

• Your full birth certificate or 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

Can you renew your Australian passport online?

Even though you can start the renewal process of filling forms online, you’ll need to lodge your application and pay the fee at a participating Australia Post outlet or overseas mission.

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.

If you need it in less than 6 weeks, if eligible, it’s possible to get it expedited with priority processing.

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 mission. The fee for an emergency passport is $217 and be aware that it may not have a chip in it like the normal passports do.³

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.

• 35 – 40mm wide and 45 – 50mm high
• Face should be 32 – 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

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.

You’ll find full travel guidance on the Smartraveller website and health information on the Australian travel health site.

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)

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Sources:

1. Passport.gov Passport renewal

2. AusPost passport renewal

3. Passport.gov passport fees

4. Passport.gov needed documents

Sources checked on 30 June 2024