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Passports : Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for my passport to be made?
The processing time for a passport is up to 10 working days from the date of lodging of a complete application at a passport office. This does not include delivery time if you elect to have your new passport sent out to you instead of collecting it from the passport office. If you have an urgent need to travel sooner than 10 working days, please contact your lodging office to discuss your situation.
If you are attending an interview at an Honorary Consulate in Denver, Houston or Seattle, please allow one extra working day for the passoprt office to receive your application.
Do I have to lodge in person?
Most applications need to be lodged in person, just like if you were applying in Australia. However, certain types of applications can be lodged through the mail. Click here to see where you are eligible to lodge your application through the mail.
Does the Australian parent have to lodge a child passport's application?
Either parent can lodge the passport application for a child. There is no requirement for the lodging parent to be an Australian citizen.
Does the child have to attend the interview?
No.
Do you accept notarized copies of documents?
No. You must provide the originals of all documents required. There is no exception to this rule, even if you are lodging by mail.
The original documents can be presented at any Australian passport office worldwide. They do not have to be presented at the same office where you are lodging. Just tell the overseas office where you will be lodging the application, and a copy will be sent to that office.
Can I get more pages added to my existing passport?
No. You must apply for a new passport if you have run out of visa pages.
How do I change my name?
If you have changed your name since birth or citizenship, you must provide one of the following approved name change documents:
• If you were born in Australia – a revised birth certificate, marriage certificate or name change certificate issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the Australian state where you were born or married. Foreign marriage certificates are not acceptable for name change purposes.
• If you were born overseas – a revised birth certificate or name change certificate issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Australia OR an official name change document issued by the equivalent overseas authority. This includes official marriage certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees or court orders for change of name.
Special note re marriage certificates: If you were born outside Australia and are changing your name due to marriage, please note that we can only accept official certificates issued by the state or country where you were married, not by the marriage celebrant. Please check your certificate carefully to ensure it is not the ceremonial certificate you received on the day of the ceremony. Additionally, marriage certificates can only be used to evidence a change in your surname. If you wish to add/change your given names, you will need to provide separate name change document in addition to your marriage certificate.
What happens if I cannot find an Australian citizen to be my guarantor?
You do NOT need an Australian citizen as a guarantor. You have two options:
• A non-Australian who is currently employed in one of these occupation groups, OR
• A current Australian passport holder
I’ve recently moved and don’t know anyone in the USA who has known me for more than a year?
If you do not know anyone in the USA who can be your guarantor, then you will need to obtain a guarantor from your previous country of residence. You will need to send them the guarantor page from the PC8 application form plus one of your photos. Once they have filled in the documents as outlined on the application form, they must return the documents to you so that you can submit them with your application. If you need to travel in the next few weeks, please make sure you have the documents sent to/from your guarantor by courier so that you receive them in time to lodge your application.
Can you recommend any places that do Australian-style photos?
Your lodging office will be able to provide a suggestion of a place near the consulate or Embassy. However, if you are not located near a passport office, you will need to find a local photographer. There are many places capable of producing acceptable photos for Australian passports – eg. FedEx Kinkos, Walmart, CVS, etc. It does not matter if the overall dimensions of the photo are bigger than our minimum requirements – we can easily trim the photos down when we receive your application. The important thing is to obtain a photo with the correct head size, background and facial expression. Click here for more info on photo requirements.
Do I have to keep my glasses on for the photo?
No. If you are having problems with flash reflections or your frames are very heavy, please remove them for the passport photo.
What is the “Crown of Head” that is referred to in the photo requirements?
The “Crown of Head” is where the top of your skull would be if it were visible. It is not the top of your hair or the start of your hairline.
Do I have to enter Australia on an Australian passport?
Yes. You are not entitled to a visa. Please see the information on this website for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for more information on this requirement.
Do I have to make an appointment to attend an interview?
If you are lodging in person at the Embassy of Australia in Washington DC, you do not need an appointment provided you attend between the hours of 9:00am - 12:00pm or 2:00pm - 4:00pm.
If you are lodging at one of our Consulates-General or Honorary Consuls outside of Washington, you must call to make an appointment.
Can I travel on a passport in which the name is different from my ticket?
You should contact your airline to see if they will carry you. If so, you should then contact the immigration department of all countries to which you are travelling (except Australia) to ensure you will be able to fulfill their immigration/customs requirements.
What if I may have lost my Australian citizenship?
All citizenship enquiries should be directed to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on 1 888 990 8888. There is also information on the DIAC pages of this website.
What happens to my old passport?
If your old passport is in good condition, it will be physically cancelled and returned to you. No visa pages will be damaged in this process.
If your old passport is seriously damaged, it will be retained by the passport office for destruction.
I have just done my passport application online. Did you receive it?
All passport applications must be printed and sent to a passports office. There is no way to lodge an Australian passport application electronically.
Every time I enter my current address (overseas) on the online application form, I get an error that my address cannot be verified. What do I do?
The Passports Australia website cannot verify overseas addresses. This message is just a warning. As long you are satisfied that the address you have entered is correct you can proceed by pressing the NEXT button.
My foreign visa is about to expire. Can you assist?
The Embassy of Australia cannot assist you with any enquiries on foreign visas. You must contact the embassy of the country that issued the visa.
What if I do not have A4 size paper?
It does not matter. Please print your online application onto US letter size paper. Be careful to shrink the images to fit onto letter size paper as we cannot accept an application form with the bottom of the pages cut off.
Can I print out a blank form online?
No. Only completed applications can be printed from the website. If you require a blank application form, please contact the office where you will be lodging your application.