passport expiry travel to australia

Introducing Australia

• About Australia
• Images of Australia
• History, language & culture
• Weather & geography
• Doing business & staying in touch

Plan your trip

• Travel to Australia
• Where to stay

While you’re there

• Things to see & do
• Shopping & nightlife
• Food & drink
• Getting around

Before you go

• Passport & visa
• Public Holidays
• Money & duty free

Book your flights

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Adelaide Airport
• Brisbane Airport
• Cairns Airport
• Melbourne Airport
• Perth Airport
• Sydney Airport
• Bondi Beach
• Bundaberg beaches
• Caloundra beaches
• Coolangatta beaches
• Mooloolaba beaches
• Noosa beaches
• Surfers Paradise

Australia Visa and Passport Requirements

To enter Australia, a valid passport is required by the nationals referred to in the chart above. There is no minimum passport validity required to enter Australia.

Passport Note

Incoming Passenger Card : It is mandatory for arriving passengers to fill out an Incoming Passenger Card .

Unless you are an Australian citizen, all nationals, regardless of age, must apply for a visa before leaving home. The only exception is New Zealand passport holders – they can apply for a visa upon arrival.

All foreigners need a visa to enter Australia and there are two main types of visa – ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) and Tourist Stream – for tourism purposes.

ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) ETA allows you to visit Australia as often as you wish in a 12-month period. Stay up to 3 months each time you enter Australia. Nationals of these countries are eligible for ETA: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (excluding official or diplomatic passports), United Kingdom (including British National Overseas), United States of America, and Vatican City.

Tourist stream The Tourist stream visa allows you to visit Australia as a tourist, go on a cruise, see family and friends and for purposes other than business or medical treatment.

Important note: if you have a criminal conviction in any country, you should apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) and provide evidence about your criminal convictions.

Types and Cost

ETA: free, but a A$20 service charge applies.

Tourist stream: A$150 for each applicant, and you may also have to pay for health checks, police certificates and biometrics.

ETA: 12 months from the date of issue or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

Tourist stream: varies according to one’s circumstances.

A transit visa is required even if you stay in the transit lounge and do not leave the airport.

However, some nationals can transit without a visa in Australia provided that: • You will arrive in Australia by aircraft. • You have a confirmed ticket to leave Australia to travel to a third country by aircraft within eight (8) hours of arriving. • You have a valid travel document to enter the country of destination. • You must not need to clear immigration or leave the airport transit lounge for any reason before boarding your onwards flight. If you need to clear immigration, for example to collect baggage or to board an onwards flight, you will need an Australian visa. • You are from one of these eligible countries: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu and Vatican.

Application to

ETA and Tourist stream: create an ImmiAccount on https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login and proceed from there.

Working days

ETA: ETA applications are usually processed immediately. However, your application may take longer to process if you don't fill in the form correctly or if the authority requires more time to verify your information.

Tourist stream: from 1 day to 37 days.

Sufficient Funds

All visitors must have sufficient funds to support their holidays in Australia.

Extension of stay

ETA and Tourist stream: you can't stay in Australia longer by extending your ETA or Tourist stream visa. You must apply for another visa.

Entry with children

All travellers, regardless of age, require a visa to visit Australia. If your children have their own passport, you should apply for a separate ETA or Tourist stream visa for each child.

Entry with pets

All cats and dogs being imported to Australia, whether it be for the first time or returning, must meet strict import conditions set by the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources ( www.agriculture.gov.au/cats-dogs ).

Embassies and tourist offices

Embassy of australia in the usa.

Mon-Fri 0830-1700 (embassy); Mon-Fri 0900-1200 and 1400-1600 (visa office hours).

Australian High Commission in the UK

Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (general); Mon-Fri 0930-1130 (notarial and document services); Mon-Fri 0900-1600 (passport services).

British High Comission in Australia

Mon-Fri 0845-1230 and 1330-1700.

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Passport services.

Are you planning to travel overseas this year? Renew or apply for your passport early as passport demand remains high.   You’ll need to allow at least six weeks to get your passport. Where possible, don't book flights without a valid passport. If you can't wait at least six weeks for your passport, you can use the priority processing service. If you've already booked your trip and need a passport, please call 131 232 to let the Australian Passport Office know your travel dates. For more information on how passport applications are prioritised, visit the Australian Passports Office website  or contact the office via their online enquiries form . 

You need a valid passport to travel overseas. If you're an Australian citizen, or a  dual citizen  wanting to travel as an Australian, you need a valid Australian passport. Every person travelling must have their own passport, including  children .

Your Australian passport is an important proof of your identity and citizenship.

Explore this page to learn the basics of:

How to get a passport

Passport validity.

• Protecting your passport

Passport damage

Emergency passports.

• ePassports and SmartGates

Dual citizenship and passports

Passport assistance overseas.

Be prepared. Check what to do before you go, and what you must do if something happens to your passport overseas.

The  Australian Passport Office , part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, issues Australian passports. You can complete your application online and lodge it at a participating Australia Post outlet, or at an Australian embassy or consulate overseas .

To get an Australian passport, you need to prove your identity and Australian citizenship. The steps in the application process are:

• gather original documents
• ask someone to be your referee or guarantor
• complete your application
• print your application
• get passport photos
• lodge your application and pay the fee

Start the process well before you travel. It can take time to gather what you need and apply. You'll have to pay an additional fee if you want to fast track your application.

For detailed information about how to get a new passport, or renew your passport, see the  Australian Passport Office website.

Some countries won’t let you enter unless your passport is valid for six months after you plan to leave that country. Some airlines also impose this rule on their own initiative. It can apply even if you’re just transiting or stopping over. Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. You can receive conflicting advice from different sources. Getting it wrong can mean being stranded.

Check your passport’s expiry date before you travel. If you’re not sure it’ll be valid for long enough, consider getting  a new passport .

Protecting your passport and identity

Your passport is a valuable document. It's your proof of identity and citizenship overseas. You are responsible for ensuring your passport isn’t damaged, and it should be stored securely.

Some people may trick you into handing over your passport. It's attractive to people who want to use your identity to commit crimes.

To protect your passport:

• always know where your passport is
• keep it in a safe place
• keep it dry

More tips and information for  protecting your passport .

If you've been the victim of identity theft, you can contact IDCARE for support.

Normal wear and tear to your passport shouldn't be a problem. More serious damage can stop you from travelling. It's important that:

• there are no tears or cuts in the passport pages, especially the photo page
• everything on the photo page is legible and clear
• there are no marks across your photo or in the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) on the photo page
• no pages have been removed
• there is no alteration or tampering

If you’re not sure about the condition of your passport, call the Australian Passport Office on 131 232 or contact your nearest Australian embassy or consulate overseas .  We may need to see your passport to assess it.

If you’re overseas and have a genuine and urgent need to travel, you can apply for an   emergency passport at an  Australian embassy or consulate overseas .

Emergency passports are only valid for up to 12 months and don’t have a chip. Because of this, there are restrictions on using them in some countries. Check the visa requirements of any country you plan to enter or transit via our travel advice.

You can apply for a new passport at the same time as you apply for an emergency passport, and collect the new passport when you get home.

SmartGates, eGates and ePassports

All Australian passports, except for emergency passports , are ePassports. An ePassport contains an electronic chip that helps to confirm your identity.

International airports in Australia, and some overseas, allow Australians with ePassports to use automated passport control machines. Australia calls these machines SmartGates. Other countries might call them eGates. They use facial recognition technology and your ePassport to check your identity and authenticate your passport.

The Australian Border Force is responsible for SmartGate operations in Australia.

Learn more about  using ePassports with SmartGates  from the  Australian Border Force .

If you're a dual citizen, you may have two passports. This can affect your ability to access consular help in some countries.

Australians, including dual nationals, should depart and enter Australia on their Australian passport. If you have a passport from another country, you can use that for travel once you have left Australia if you wish.

Consider which passport you want to travel on. Read our advice for  dual nationals .

Read the  Consular Services Charter  for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.

What we can do

We can help you if your passport is lost, stolen or damaged while you're overseas.

We can issue a new passport, emergency passport or provisional travel document to help you get back to Australia.

If you need help overseas, call your nearest Australian embassy or consulate , or call our 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305.

If you're an Australian living overseas, we can process passport renewal applications. Contact your nearest  Australian embassy or consulate .

What we can't do

We can't give consular help to  dual nationals  who aren't travelling on an Australian passport in some countries. Consider which passport you travel on.

If you need an Australian passport, visit the  Australian Passport Office .

Final tips before you go

Prepare before you travel:

• check that your passport is valid for at least six months from the date you will depart your destination
• apply for a passport early, if you don't already have one
• research entry and exit requirements in your destination country
• apply for a visa, if required
• if you're a dual national, research local laws and decide which passport you will travel on
• Learn about  visas
• Read key entry and exit requirements for all your  destinations
• Get  travel insurance  before you go
• See our  before you go checklist
• What to do if your passport is lost, stolen or damaged overseas
• See our advice for  dual nationals
• Learn more about  travelling with children
• Consular Services Charter
• Find an  Australian embassy or consulate overseas
• Learn more about  using ePassports with SmartGates  from the  Australian Border Force
• See the  Australian Passport Office  (APO)'s 7-step guides on  adult  or  child  passport applications
• Read the APO's advice on how to  renew your passport  and see their  frequently asked questions

Related content

Many Australians hold two or more nationalities. If you're travelling to the country of your other nationality, find out how your citizenship can impact you.

Passport FAQs

Lodging an application, how long does it take to get a new passport.

You should allow at least 6 weeks to receive your new passport, although it may be faster. If you have an urgent need to travel, please see our Urgent Travel page.  

Do I have to lodge in person?

Adults using the one-page  PC7 Australian Passport Renewal Application  form can apply by mail or in person. 

Most applications to renew passports for children 15 years and younger can be lodged by mail.

All other applications must be lodged in person. This includes all first time applications, all applications for 16/17 year children, and all applications for adults using the 5-page PC8  Application for an Australian Passport Overseas  form.  

Please visit our  How to Apply page  for further instructions.

You can monitor the where to apply page of this website for announcements of outreach interviews in other states across the USA in case we happen to be coming somewhere closer to you.

Can I submit my application by mail if I live a long distance from an office?

No, unless your application is already eligible to be lodged by mail.  Please visit our  How to Apply page  for further information.  Distance from a passport office is not part of the criteria. 

Do I have to make an appointment to attend an interview?

Each office is different so please check your closest passport office location for details .

Does the Australian parent have to lodge a child passport 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?

It depends on the age of the child.  Children aged 16 and 17 years old must attend the interview with one parent.  Children aged 15 years and younger are not required to attend.

How long does the interview take?

Adult interviews usually take 10-20 minutes.  Child interviews usually take 15-30 minutes. 

If you are missing documents or your photos do not meet our requirements, you will need to return for a second interview. 

Does my child automatically become an Australian citizen if born to an Australian parent in the USA?

No.  You must apply for citizenship through the Department of Home Affairs (www.homeaffairs.gov.au).  You cannot lodge a passport application until the applicant has become an Australian citizen. 

RENEWING YOUR PASSPORT

Can i renew my passport before it expires.

Yes, you can renew your passport at any time.

Will my new passport have the same number as my old passport?

No, your new passport will be a new booklet and will have a new number.

Can I get more pages added to my existing passport?

No. You must apply for a new passport or a replacement passport (valid up to the same date as your existing passport.)

Do I need to renew if I'm not planning to travel?

No.  If you do not plan to travel and/or do not need a passport right now, you do not have to renew your passport before it expires. There is no penalty or fine if your passport expires. 

Renewing a passport is a personal choice.  However, you cannot leave the United States without a valid passport so if you have international travel planned, or need a passport for another reason, we encourage you to apply now.

What if I need to travel unexpectedly due to an emergency?

Please apply for an emergency passport as soon as possible.  We can generally issue an emergency passport in about 2 working days. If you need to travel more quickly, please call your lodging office to discuss your situation. 

Will I lose Australian citizenship if my passport expires?

No.  The status of your passport has no effect on your Australian citizenship. 

Will I need a longer application form if I let my passport expire?

It depends.  Adults may have to complete a longer form if their last passport was issued before 2006, or was lost/stolen, or they are changing the details on their passport.  Children complete the same form regardless of whether their passport is expired. 

What happens to my old passport?

Your current passport may still be valid when you apply for a new one but it will be cancelled on the date your new one is issued.  Once you’ve applied for a new passport, the Australian Passport Office recommends you don’t travel. This is because your current passport may be cancelled while you are overseas.

We do not cancel any visas inside your passport.  However, you should be aware that not all countries accept visas in passports that are no longer valid. Please check with the embassy of the country that issued your visa for specific advice. 

Can you help with replacing my foreign visa?

No.  We cannot assist you with any enquiries on foreign visas. You must contact the embassy of the country that issued the visa.

For US visas, we encourage you to consult with your visa sponsor and/or immigration lawyer for information about your particular situation. We also encourage you to contact U.S. immigration authorities:

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):  https://www.uscis.gov  or tel.: +1 800 375 5283. 
• U.S. Department of State, Visa Services: https://travel.state.gov or tel.: +1 202 485 7600.

Will my US visa be valid in a cancelled passport?

We do not cancel US visas so in most cases the visa will still be valid.  However, you should contact US immigration to discuss your particular situation especially if your passport is damaged. You should not assume that a visa in a badly damaged passport is valid.

What if I may have lost my Australian citizenship?

All citizenship enquiries should be directed to the  Department of Home Affairs in Australia  on 011 612 6196 0196. You may be eligible to become an Australian citizen again if you lost your citizenship because of acquiring the citizenship of another country, or renounced or gave up your Australian citizenship.

Can you recommend any places that do Australian-style photos?

To assist clients living in the United States, we have provided details of photographers recently used by our clients with good results:  Map of photographers .

If you do not live near these photographers, you will need to find a local photographer and provide them with the Australian passport  photo specifications . You may wish to go to a shop that specialises in photos as its core business as our clients generally report that these shops are able to make the necessary adjustments to meet the Australian specifications.  However, there are many places capable of producing acceptable photos for Australian passports.  Each store is different so you will need to talk to your photographer to make sure he/she can take the type of photo you need.  Just because one particular store is able to produce a compliant photo does not mean that all photos produced by that chain will be acceptable. Check that the photographer uses studio lighting so that there are no shadows under your chin or behind your ear, and no flash reflection on your face. 

We do not guarantee the work of any individual photographer or store, so it is important that you check the photographs yourself to make sure they meet all requirements.

Why are my professionally-printed photos grainy or low resolution?

This is a common problem, usually caused when the photos are printed on an inkjet printer.  Please make sure your photographer is using a dye sublimation printer. 

The best way for you to check whether your photo is high resolution is to use a magnifying glass.  If you see stripes, grains, pixels or distortions, then the photo is not high resolution and will be rejected.

Please refer to the Australian Passport Office's camera operator guidelines .

Can I keep my glasses on for the photo?

No.  You must remove them for your passport photo, even if you wear them all of the time.   

What is the 'crown of head'?

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.  Picture yourself bald and measure your skull from the top of your skull to the tip of your chin.

Can I use a standard 2 x 2 photo?

Yes, provided the image inside meets our  photo requirements .

Should I trim the photos to the correct size?

No. We will do that for you.

COMPLETING AND PRINTING THE APPLICATION FORM

Why won’t the system accept my overseas address.

The Australian 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.  You should use your current US address for this section (unless you are a tourist passing through the United States).

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 top or 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 and one will be mailed to you. Blank forms cannot be faxed. 

Can I print my form in black and white?

Yes. You can print your form in either black and white or colour.

What if I don't have an Australian driving licence?

Section 16 of the adult application form asks you to list the details of your Australian driving licence if you are using them as part of your ID combination.  This section is optional.  If you do not have these documents, leave Section 16 blank. Remember that you will still need to submit a full  ID combination   with your adult application. For child applications, the lodging parent must submit government-issued photo/signature ID and proof of address.

What if all my original documents are in Australia or another country?

You have two options.  You can either have them sent to you in the United States so that you present them at your interview, or you can  have a friend/relative present the original documents on your behalf .

Should I sign my form in front of a Passport Officer?

No.  Please make sure all sections of the form are signed before you attend your interview.  We cannot witness your consent or act as your guarantor.

Can the Passport Office witness the parents' consent in Section 15?

No.  Please make sure your form is fully completed and witnessed before coming to the Passport Office for your interview.  We cannot witness your signature.

Do you accept notarised copies of documents at interview?

No. You must provide the originals of all documents required at your interview. 

The original documents can be  presented by a third party at any Australian passport office worldwide . They do not have to be presented at the same office where you are appearing for your interview. 

I have just done my passport application online. Did you receive it?

No.  It is not possible to apply for your passport electronically. If you have prepared your application online, you should print it and follow the instructions on our website about How to Apply. 

Can someone at the Passport Office be my guarantor?

What 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.

What if no one in the USA 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 your application form plus one of your photos. Once they have filled in the documents as outlined on the application form, they must return the original documents to you so that you can submit them with your application. 

We cannot accept faxes or emails from your guarantor.  They must send the originals back to you for lodgement. 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.  

Does my Australian guarantor need 2 years remaining on their passport?

No.  The passport needs to have at least two years validity from when it was issued - i.e. it cannot be a temporary passport that was issued for under two years. It does not matter if there is less than two years validity remaining on the passport now, so long as there was at least two years when it was issued.   

Do I need a guarantor if I am just renewing?

If you are using the one page renewal form, called the Australian Passport Renewal Application (PC7), you do not need a guarantor. 

If you are using the Application for an Australian Passport Overseas (PC8) form, then you must provide a guarantor.

Does my guarantor need to be the same person that witnesses the parent’s signatures in Section 15 for child applications?

No, you can use a different person.

TRAVELING TO AUSTRALIA

Do i have to enter australia on an australian passport.

Yes, if you are an Australian citizen.  You are not entitled to a visa, even if you are also a citizen of another country. There is more information about this on the  Australian Border Force website  or you can call the Department of Home Affairs in Australia on 011 613 6196 0196.

Can I travel on a passport in which the name is different from my ticket?

Generally passengers travelling to/from the USA must have a passport that exactly matches the name on their airline ticket.  If you are concerned, you should contact your airline to see if they will carry you and the immigration department of all countries to which you are travelling to ensure you will be able to fulfil their immigration/customs requirements.

Does my passport need 6 months validity to travel to Australia?

Your Australian passport must be valid (not expired) on the day of your arrival in Australia.  It does  not  need to have six months remaining validity to enter Australia unless you are passing through a third country that requires it. 

If you are travelling to a different country, you can review the entry/exit requirements for your intended destination on Australia's  Smartraveller site  or contact the embassy of that country for specific advice. 

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Entry requirements

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel. 

The authorities in Australia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Australian High Commission in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Australia. 

Passport validity requirements

To enter Australia, your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay.

If you’re travelling through or transiting another country on your way to or from Australia, check the entry requirements for that country. Many countries require at least 6 months validity remaining on your passport, even if you’re just in transit and do not pass through immigration.

Dual nationals

If you’re a British-Australian dual national, you must leave and enter Australia on your Australian passport. You could face difficulties and delays if you do not. See Australian government advice for dual nationals .

Visa requirements

You must have a visa to visit Australia. 

Applying for a visa

British citizens can usually get the following types of electronic visitor visa:

• eVisitor visa – there is no visa application charge or service fee
• Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) through the iOS app or Android app – there is no visa application charge, but there may be a service fee

The Department of Home Affairs has information on all other types of visas .

Vaccine requirements

To enter Australia, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk . See the Australian Department of Health’s information on yellow fever for travellers .

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Australia guide .

Customs requirements

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Australia . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. 

Quarantine rules

Australia has strict quarantine rules to keep out pests and diseases that could affect plant, animal or human health.

You must fill in an Incoming Passenger Card  and either:

• declare goods considered to be a risk, such as food, animal products and plant material (including wooden articles)
• dispose of goods in bins at the airport or seaport

You must also declare if you have ‘been in contact with farms, farm animals, wilderness areas or freshwater streams/lakes etc in the past 30 days’.

The Australian authorities X-ray luggage. They inspect, treat and, if necessary, confiscate and destroy items of concern. You can get a heavy fine if you break quarantine.

The Department of Agriculture has more information on quarantine rules .

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What to organise before travelling

All Australians need a valid passport to travel overseas. This includes Australian citizens and dual citizens wanting to travel as an Australian. Some countries won’t let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country.

Applying for or renewing a passport

You can renew or apply for a passport on the Australian Passport Office website. It may take 6 weeks or more for you to receive your passport. Child applications and first time applicants may take longer. You should submit your application as early as possible and consider not booking your travel until you get your passport.

Find out more about how getting a passport works on the Australian Passport Office website.

Urgent applications

You may be able to pay a fee to have your application processed more quickly. Find out more about urgent applications on the Australian Passport Office website.

Emergency passports

If you have an urgent need for a new passport while outside of Australia you can apply for an emergency passport. Find out more about emergency passports on the Australian Passport Office website.

Foreign visas

You need a visa to enter many foreign countries and territories. The type of visa you need depends on the purpose of your travel. Find out more about types of visas and how to get a visa on the Smartraveller website.

If you breach your visa

You are breaking the law if you travel to a foreign country or territory on the wrong visa or breach your visa’s conditions. You may be fined, arrested or deported. Find out more about the consequences of breaching your visa on the Smartraveller website.

Travel insurance

Getting travel insurance is strongly advised to help cover the costs if something goes wrong when you’re travelling overseas. Most travel insurance policies cover:

• medical costs
• cancellations and changes to travel costs due to delays
• lost or stolen baggage and valuables.

You can find out more about travel insurance including how to choose the right travel insurance on the Smartraveller website.

Driver licence

You need a valid Australian driver licence if you plan to drive overseas. You may also need an international driving permit to drive in some countries. Find out about the benefits of international driving permits and how to get one on the Smartraveller website.

Documents to organise when travelling with children

In some situations you may need to provide extra documents for children travelling overseas.

If you’re travelling solo with your child

If you don’t have full custody of your child, you may be breaking the law by taking them outside of Australia. You need a court order or the consent of any person or institution with parental responsibility before your child can leave Australia.

Some countries may need you to prove your relationship to your child when you enter or leave, particularly if your last names don’t match.

Find out more about child custody on the Smartraveller website.

If a child is travelling without both parents

Many airlines require you to fill out a permission form for a child under 15 to travel outside of Australia on their own. Your child may need to show other documents when they arrive at their destination before they can enter. Find out more about children travelling without their parents on the Smartraveller website.

Foreign national Australian visa holders intending to return to Australia

If you’re a foreign national travelling overseas and hold an Australian visa, you should check your Australian visa’s expiry date and conditions before you travel. You need a valid visa to return to Australia.

You can use the Department of Home Affairs’ Visa Entitlement Verification Online system (VEVO) to check your visa details and conditions .

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What can I do if my passport has expired?

Has your passport expired.

What to do if your passport has expired?

How do i update a new passport with immigration, what is the process of updating my passport with immigration.

Once you have received a new passport, your previous passport will be invalid and you will not be able to use this for future visa applications.

To update your passport is a relatively simple process to do and something that should be done once you receive your new passport. It can be updated instantly through the online immigration portal.

You will need to have a clear scan copy of your new passport.

Login to your immi portal: https://online.immi.gov.au/ola/app

Click on Update Details (on the left side of the page)

Then click on change of passport details:

You would then enter the details of your new passport and attach a clear scan of your new passport. Once you submit it your new passport will be electronically linked to your visa. This would then be updated automatically be immigration once it is lodged and you will receive an email confirming that the passport has been updated.

I hope you find this helpful, if you do have any immigration questions, feel free to contact Pathway to Aus.

How do I obtain a new passport?

How long does it take to obtain a new passport.

Some countries, that have the ability to issue passports in their Embassies or Consulates within Australia will be able to provide a new passport within a few days or weeks. Other countries with limited international resources (Eg- the ability to only issue a passport in their home country) may take months.

My passport has expired and my visa is expiring, what should I do?

Recently, we have noticed that many visa holders are struggling to obtain a new passport due to COVID. Because of COVID many Embassies and Consulates are closed around the world. This has resulted in massive delays in the issuing of new passport, especially for smaller countries.

Please note, technically you cannot apply for a visa unless you have a valid passport. You cannot travel internationally as well. Immigration may provide some leniency in these difficult times, but there is no guarantee.

If you do not believe you will be able to obtain a new passport before your visa expires, we would recommend contacting immigration as far in advance as possible.

If you do nothing, and your passport and visa are both expired, technically you would become unlawful in Australia. Once you receive a new passport, you may find your future visa options very limited. You may be able to apply for a bridging visa E, but you would have very limited future visa options. We would always recommend you do not become unlawful.

When should I apply for a new passport?

Do i need to have a certain amount of validity on my passport to apply for a visa, get in touch, contact details, give us a call, chat via messenger.

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Check your passport’s expiry date before booking

International travel seems to be slowly but surely returning. With the trans-Tasman bubble and talks of another bubble opening with Singapore, things are looking up.

So, it’s not only time to dig out the suitcases and travel toiletries, you need to dust off your passport too and check the expiry date.

And remember, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to use your passport right up until the day it expires. So, if your passport expires at the end of 2021 and you don’t renew it, you could find yourself unable to take that long-awaited trip.

Read more: Will passport expiry dates be extended because of COVID-19?

Many countries require a visitor’s passport to have between three and six months of validity beyond their planned stay.

Luckily, New Zealand is less restrictive than a lot of countries.

For Australian passport holders, “your passport must be valid for enough time to allow you to travel to New Zealand,” states Immigration New Zealand. “The passport must be valid on the date you are entering/leaving New Zealand.”

But as other countries in the Asia-Pacific region join the COVID-safe bubbles, your passport will need to have a longer use-by date.

For example, Australians visiting Fiji need to have at least three months of validity after their return date left on their passport; this stretches to six months for New Caledonia visitors.

Six months validity is also needed for a trip to Singapore; six months after your return date to Australia that is. For example, if your current passport expires on 28 February 2022, you won’t be able to visit Singapore if your return flight is scheduled after 28 August 2021.

If your flight is after that date, you could be refused check-in before your flight or be denied entry upon arrival.

These rules can apply even if you’re just transiting or stopping over. Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently but getting it wrong can mean being stranded.

Read more: Why is your passport that colour?

Check your passport’s renewal date now to ensure you have enough time left on it to travel wherever your heart desires (when we can).

Getting a new passport It costs $301 for a new passport that’s valid for 10 years.

The Australian Passport Office now allows what it calls “streamlined renewal”, the only requirements are that your passport:

• was issued when you were aged 16 or older
• has a validity, when it was issued, of more than two years
• was issued in your current name, date of birth, place of birth and gender
• is still current, or expired less than three years ago
• and hasn’t been reported lost or stolen, or been cancelled for any other reason

If you can tick all of those five boxes, then you need only lodge an application form ( available online ), two passport photos and your most recent passport, at either an Australian Passport Office or a participating post office.

How long does it take to get a new passport? You should allow approximately three weeks to get a new passport. In Australia, passport services are operating normally but the impact of COVID could cause significant delays to postal services around the country.

If you need your passport urgently, an additional $220 for priority processing trims the turnaround time to a handful of days.

Some people are discovering their passport has already expired when they go to book flights. The good news is that you can still use the streamlined system as long as the expiry date was within the past three years.

All Australian passports issued after December 2017 have the standard 34 pages, and you can no longer choose the 66-page Frequent Traveller passport.

Read more: Passports could soon be replaced by smartphone

Unfortunately, if the pages in your passport are full, you will need to obtain a new one.

Keep in mind that many countries don’t accept visas that are in passports which are no longer valid. You may have to get new visas. 

For more information, visit the Passports.gov.au website.

Will you be planning a trip to a COVID-bubble country? How long is your passport valid for? Have you ever filled all of the pages in a passport?

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Martian Logic data breach

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is aware of a data security incident impacting Martian Logic. 

Martian Logic is contacting impacted individuals directly.

Martian Logic’s investigation into the incident has found the personal information of some past, present, and/or potential employees may have been compromised, including Australian passport numbers and images of Australian passports.    

Their investigation found that the incident is the result of a human coding error and is not related to a cyber-attack. There is no evidence of a breach of their systems, nor any unexplained activity on their network.   

Affected Australian passports are still safe to use for international travel. Your passport number cannot be used to obtain a new passport. Robust controls are used to protect passports from identity takeover, including sophisticated facial-recognition technology. 

See our page on  protecting against scams and identity theft  for more advice on how to safeguard your personal information.  

You can also seek help from  IDCARE , a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in providing advice and support to Australians on how to respond to identity theft.    

More advice on what you can do to protect yourself and your family from cyber security incidents is available on the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) webpage at:  www.cyber.gov.au .

Northern Minerals Limited data breach

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is aware of a cyber incident impacting Northern Minerals Limited. 

Northern Minerals Limited's investigation into the cyber incident has found the personal details of some of its current and former employees were compromised, including copies of Australian and foreign passports.    

Northern Minerals Limited is contacting impacted individuals directly and continues to investigate the matter to determine the full extent of the cyber‑attack.    

Affected Australian passports are still safe to use for international travel. Your passport number cannot be used to obtain a new passport. Robust controls are used to protect passports from identity takeover, including sophisticated facial-recognition technology.  

See our page on  protecting against scams and identity theft  for more advice on how to safeguard your personal information.  

You can also seek help from  IDCARE , a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in providing advice and support to Australians on how to respond to identity theft.     

More advice on what you can do to protect yourself and your family from cyber security incidents is available on the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) webpage at:  www.cyber.gov.au .  

If you’re a foreign passport holder whose personal details have been compromised, you should contact the government that issued your passport for further advice about what to do.  Please refer to DFAT’s  list of foreign government representatives  based in Australia.  

My passport was sent but hasn’t arrived

It happens very rarely, but sometimes passports go missing in the mail.

If your passport goes missing in the mail, you must do one of the following:

• call us on 131 232 
• contact your nearest Australian diplomatic or consular mission if you’re overseas.

To be eligible for a free replacement passport, you must contact us within 60 days from when we mailed you the passport.

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Passport facts 2023-24