Can I Renew My Australian Passport if It Has Expired?

No matter when you are traveling to another country for tourism, work, friend or family visits, or other reasons, a valid passport is required, and Australians are no exception. It is commonly known that passport holders are suggested to renew it a few months or weeks before it becomes invalid in case of disrupting their trip. However, there are times when you are too busy to notice that your passport has passed the expiry date. Is it possible to renew an expired Australian passport? If yes, how to renew it? How much does it cost? How long can you get the new booklet? If not, what you should do? In this passage, we will find the answers to these questions.

Can I Renew My Australian Passport if It Has Expired

The answer is generally YES, but it is only allowed for adult applicants. To get a new passport for minors under 18 years old, please start a full application process. In Australia, passport renewals are much simpler than first-time applications because most information can be obtained from the record of an existing passport and copied to the new one. Therefore, fewer documents are needed, but it also means not everyone is qualified for Australian passport renewal, which will be introduced in the next section.

Who is Eligible to Renew an Australian Passport

Only in the following conditions can you renew an expired or to-be-expire Australian passport.

• You are aged at least 18 years old;
• Your current passport was issued at the age of 16 or above;
• Your current passport was issued on or after 1 January 2006;
• Your current passport had at least 2 years of validity from the date of issuance;
• You haven’t changed your name, date of birth, place of birth, or gender since the last time your passport was issued;
• Your current passport has never been reported lost, stolen or canceled

Supposing that you don’t meet one of the criteria above, a new passport application has to be filed.

How Much is Australian Passport Renewal?

The total cost includes the passport fees and additional fees. It varies due to passport and service type, which is listed in the table below.

How to Pay Passport Fees

Payment methods differ according to where you apply.

How Long Does Australian Passport Renewal Take?

Up to December 10, 2023, more than 60% percent of passport applications are processed within 10 business days. However, the authorities suggest to spare at least 6 weeks to wait for a new passport because processing time might vary due to the number of applications, peak or off seasons, etc. Therefore, please renew your passport as soon as possible before starting a trip.

Predicted that you need your passport urgently, you can have your application processed in 2 business days with extra payment.

How To Renew Expired Australian Passport

Now that you finally come to this part, it’s likely that you are eligible to renew an expired passport. Let’s see how it works.

Expired Passport Renewal in Australia

Step 1: Go to the Australian Passport Office Portal.

Create an account or log in with your email and password. 

Step 2: Fill out the application form.

Print it out and sign. Supposing that you are unable to access online service, skip the first two steps and call 131 232 to request a pre-filled form.

Step 3: Prepare 2 identical Australian passport photos.

They must comply with the official photo guidelines. You can take a picture at photo stores, photography studios, or with online passport photo makers, such as AiPassportPhotos. Don’t use photos that have been taken more than 6 months ago.

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Step 4: Find a participating Post Office.

It is the place where you will fulfill payment and submit supporting documents which include a completed renewal form, 2 passport photos, the most recent Australian passport and other supporting documents listed on the application form. Please check whether the post office you choose needs a prior appointment.

Step 5: Receive your renewed passport by mail or collect it in person.

💡 Bonus Tips: Apply for a New Australian Passport for Minors

If your child’s Australian passport has expired, you need to lodge a new child passport application through the following steps.

Step 1: Gather original documents.

It includes 2 identical passport photos, the child’s birth certificate, proof of Australian citizenship, proof of name change, court orders and extra forms to prove parentage and custody.

Step 2: Find a guarantor.

He/she will sign section 11 of the application form and leave his/her signature and endorsement – This is a true photo of [the child’s full name] – on the back of either passport photo. He or she must be an adult Australian citizen who has known the child for over one year and must not be related to the child, parents or guardians by blood, kinship, or living in the same address.

Step 3: Fill in the application form.

It can be completed online or be asked for the paper form of “Application for an Australian Passport – Child” from a participating Australia Post outlet. Parents or guardians must sign section 15 in front of a witness to show consent. Children who have reached 10 should sign Section 16.

Step 4: Submit the application and fulfill the payment.

Bring the application form and supporting documents listed on the form to a participating Australia Post outlet. Don’t forget proof of your identity, such as driving license, ID card, etc. Minors aged 16 or 17 should show up with you when you lodge the application.

Expired Passport Renewal Outside Australia

Australian citizens who live or travel in another country can also renew their expired Australian passports abroad. The requirements, supporting documents and renewal procedures are similar to those inside Australia, but you have to pay attention to the following things.

• If you cannot fill out the expired passport renewal form online, please obtain it from the nearest Australian diplomatic mission or consulate.
• The applications should be submitted to the embassy or consulate.
• The passport fee should be paid in local currency. For example, when applying from the US, pay in US dollars.

For overseas applications for child’s passports for minors below 18, the procedure goes the same as that in Australia, but all documents should be handed in at the local embassy or consulate.

How To Expedite Australia Passport Renewal?

It can be quite depressing that you are in urgent need of international travel only to find that your passport has expired. Don’t worry. The Australian government provides priority processing service which takes only 2 business days. To get a renewed passport as soon as possible, here are some differences.

• A $237 priority processing fee is required except for the routine passport fees. when applying from abroad, please check the exact amount from local diplomatic or consular missions.
• Applications submitted and paid at a selected Australia Post Passport RAPID location will be processed even faster.
• Try to lodge your application before 12:00 pm on a business day, otherwise, it will be processed on the next business day.
• If you are in urgent need of the passport for compassionate or compelling reasons, call 131 232 to schedule an appointment at the nearest passport office and provide proof of the reason. Priority fees might also be charged.

Can I travel with Two Passports?

Yes, but you need to show one of the following.

• The waiting time for a visa would delay your trip if you have only one passport, or
• You have a passport that shows your trip to a third country that is not acceptable by your destination country, or
• Other persuasive reasons.

The additional passport is called a concurrent passport which has 3-year validity and the same cost as standard ten-year passports.

To apply for it, a B15 Concurrent passport form should be filled out and submitted. If you apply for it for business travel, your employer should provide a cover letter and complete Section B of your B15 form.

Additionally, if you are an Australian citizen with dual citizenship, you can have two passports. It is recommended to use an Australian passport to leave and enter Australia.

Can I Travel with Less Than 6 Months on Your Passport?

It depends on the country and regions that you travel to. A passport remains valid until the date of expiry passes. During this period, you can use it to travel or prove your identification and citizenship. However, many countries do require foreign visitors to hold a passport with certain valid at the time of entry or departure. Although the Six-Month Passport Validity Rule is widely used around the world, many countries also welcome travelers holding passports with three months of validity or less, such as Austria, Malta, Belgium, Monaco, Finland, Norway, Greece, Sweden, Spain, etc. It is suggested to check the newest entry rules before starting an international trip. Therefore, you can travel with less than 6 months on your passport as long as it meets the requirements of your destination country.

📖 Read Also: Can I Travel with Less than 6 Months on My Passport?

Summary

Here comes the end of the expired passport renewal guide. Can you renew an expired passport in Australia? The answer is generally yes when it satisfies the official requirements and you are aged at least 18 years old. When it comes to how to renew an expired Australian passport, it includes completing renewal forms online and submitting supporting documents at the passport office or Australian embassy/consulate while parents should lodge a new application for their minor child. We hope this passage helps you get acquainted with the renewal cost, processing time, expedited passport services, and other related issues. The more you learn, the smoother your renewal application will be.