Most questions we receive can be answered by reading the information on our website.
Before you contact us, read the travel advice for your destination
If your question isn't answered by the information on our website, including the handy snapshots below, please contact us via the form at the bottom of this page.
Please note:
- We can’t generally help you with enquiries related to your specific travel plans or circumstances. For these types of enquiries contact your airline, travel agent or the Foreign Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in the destinations that relate to your enquiry.
- Due to the volume of queries we receive, we may not respond if your question/s can be answered by information provided on the Smartraveller website.
What is your enquiry about?
Urgent help overseas
Contact the local emergency authorities if you're in a life-threatening situation or need immediate assistance. Find local emergency numbers under ‘Local contacts’ at the bottom of the travel advisory for your destination.
The Consular Services Charter provides information on how we can assist Australians overseas.
If you're an Australian citizen and you have serious concerns about your welfare or that of another Australian, contact your local Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate, or call our 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre in Australia on
- 1300 555 135 within Australia
- +61 2 6261 3305 from anywhere in the world.
Do not contact the emergency centre with general enquires.
See our urgent help page for more information.
Travel advice for a specific destination
We provide travel advice for some 178 destinations. We recommend you read the full advice for your destination/s before contacting us, as your question may be answered there.
Our travel advice includes information on:
- safety and security
- health
- local laws
- travelling around your destination
- local contacts, including emergency and consular contacts.
We recommend you subscribe to the destination/s you're visiting, including those you're transiting through, to receive the latest updates via email.
For specific questions about the requirements to enter a foreign destination contact the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering.
Travel insurance
We can't recommend specific travel insurance providers.
Read our general advice on travel insurance, and see the CHOICE travel insurance buying guide: COVID-19 edition for advice about purchasing insurance.
If you need to contact your travel insurer, look for their contact details in the policy documents they sent you. Most have 24-hour emergency assistance phone lines.
The Insurance Council of Australia also lists contact details for travel insurers in Australia on their Find an Insurer website.
Travelling as a dual national
Information about travelling as a dual national, including whether you can enter or leave Australia on your foreign passport, can be found on our page on dual nationals.
Travelling with children
Smartraveller has detailed information on children who are travelling, including children travelling without both parents and child custody considerations. For details, visit our page on travelling with children.
Children travelling unaccompanied
Most airlines have rules for children under the age of 15 who are travelling alone. Parents or guardians will usually need to fill out a permission form for the child's travel. Contact your airline for more information, including in-flight protocols for unaccompanied minors.
It's your responsibility to find out if your destination has special entry requirements for children. Contact your destination's embassy or consulate to ask about these requirements.
Visas
Australian visas
You can find information about visas on the Australian Border Force website. For questions about visas, contact the Department of Home Affairs.
Foreign visas
Visa information is often included in the travel advice for your destination. If you have specific visa-related questions we don't address, contact the nearest embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination/s.
Schengen visas
On our page about Schengen visas, you can find information on bilateral visa waivers and other reciprocal agreements with European countries.
Document legalisation and notarial services
Document legalisation services in Australia
For information on having a document legalised in Australia, including booking an appointment for legalisation services, see our page on documents in Australia.
Document legalisation services overseas
For information on having a document legalised overseas, including identity certification certificates, see our page on documents overseas.
Certificate of No Impediment to Marry (CNI)
Find information about CNIs, including the downloadable application form, on our page about Certificates of No Impediment to Marry.
Verifying an Australian Apostille
If you need to verify an Australian Apostille, visit the verification portal on the DFAT website.
Passports
If you want to apply for or renew an Australian passport, visit: www.passports.gov.au.
The Australian Passport Office is continuing to experience high demand for passports. We strongly urge you not to leave your application to the last minute.
You should allow a minimum of six weeks to get a new passport or renew one, and longer if you are applying for a child’s passport.
To contact the Australian Passport Office:
- use the online contact form
- in Australia, call 131 232 Monday to Friday: 8.00am to 5.00pm
- overseas, contact your local Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.
Registration and subscription
Smartraveller registration
Pre-trip registration on Smartraveller ended in 2019.
We now recommend you subscribe to the destinations you’re visiting, including where you’re transiting through for updates.
DFAT may set up a registration portal in the event of a crisis. This allows you or your family to register your location and contact details with us in the event you’re in the affected area. If we open crisis registrations, we’ll publish the link on our website and provide updates through our subscription service and our social media.
Subscription
For information about Smartraveller’s subscription service, including how to subscribe and unsubscribe, visit our page on subscription.
Media enquiries
For media enquiries, contact media@dfat.gov.au.
Feedback
Consular services feedback
We welcome your comments on our consular services. This helps us to identify areas that need improvement, or where changes would make sense. Sharing your experiences may help other Australians avoid difficulties overseas. It may also help others appreciate how and when consular services can help. You can comment on our services by using the contact form below, or writing to us at
First Assistant Secretary
Consular and Crisis Management Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
RG Casey Building
BARTON ACT 0221
If you’re dissatisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman's Office in Australia. Learn more about what and when we can help Australian overseas. Read the Consular Services Charter.
Smartraveller website feedback
You can help other travellers, by helping us improve this website. Let us know if you find any issues, bugs, errors or opportunities to improve.