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  1. Home
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  3. Passports in Australia

Passports in Australia

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

It's an important travel document and proof of your identity as a citizenship.

Explore this page to learn the basics of:

  • How to get a passport in Australia
  • ePassports and SmartGates
  • passport validity
  • visas and passports
  • dual citizenship and passports
  • protecting your passport

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

How to get a passport in Australia

The Australian Passport Office, part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, issues Australian passports.

To get an Australian passport you need to:

  • be an Australian citizen
  • complete an application form online
  • have citizenship and identity documents
  • get passport photos that meet specifications
  • find a guarantor to witness your signature and confirm your identity
  • lodge your application in person
  • pay a 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 to fast track your application.

For detailed information about how to get a new, replacement or or renewed passport in Australia, see the Australian Passport Office.

SmartGates, eGates and ePassports

All Australian passports are ePassports. An ePassport contains electronic information that helps to confirm your identity.

Some airports use electronic gates. They're usually called SmartGates or eGates. These automatically process you through passport control. They use facial recognition technology and your ePassport to check your identity.

You'll have to meet certain criteria to use a SmartGate when you exit Australia, or return home. If you're travelling to another destination with electronic gates, find our their criteria before you go. Otherwise you can use a manual processing kiosk.

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

Passport validity

Some countries won’t let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you’re just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

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.

Visas and passports

You may need a visa issued by the countries you're travelling to or through. If you do, you may need it inserted to a page in your passport.

To find out about visa requirements, contact the embassy or consulate in Australia of the countries you plan to visit.

You can also check entry and exit requirements in our travel advice for your destination.

Dual citizenship and passports

If you're a dual citizen, you may have 2 passports. This can affect your ability to access consular help in some countries.

Australians including dual nationals should leave 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.

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

Protecting your passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's your proof of identity and proof of nationality overseas.

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 for protecting your passport.

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

Final tips before you go

Prepare before you travel:

  • check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date you will depart your destination
  • apply for a passport, if you don't 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

Read next

  • 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

Read more

  • What to do if you need a replacement passport overseas
  • See our advice for dual nationals
  • Learn more about travelling with children
  • Consular Services Charter

See also

  • 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 quick guides on adult or child passport applications
  • Read the APO's advice how to renew your passport and see their frequently asked questions

 

Related content

Advice for dual nationals

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.

View details
Passports overseas

Find out what to do when your passport has been lost, stolen or damaged.

View details
Passport services

The Australian Government delivers passport services for Australians through the Australian Passport Office. Read more about passports in Australia and overseas.

View details

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    • Missing overseas
    • Fact sheet: Arrested or jailed overseas
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    • CHOICE travel insurance guide
    • Before you go checklist

Contact us

The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular emergency assistance.

+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas

1300 555 135 from within Australia

For non-urgent enquiries, visit the contact page

About us

Smartraveller is provided by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

For how we can help you overseas see the Consular Services Charter.

For more information go to about us.

Resources

View resources for travel industry and media.

Feedback

To provide feedback on our website or subscription service, email us at smartraveller@dfat.gov.au

To provide feedback on consular services that you have recently received, email consular.feedback@dfat.gov.au

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Main navigation

  • HomeHome
  • Before you go
    • The basics
      • Destinations
      • Passport services
      • Visas
      • Insurance
      • Schengen
      • Travel advice explained
    • Who you are
      • Children
      • Dual nationals
      • LGBTI++
      • Mature
      • School leavers
      • Women
    • Activities
      • Adoption
      • Adventure
      • Backpacking
      • Business
      • Living and working overseas
      • Marriage
      • Studying
      • Surrogacy
      • Volunteering
    • Major events
      • Hajj
      • Ramadan
    • Health
      • Disability
      • Infectious diseases
      • Medical assistance overseas
      • Medical tourism
      • Medication
      • Mental health
      • Pregnancy
      • Reciprocal health
      • Vaccinations
      • Death
    • Staying safe
      • Assault
      • Demonstrations
      • Earthquakes and tsunamis
      • Kidnapping
      • Natural disasters
      • Partying safely
      • Piracy
      • Scams
      • Severe weather
      • Sexual assault
      • Terrorism
      • Theft and robbery
    • Laws
      • Carrying or using drugs
      • Child sex offences
      • Female genital mutilation
      • Forced marriage
    • Getting around
      • Air travel
      • Boat travel
      • Cruising
      • Public transport
      • Road safety
  • Destinations
    • View all destinations
    • AfricaBrowse destinations in Africa.
    • AmericasBrowse all destinations in the Americas.
    • AsiaBrowse all destinations in Asia.
    • EuropeBrowse all destinations in Europe.
    • Middle EastBrowse all destinations in the Middle East.
    • PacificBrowse all destinations in the Pacific.
  • While you're away
    • When things go wrong
      • Arrested or jailed
      • Lost property
      • Medical assistance
      • Money problems
      • Someone is missing
      • Someone died
    • Crime overseas
      • Assaulted
      • Kidnapped
      • Robbed or mugged
      • Scammed
      • Sexually assaulted
    • Crisis or emergency
      • Demonstration
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Terrorist situation
      • Volcanic eruption
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
      • COVID-19 portal
  • Urgent helpLinks to help
  • Our servicesLinks to services
    • Consular Services Charter
      • Arabic
      • Chinese Simplified
      • Chinese Traditional
      • Indonesian
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
    • Travel advice explained
    • Subscription
    • Crises
    • Passport services
      • Passports in Australia
      • Passports overseas
    • Notarial services
      • Documents
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
      • Certificate of No Impediment
      • Notarial forms
    • Voting overseas
    • Communities
      • العربية (Arabic)
      • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 中文繁體 (Chinese Traditional)
      • Bahasa Indonesia
      • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
      • (Tiếng Việt) Vietnamese
      • Filipino community
      • Indian community
      • Malaysian community
    • Resources
      • Missing overseas
      • Fact sheet: Arrested or jailed overseas
      • Fact sheet: Sexual assault overseas
      • Fact sheet: Death overseas
      • Fact sheet: Travel Smart
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement
      • CHOICE travel insurance guide
      • Before you go checklist
  • COVID-19
    • COVID-19
      • Leaving Australia
      • Trying to get home
      • Staying overseas
      • COVID-19 vaccinations
      • General FAQs