Check the expiration date of your Australian passport. An adult passport is valid for 10 years, while a child's or senior's passport is valid for five. Passports should be renewed while still current or when expired within 24 months. If your passport expired more than 24 months ago or was lost or stolen, you will be required to attend an interview and apply for a new passport.
Take colored passport photos not earlier than six months before renewing a passport. These photos should be 45-50mm (1.75-1.93 inches) by 35-40mm (1.25- 1.43 inches) and show just the head and top of shoulders. You should be looking straight ahead and have a plain, white background behind you. Glasses and head coverings (except for religious reasons) are not allowed. Take these photos at a passport photo center to assure they are high quality and accurately lighted and framed.
Gather necessary documents validating your Australian citizenship and identity. These documents include your original Australian citizenship, your current passport and at least two of the following: health card, utility bills, driver's license, Australian birth card, credit card or credit card statements. One or more of these documents must show your full name, age, sex and place/country of birth. If you were not born in Australia, you must provide a foreign birth certificate and other foreign identification such as a social security card or country ID card.
Go online (see reference 1) to fill out a passport renewal application for yourself or your child. Print it out and take it to a passport office. You cannot apply online. Another option is to call your closest Australian postal outlet and have them pre-fill an application with your information.
Search online or visit your closest Australian post outlet with a printed application unless your application was filled by telephone and is already on file. Note that an appointment may be necessary, depending on the outlet. A renewal application should take only five minutes. Make sure to have all documents ready, in addition to the photographs and cash or credit card to pay the fees. A check will not be accepted. Fees are the same as for a new passport: $208 for adults, $104 for children and seniors.
Wait for your passport to arrive. Your application should be processed within 10 working days of receipt of all documents. If you need your passport immediately, consider using the Priority Processing Service, which will have prepare your passport in two working days. This costs an additional fee of $78. Your application status can be tracked online (see reference 4).
