Any Australian 18 or older, or those under 18 who are currently or previously married, must complete a Passport Application Form (available online at the link listed in the Resources section or at an Australia Post office). Submit this form along with the following documents: proof of Australian citizenship (and for those born on or after Aug. 20, 1986, proof that at least one parent was either an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time of the applicant's birth); proof of identity; name change documents, if applicable; current Australian passport, if applicable; and the current application fee. As of September 2009, this fee was A$208 for a standard adult passport and A$104 for a child.
Applicants must also present two identical color photographs, between 35 and 40 mm wide and 45 and 50 mm high, and no more than six months old.
With a new application, one photo must have the phrase: "This is a true photo of (full name)" printed on the back, along with a guarantor' signature. The guarantor must be an Australian citizen who is 18 years of age or over and not be related to, romantically involved with or share an address with the applicant. Renewal applications only need the applicant's name printed on the back of one photo.
Passport applications are filed at one of 1,700 Australia Post offices. Those with need for immediate, urgent international travel can present their application during an interview at a Passport Office in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth and Sydney. Overseas applicants should contact their nearest Australian diplomatic mission or consular office.
Adult passport holders who need to renew a passport that was valid for at least two years and is currently valid or expired within the previous year, can file an easier renewal application by consulting the government's passport website (see References) or consulting an Australia Post office.
The Australian government considers any unmarried citizen under 18 to be a child, and all children, even a newborn, must carry their own passport when traveling abroad. An application for a child's passport must be made by a parent or guardian, and that person must present positive ID when making the application.
Children's passports are usually good for five years. They cannot be renewed with the passport renewal form---a new application form must be used each time. All parents or guardians with legal responsibility for the child must give their consent on the passport application.
A copy of the child's official Australian birth certificate must be submitted along with a child's passport application. If the child was born overseas, a copy of the official foreign birth certificate and proof of Australian citizenship is needed. With this application, also supply any previous passports held by the child and, for children born in Australia, proof of at least one parent's citizenship at the time of the child's birth.
