Australian High Commission

New Zealand

High Commission address: 72-76 Hobson Street, Thorndon, Wellington - Telephone: +64 (0)4 473 6411 - Fax: +64 (0)4 498 7135

Passports

If you would like to apply for an Australian passport, please read the information below. For further information and online applications go to Passports Australia.

Are you eligible for the simpler Australian passport renewal form (PC7 form)?

You may be eligible for our simpler one-page renewal form (PC7), if you are 18 years of age or over AND have an adult Australian passport that:

was issued to you after you turned 18 years of age, and
was valid for at least 2 years, and
is current or expired less than 12 months ago, and
was issued in your current name, date of birth, and sex and
is not lost, stolen or damaged.

If you satisfy the above criteria, contact our office 04 473 6411 (press option 1 for passports) to see if you qualify for the simpler renewal form. Have your most current passport with you when you phone.

Click here for information on passport prices and where to lodge your form.

Click here for Australian passport photo requirements. These may differ from the usual passport photos made by local passport photo providers. When purchasing your passport photos, ensure that you inform the photographer of all the Australian passport photo requirements before the picture is taken.

If you do not satisfy the above criteria, read the information below for instructions on how to apply for or renew your Australian passport using the PC8 form.

How do I apply for an Australian passport (PC8 form)?

These instructions apply to you if you are:

applying for your first Australian passport ever
applying for your first passport after you have turned 18 years of age (even if you have had other passports as a child)
applying for a children's passport (18 years and under)
changing your name or sex
replacing a passport that was lost, stolen or damaged
not eligible for the PC7 renewal form (see above)

Fully complete an 'Australian Passport Application Overseas' application form (PC8) in black ballpoint pen. The current application form is 5 pages, blue in colour and has the words "Form PC8_0705 (Page 1 of 11)" at the bottom right-hand corner of page 1.

Provided you are not required to attend an interview (see below), the completed form and supporting documents can be lodged by mail (see below). When lodging your application you must also provide:

Proof of your Australian citizenship (eg your Australian passport issued after 20 August 1986 and valid for at least two years, your Australian full birth certificate or Australian citizenship certificate).
Two passport-sized colour photographs. One photograph endorsed on the back by the person who completed the guarantor's declaration in Sections 11 and 12 of the Application Form (do not use or affix sticky labels to your photographs).
Note - Australian passport photo requirements may differ from the usual passport photos made by local passport photo providers. When purchasing your passport photos, ensure that you inform the photographer of all the Australian passport photo requirements before the picture is taken.
Identification. The acceptable combinations of identity documents are stated on the passport application form.
Evidence of any changes of name.

Additional Requirements for a minor (under 18 years)

An original full birth certificate, showing parents names.
Change of name evidence if a parent's name is different to the name on the minor's birth certificate.
Current identification for the parent lodging the application showing their correct name and signature.
Proof of identity for the minor (eg school report, bank statement, student ID etc)

All original documentation will be returned to you with the new passport. If you require the immediate return of your identification, please enclose a letter requesting that your identification be returned as soon as possible, along with a return, self addressed, signature-required courier pack.

How do I know if I am required to attend an interview?

You are required to attend an interview if:

You are applying for your first Australian passport.
You are applying for your first Australian passport since reaching 18 years of age (you may have had previous passports as a minor).
You cannot provide a current or previous passport that was issued after 20 August 1986 and was valid for 2 years or more.
Your most recent or current passport was lost, stolen, or damaged.
You are applying for an emergency passport.

In the case of minors (under 18 years of age) one parent/guardian or the minor must attend the interview when required. An appointment is not necessary, interviews are conducted during office hours.

Who can be a Guarantor?

The applicant's guarantor fills in Sections 11 and 12 of the passport application form and writes directly on the back of one photo "This is a true photograph of [applicant's full name]" and signs it. Do not use sticky labels. he example to the right.

To avoid delays please ensure your identifier is easily contactable by telephone during normal business hours.

Your guarantor must:

be over 18 years of age
have known you for at least 12 months or for the children under 1 year, since birth
not be related to you by birth or marriage
not be in a de facto relationship with you (this includes a same sex relationship), nor live at your address
be easily contactable by phone during normal business hours

AND either:

possesses a current (unexpired) Australian passport that was issued with at least two year's validity OR
be currently employed in one of the approved occupational or professional groups listed below (these persons do not have to be Australian citizens).

Approved Occupational and Professional Groups

Accountant (qualified)
Bank Manager
Barrister or Solicitor
Chartered Engineer
Clerk of the Courts
Clerk of Petty Sections
Defence Force member (with 5 yrs continuous service)
Dentist
Elected Member of Parliament
Judge
Marriage Celebrant
Medical Practitioner (Registered)
Nurse (Registered)
Patent Attorney
Pharmacist
Police Officer (with 5 yrs continuous service)
Postal Manager
Public Servant (current full time employees of Govt Depts or Local Govt, employed continuously for 5+yrs by their current employer)
Teacher (full time & have been teaching 5 yrs or more at schools or tertiary institutions)
Veterinary Surgeon (Registered)

Please Note: A NZ Justice of the Peace can only be used if he or she is a registered Marriage Celebrant. They must indicate they are also a Marriage Celebrant, for example, "JP/Marriage Celebrant".

Lost and stolen passports

The Australian Passports Act 2005, which came into effect on 1 July 2005, introduces new measures to protect Australian passports and passport holders. Identity theft is a growing problem with serious consequences for our security at home and abroad. It can involve the illegal use of documents - such as passports - issued in another person's name.

The new Act combats this problem by introducing tougher penalties for passport fraud and stricter procedures for dealing with lost or stolen passports. It requires Australians at home and overseas to report a lost or stolen passport as soon as possible. It authorises the department to cancel such passports immediately and permanently and to notify international border control authorities that they are no longer valid.

Mandatory reporting and immediate cancellation will help us to prevent criminals and terrorists from using lost or stolen passports to assume someone else's identity. This is something in which all Australians have a stake.

How to report your passport as lost or stolen

As an Australian residing overseas, you can report a lost or stolen passport:

to your nearest Australian diplomatic or consular mission, or
online at the passports website www.passports.gov.au.

Under no circumstances should you try to use a passport that you have reported as lost or stolen. This is illegal and heavy penalties apply.

Recovered passports

If you recover your passport after reporting it as lost or stolen you must return it to the nearest Australian diplomatic or consular mission. Do this within three months and you may qualify for a NZ$61 one-off payment (but only if you have already paid the lost or stolen passport fee). Under no circumstances should you try to use a passport that you have reported as lost or stolen. This is illegal and heavy penalties apply. Note, fees are subject to change due to fluctuations in the Australian / New Zealand dollar exchange rates.

Additional passport fees for lost and stolen passports

The Australian Passports Act 2005, which came into effect on 1 July 2005, encourages Australians to protect their passport by introducing a lost or stolen passport fee in addition to the normal passport application fee. This additional fee must be paid when applying for a replacement passport.

The amount of the additional fee depends on the number of passports an individual has lost or had stolen in the previous five years. The fee is NZ$61 for one passport lost or stolen, NZ$185 for two and NZ$369 for three or more. The validity of the replacement passport will also be reduced if three or more have been lost or stolen.

You can use the passports website to confirm the number of passports you have lost or had stolen. Note, fees are subject to change due to fluctuations in the Australian / New Zealand dollar exchange rates.

Applications for the refund of a lost or stolen passport fee

An arrangement has been put in place to refund the lost or stolen passport fee where passport holders can establish they were not responsible for the loss or theft. You can apply for a refund only if the passport was lost or stolen in circumstances beyond your control. You cannot apply for a refund if insurance covers you against payment of the lost or stolen fee. Contact your nearest Australian mission for more information on applications for a refund.

How do I get a passport application form?

Passport application forms can be downloaded from www.passports.gov.au

Or request a form by:

PHONE:

04 473 6411 press option 1 (for South Island and North Island south of Taupo)
OR 09 921 8800 (for North Island north of Taupo)

FAX: 04 498 7103 press option 1 (for South Island and North Island south of Taupo)
OR 09 921 8820 (for North Island north of Taupo)

EMAIL: nzinbox@dfat.gov.au

Note: When sending email, please give us your postal address so we can send a form to you. We cannot send applications by email.

MAIL: See the postal details for the Australian High Commission and the Australian-Consulate-General below.

How much does it cost and where do I lodge my application?

Click here for information on passport prices and where to lodge your form.

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