Passport Renewal / Application - Time Taken?

[jakeseven7]

Queues of 100 people outside my local PO today - INSANE. All passporters.

I completely agree with the sentiment here, the government has been warning people for about 7 months to get ahead and get their passports renewed.

Earlier this year the processing time was about 2-3 weeks.

Sorry, tough luck for people who don't plan

On the plus side for Qantas and the international airlines people are ready to lay down the credit card to fly internationally.

 

[blackcat20]

Apparently the Melbourne office line up started at 5am this morning

 

[AussueVic]

So what’s quicker now? Lining up or having it picked up from the post office? I don’t mind long queues if it means I’ll at least get it that day, but are pick ups from post office also being delayed? I’m confused what to choose. Is there a separate line in the queues for renewals and/or priority? Do you need an appointment as well?

Also, does anyone know if it’s at all possible on the phone for them to tell you your new passport info even if they haven’t physically printed or sent it yet? So then you can book or submit visa applications etc because you’ll have the updated details (passport number and new expiry). Trying to think of ways to speed up the process and not have everything held up

 

[RooFlyer]

Also, does anyone know if it’s at all possible on the phone for them to tell you your new passport info even if they haven’t physically printed or sent it yet? So then you can book or submit visa applications etc because you’ll have the updated details (passport number and new expiry).

I don't know, but I would think zero chance 1) because you'll probably not get through and 2) being such a prime personal ID document, I can't see them giving that info over the phone - or at least I hope they wouldn't (sorry ...).

 

[jrfsp]

Glad i did it in February....got it back within 7 days standard processing.

 

[OZDUCK]

This is all over the ABC Radio News bulletins today and a big piece on the afternoon show in WA at least. There are still claims that you can pay the extra fee and get a 2 day turnaround which doesn't seem to be supported by comments on this thread.

 

[kallinch]

So I submitted my renewal last Friday 3rd June at Melbourne GPO post office (before midday as that’s when collection occurs). Emailed ready to pickup from Melb passport office today Tues 7th June. I paid priority fee. So within 2 day turnaround.

Catch being, I explicitly requested postal for delivery to avoid queues.….phone number not being answered so have tried email mentioned above in this thread.

tbc….not looking forward to the wait in rain for 3hrs….

 

[Melburnian1]

People have had 2 years to update/renew their passports, as I did last year.

Did people really have to wait for the Gov to announce borders opening??? My goodness.

Everybody says how poor the gov acts on events in a reactive manner........so many people claim to be so smart yet have reacted in such a gov-like reactive manner.

How difficult was it to foresee that borders were going to reopen, yet alone on the verge of opening as the world was opening well before Australia, wasn't too common sense to be proactive in this regard.
Nobody to blame but themselves IMO. Oh yeah blame the passport agency, yeah why not that's easier, zero self responsibility.

I see your point, but it wasn't clear when borders would reopen and while some may say a minor consideration, already we effectively only receive nine years six months' use of a 10-year passport (given the silly rule many countries have of our passports requiring six months' 'left in the tank' before we can be accepted on an international flight) and so there's a significant number of Australians who don't like decreasing that even further if it can be avoided or minimised.

 

[oz_mark]

This is all over the ABC Radio News bulletins today and a big piece on the afternoon show in WA at least. There are still claims that you can pay the extra fee and get a 2 day turnaround which doesn't seem to be supported by comments on this thread.

I don't know about now, but 2 day turnarounds were absolutely happening in April.

(I wisely renewed mine 'not' in Feb 2020)

 

[DC3]

… already we effectively only receive nine years six months' use of a 10-year passport (given the silly rule many countries have of our passports requiring six months' 'left in the tank' before we can be accepted on an international flight) and so there's a significant number of Australians who don't like decreasing that even further if it can be avoided or minimised.

Yes. Joe and Josephine Public (and even some AFFers) aren’t willingly going to forfeit an extra few months of their new passport, are they?

 

[DC3]

Apparently the Melbourne office line up started at 5am this morning

How keen are they?

 

[Matt_01]

This is all over the ABC Radio News bulletins today and a big piece on the afternoon show in WA at least. There are still claims that you can pay the extra fee and get a 2 day turnaround which doesn't seem to be supported by comments on this thread.

I posted up thread that I applied for a new child's passport on 1 Jun (it was in the afternoon), I paid the additional fast track fee and by Monday 6 Jun had confirmation from passport office and Auspost it was on its way. In my book this seems to to be a 2 day turn around time if you are willing to follow the rules.

 

[Matt_01]

I see your point, but it wasn't clear when borders would reopen and while some may say a minor consideration, already we effectively only receive nine years six months' use of a 10-year passport (given the silly rule many countries have of our passports requiring six months' 'left in the tank' before we can be accepted on an international flight) and so there's a significant number of Australians who don't like decreasing that even further if it can be avoided or minimised.

At AUD308 for a ten year passport this in my book equals $30.80 per year and you can do the math to calculate the 9.5 year ROI. The peanuts who have left every thing to the last minute have no one else to blame other than themselves.

 

[AussueVic]

For renewals, do they require you to show proof of new address if your address has changed since your old passport? If they do, is a printed bank statement enough?

 

[Matt_01]

For renewals, do they require you to show proof of new address if your address has changed since your old passport? If they do, is a printed bank statement enough?

Out of curiosity, have you looked up any information on the AU passport website for yourself or are you just looking for or hoping someone will just give you the answer.

 

[DC3]

For renewals, do they require you to show proof of new address if your address has changed since your old passport? If they do, is a printed bank statement enough?

100 point ID would be good enough. They don’t care where you live or how often you move.

Edit: If you are not able to check on the web, why not pop into a Post Office?

 

[AussueVic]

No need to be rude, Matt. I've been sick for more than a week, which is why I haven't been into Aus Post. It doesn't state anywhere on the Passport site about address changes for renewals - so I didn't want to show up and be hit with yet another delay for not having proof of a new address with me. Unfortunately immigrating to the US with a green card is on the line for me right now, because of this passport nightmare. Thought I'd ask for help/advice from those experienced and knowledgeable about the process, given it's impossible to get through on the phone.

 

[prozac]

At AUD308 for a ten year passport this in my book equals $30.80 per year and you can do the math to calculate the 9.5 year ROI. The peanuts who have left every thing to the last minute have no one else to blame other than themselves.

maths last I was in school in a Commonwealth country.

 

[DC3]

… Thought I'd ask for help/advice from those experienced and knowledgeable about the process, given it's impossible to get through on the phone.

The process is all explained on-line. There’s really no need for phone calls.

I did my renewal application last year, on-line. It was just a matter of following the instructions, filling out the on-line form and then going into a (participating) Post Office with the old passport, having my photo taken and paying the fee. That was about it from memory. This can all be done on the same day, or later, if that suits.

Link: Renew your Australian passport

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

maths last I was in school in a Commonwealth country.

And it’s really just simple arithmetic…