Passport Renewal / Application - Time Taken?

[hydrabyss]

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.

I go to the post office daily and when the border's where closed I would hear staff say to people not to renew their passport and wait till the borders reopened so they don't lose a year of their passport. I just kept my mouth shut and thought this won't be good when they all return the same time.

 

[BCons]

Heard a radio new story yday with head of Travel Agents Assoc who referred to an ad campaign by DFAT last year for ppl to get on with their pp renewal applications and not to delay any further. Cant say I noticed the campaign but then I did renew in early '21 when planning an ill-fated trip Tas to UnZud.

Really have little sympathy with ppl who expect a govt service that usually handles a steady monthly renewal volume to then switch to processing apparently around a million applications (think thats right) and to have done them by yesterday.

 

[mbell1510]

Walked past the Passport Office in Sydney this morning before 9am and there were already very long lines. Judging by how expensive flights are over July to Europe and American, certainly easy to see why there are long lines. Makes me glad my passport has nearly 18 months left in the tank.

 

[glasszon]

I am sure his office will help. Send an email to his office tonight making it clear you are in his constituency. Then ring the office early in the morning so they can locate the email and get right onto it. I am sure you will find that they deal with DFAT on a daily basis regarding passport issues.

Finally got the passport issued after contacting my MP. At the end it took two and a half weeks. Now time to queue up to collect the passport from the Melbourne office, wish me luck!

I will request a refund for the priority processing fee as its well outside the 2 day turnaround for a priority application, hopefully they will approve my request.

 

[offshore171]

Heard a radio new story yday with head of Travel Agents Assoc who referred to an ad campaign by DFAT last year for ppl to get on with their pp renewal applications and not to delay any further. Cant say I noticed the campaign but then I did renew in early '21 when planning an ill-fated trip Tas to UnZud.

It was right across the media.

Australia COVID: Passport backlog expected when borders reopen

More than 1 million Australian passports have expired during the pandemic, so it’s expected there will be a backlog renewing them if those who want to travel next year don’t act quickly.

www.smh.com.au

I renewed mine with close to a year left on it.

Really have little sympathy with ppl who expect a govt service that usually handles a steady monthly renewal volume to then switch to processing apparently around a million applications (think thats right) and to have done them by yesterday.

Agreed.

 

[DC3]

Finally got the passport issued after contacting my MP. At the end it took two and a half weeks …

Well, that’s good news.

Do you feel that reaching out to the MP, maybe 2 days ago, had any impact? Or was it more likely that the “system” managed to eventually process the application?

 

[glasszon]

Well, that’s good news.

Do you feel that reaching out to the MP, maybe 2 days ago, had any impact? Or was it more likely that the “system” managed to eventually process the application?

Given the timing, I think reaching out to the MP did play a role. I contacted the MP today, and the passport was finalised this afternoon when I log into the Passport office website.

 

[DC3]

Given the timing, I think reaching out to the MP did play a role. I contacted the MP today, and the passport was finalised this afternoon when I log into the Passport office website.

Ah. Same day service.

 

[Matt_01]

In my experience the priority service works. I lodged MissM's application on 1 Jun at the local Aus Post no wait time and paid the priority fee. Seems like it was a 2 day turn around once it was received by the passport office and it arrive today. Now time to start the eTA, Esta application process

 

[RooFlyer]

Friend lodged a 'renewal' for a recently expired passport at local post-office in suburban Hobart today (Friday), with priority processing. Will report back when it comes back.

 

[albatross710]

As a data point a family member lodged a renewal with priority payment on a Thursday. Passport was delivered by priority post the following Tuesday. So 4 working days in total.

 

[1022]

Data point for those picking up passports in Sydney. I joined the long queue at 8:30 this morning and finally got to the counter at 1pm. The other queue for people who had enquires or lodging new applications moved much slower. I shared a lift up to the office with someone who had been outside in that line from 6:30am. To say the system is overwhelmed is an understatement. Luckily the people around me in the collection queue were friendly and convivial so the time passed quickly!

 

[RooFlyer]

Just to clarify, please. The 4+ hour waiting in a queue is just for people simply picking up completed, new passports that they've been advised are ready? I'm sure you have to show ID etc, but how many per hour (or per 10 mins, when you got close) were they handing over the counter?

 

[1022]

Yep that was the wait for simple collections. They were sending 10 at a time up to level 7. But still close to an hour wait once in the office which was very crowded with poor signage and queue management.

Four collection counters open. It seemed close to one in three collections had complications - eg spouses without an authorisation letter, invalid ID, etc. so a fair degree of the long wait was due to punters not being match fit - to quote a certain CEO…

My straightforward collection probably took 3 minutes once I was at the counter: check ID, fetch passport. Type something. Ask me to confirm passport info was right. Off I went.

 

[RooFlyer]

Maybe they should do what the US consulates do when you apply for a visa. Given a time to rock up ( abt 10 in each group). Guy outside the street door checks what you are there for and that you have what you are supposed to. If yes, let inside to join 3 more queues - but they moved quick.

 

[coyote25]

Data point.

I was working near the Collins Street Melbourne Passport office today and the line at 8 am was crazy long.

People seemed to take the queuing in stride, more than I would be if I had a flight in the next few days but I guess I would have applied well in advance of Passport expiry.

 

[cagiva]

Does anyone know where the passports are printed?
Once upon a time, I seem to recall, they were printed in every or most capital cities.
Seems to me that the waiting times from application to delivery is excessively long. A client of mine was saying yesterday that they had been waiting 10 weeks.
A Passport takes no more than 20 minutes to print so I can't justify the waiting times.

 

[DC3]

Does anyone know where the passports are printed?
Once upon a time, I seem to recall, they were printed in every or most capital cities.

All Oz passports are printed in Melbourne.

 

[MARTINE]

I think they should credit whatever is left of old passport to new.. cannot travel with less than 6 months left so in reality its a 9.5 year passport. We always keep ours current (leftover from one parent’s experience of leaving Europe after war ‘you never know when you need it’).

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

All Oz passports are printed in Melbourne.

When we ordered our passports, we had them delivered by Aust Post. It is tracked, they spent the first 5 - 6 days in the Dandenong Mail Centre !!