Passport Renewal / Application - Time Taken?

What if you need to travel during the 6-12 weeks while you are waiting for your new passport (but you need to apply for the new one because your old one is expiring)? Can one plead a special case?
If you need to travel in a short period of time between passports, then you will have to pay priority. Or risk it and then try and contact the passport office and get it expedited with proof of your travel bookings. Some people that have been waiting a long time and their travel dates are now upon them have had to go to the passport office a maximum of two days before travel and beg them to process them. It can be an all day wait in some cases.
I have read that some new applications are taking less than 6 weeks, but then some are taking more. And some that are still waiting several months. Especially children's passports. There are certainly some sad stories of people missing important travel dates, because of the passport processing backlog.
 
MrsMajor applied for a passport renewal online 2 weeks ago. The new passport was delivered to the front door this morning
 
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+1 applied for passport renewal at local Post office last Friday and paid the priority processing fee of $225. Received email at Tuesday lunchtime (2 business days later) that passport was ready to be picked up at Passport Office (Sydney). Impressed!
 
+ 2 applied for renewal @ Australia Post 26 October(NO priority processing). Received email 1 November that it's on the way with Australia Post.
 
Hmmm so we are flying out in December. Going to South Korea, Qatar (15hours transit), Europe and back through Qatar (26hours stop over).
Just realised my partners passport expires in July and coming back through Qatar, she is going to be 1 day off the 6months validity rule.
Should we apply for a new passport Tuesday and hope it arrives before 21st December or take our chances with Qatar and Qatar airways allowing us to complete the journey?
All other countries is fine, just Qatar is asking for a valid 6 months passport to enter the country.

Flight arrives Qatar 6th January 2023 at 11.25pm her passport expires 5th July 2023. .
 
Hmmm so we are flying out in December. Going to South Korea, Qatar (15hours transit), Europe and back through Qatar (26hours stop over).
Just realised my partners passport expires in July and coming back through Qatar, she is going to be 1 day off the 6months validity rule.
Should we apply for a new passport Tuesday and hope it arrives before 21st December or take our chances with Qatar and Qatar airways allowing us to complete the journey?
All other countries is fine, just Qatar is asking for a valid 6 months passport to enter the country.

Flight arrives Qatar 6th January 2023 at 11.25pm her passport expires 5th July 2023. .
OT, but can you explain the routing please? Why Sth Korea then DOH-EU?
Redemption or cash?
 
Wednesday 2 November – Lodged at regular suburban Sydney Post Office
Thursday 3 November – Status updated to 'Lodged'
Friday 4 November – Status updated to 'Under Assessment'
Friday 4 November 9pm – Status updated to 'Passport Issued'. Email with AusPost tracking number for delivery.

Didn't pay priority, just a standard Adult renewal.

I was caught up in the Optus data breach, and answered accordingly on the application.
Not sure if the passport office is giving them priority?

Just super hoping it's an R series....,


Applied today and the post office lady cut up my existing, valid passport!! Is this the normal procedure?
This used to be the way, but the process changed a few weeks back.

From another forum;

News just in on cancelling passports: Passport interviewers have been advised that as of Monday 17/10, previous passports are not to be physically cancelled (cut) but left intact. They are cancelled electronically (probably always have been).

So if you're renewing a passport after Monday, and you want it left intact, please be aware of this, and be aware that some interviewers may not have caught up with this advice, which was only issued today.
 
Yes - a friend just a R series, PO didnt cut old one, but still says Queen Elizabeth inside.
Took him a month or so he said.
 
Oh happy to hear they shouldn't be cutting them up, its the worst feeling.

Mine expires in May so I'm hoping processing time is consistently shorter by then.
 
I know of someone still waiting on an application from June, still wading the the backlogs . Seems like more recent applications are getting processed quickly now.
 
My sons partner took 12 weeks to receive her passport after lodging her application in early August. She had received her citizenship early this year.
 
My sons partner took 12 weeks to receive her passport after lodging her application in early August. She had received her citizenship early this year.
Friend who applied for first adult passport due to citizenship acquisition took 12 weeks too Apr-Jun
 
OT, but can you explain the routing please? Why Sth Korea then DOH-EU?
Redemption or cash?
We wanted to visit Seoul first and I had old OWA booking, so we decided to take a longer route to EU return trying to make the most of it.
Back on topic, my missus decided to apply for a new passport today. Fingers crossed it takes less than 6weeks. Will update back.
 
Just checking everyone has been issued R series recently? Website said progressive roll out from September but not guaranteed to R series until January
 

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