Passport Renewal / Application - Time Taken?

[MH_fan]

At the bottom of the website there is an "Enquiries and Feedback" link. When you navigate through the drop down menus one of the "enquiry" categories is for a "passport application update". It took a couple of days for them to respond, but at least they did so.

I did that a week ago and still no response and I'm now over 7 weeks since I lodged my passport renewal.
This is seriously p*ssing me off now when people are getting their passports back in less than 2 weeks!

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Consistently inconsistent !!

 

[1022]

I actually managed to speak to someone on the phone today!! The menu option to enquire about a submitted application didn’t just lead to a message saying they’re too busy then hang up as it had been doing over past days. This was soon after 8am.

After 90 minutes on hold I was told by an agent (who didn’t sound all that confident in anything she said) that if I opt to pick up my passport in Sydney (700km away!) I _might_ have it before due departure date. No indication given as to why it’s been 8 weeks so far, nor any attempt to fast track it. Just an “oh” when she brought up the application number on her screen.

Luckily the planned trip is a classic award and just a holiday, so cancellation won’t cost me cash and we could go somewhere domestic instead…but still…

 

[Sarumma]

Hi everyone,
I applied with my family for passports (not renewal) on April 13th, a week later my daughter's passport was issued and it arroved after 5 business days. We didn't hear anything about te other passports, so, since we have a flight on the 11th of June, I sent and email to this address: APO Feedback <[email protected]>
I sent the email 5 weeks after we applied and about 3/4 weeks before our travel date.
The guy was awsome and by the end of the day our passports were issued. Now we are waiting for them to get here.
Hope this can help those of you who have imminent travelling plans.
Good luck!

 

[SydneySwan]

Hi everyone,
I applied with my family for passports (not renewal) on April 13th, a week later my daughter's passport was issued and it arroved after 5 business days. We didn't hear anything about te other passports, so, since we have a flight on the 11th of June, I sent and email to this address: APO Feedback <[email protected]>
I sent the email 5 weeks after we applied and about 3/4 weeks before our travel date.
The guy was awsome and by the end of the day our passports were issued. Now we are waiting for them to get here.
Hope this can help those of you who have imminent travelling plans.
Good luck!

And a warm welcome to AFF!

 

[MH_fan]

Hi everyone,
I applied with my family for passports (not renewal) on April 13th, a week later my daughter's passport was issued and it arroved after 5 business days. We didn't hear anything about te other passports, so, since we have a flight on the 11th of June, I sent and email to this address: APO Feedback <[email protected]>
I sent the email 5 weeks after we applied and about 3/4 weeks before our travel date.
The guy was awsome and by the end of the day our passports were issued. Now we are waiting for them to get here.
Hope this can help those of you who have imminent travelling plans.
Good luck!

Thsnk you for that email address. That's really helpful. I'll email them tomorrow morning...or even tonight!

 

[MZFlyer]

Hi everyone,
I applied with my family for passports (not renewal) on April 13th, a week later my daughter's passport was issued and it arroved after 5 business days. We didn't hear anything about te other passports, so, since we have a flight on the 11th of June, I sent and email to this address: APO Feedback <[email protected]>
I sent the email 5 weeks after we applied and about 3/4 weeks before our travel date.
The guy was awsome and by the end of the day our passports were issued. Now we are waiting for them to get here.
Hope this can help those of you who have imminent travelling plans.
Good luck!

Thank you for this tip! We are at 7+ weeks' wait now, travelling in less than 3... simple adult renewals, not new applications, not children. Stupidly accepted the advice of the APO website that 'up to 6 weeks' was the timeframe. Started getting panicky last week and have never once been able to get through to the call centre. I emailed this morning advising of our travel date and asking for our passports to be processed with urgency, and amazingly received a reply within a few hours advising that our passports were now in the queue for printing and I should get an email in 3 business days, and if not I could call the officer back on this local number: (02) 9207 6968. The email seems to have come from the Sydney DFAT office. I am in Sydney, and my next thought was to just rock up to the APO in person at opening hour - because you can't even make an appointment through the call centre - and try my luck. I appreciate this is not an option for many people though!!

 

[MH_fan]

I got a reply to my email from last night that said something similar where my passport is in the queue for printing and that it should be sent out in 2 business working days. If it isn't, then I am to reply to their email or try calling them. Talk about cutting it close!

 

[prozac]

Hi everyone,
I applied with my family for passports (not renewal) on April 13th, a week later my daughter's passport was issued and it arroved after 5 business days. We didn't hear anything about te other passports, so, since we have a flight on the 11th of June, I sent and email to this address: APO Feedback <[email protected]>
I sent the email 5 weeks after we applied and about 3/4 weeks before our travel date.
The guy was awsome and by the end of the day our passports were issued. Now we are waiting for them to get here.
Hope this can help those of you who have imminent travelling plans.
Good luck!

Welcome to AFF Sarumma. That info must deserve a badge.

 

[rabau]

Lodged a renewal on 5 May with local post office in Brisbane, arrived Friday 20 May, luck of the draw.

 

[MH_fan]

And I just got a text and email telling me my new passport is being sent to me via registered mail! Finally!! Here's hoping I get it by the end of the week!

 

[CMA222]

And I just got a text and email telling me my new passport is being sent to me via registered mail! Finally!! Here's hoping I get it by the end of the week!

I received a similar text and email message and then watched my postie deliver a card to my letter box telling me to go to the post office to collect it. I thought if its being sent to my home address that was where it would be delivered and signed for, alas not.

 

[kallinch]

For those getting new passports, would be great if you can mention what series?

(I’m keen hold out to get new R series that has card like ID page, that’s much more durable)

From this FOI likely to start being issued from June 2022 to June 2023:

R-series Passports Issuance - a Freedom of Information request to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

I saw that the R series passports have received ministral approval for manufacturing in 2022. Does that mean that if I renew my passport now, I will be getting an R series one? Yours faithfully, Toufic

www.righttoknow.org.au

 

[mitti]

For those getting new passports, would be great if you can mention what series?

(I’m keen hold out to get new R series that has card like ID page, that’s much more durable)

From this FOI likely to start being issued from June 2022 to June 2023:

R-series Passports Issuance - a Freedom of Information request to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

I saw that the R series passports have received ministral approval for manufacturing in 2022. Does that mean that if I renew my passport now, I will be getting an R series one? Yours faithfully, Toufic

www.righttoknow.org.au

I received my new passport 2 weeks ago and it was the P-series

 

[glasszon]

Even priority processing gets delayed. Passport application lodged at AusPost on Monday along with the priority processing fee, still no email so far.

 

[MH_fan]

Got notified that my new passport was delivered today! All up it has taken 8 weeks and 1 day.

 

[DC3]

Even priority processing gets delayed. Passport application lodged at AusPost on Monday along with the priority processing fee, still no email so far.

Is that when you part with an extra $225?

 

[oz_ally]

I applied for my passport (less than 10 years out of date one) on 12 May and it arrived yesterday 26 May. Going to Thailand with my friend leaving 29 July; returning 14 Aug. Didn't pay for priority. Don't know all about "series" but I guess mine is a P as it says Type P and the document number starts with PB. Aaaaaand photo is embarrassing as is customary .

Now I can get the Thai pass and wade through Insurance companies and their offers. Haven't been overseas since 2011.

Oh yeah and my friend applied for her passport about a week or so before me and not heard a peep. Although her expired passport was less than 10 years out of date she had to do the whole start again procedure as she got married since the old passport was issued so there is a surname change. I know we still have 2 months but she's a little worried so I passed on @Sarumma 's helpful info.

 

[glasszon]

Is that when you part with an extra $225?

Yep, it's still pending. I guess I need to call them on Monday to ask for an update. I read that I can request a refund of the priority processing fee given the failure for the passport to be issued within 2 days, but that's a battle after I get the passport.

 

[Melburnian1]

I received a similar text and email message and then watched my postie deliver a card to my letter box telling me to go to the post office to collect it. I thought if its being sent to my home address that was where it would be delivered and signed for, alas not.

But he should have had it with him. You need to have collared him and asked, as I did when mine might arrive. I monitored the Australia Post tracking and one morning noticed the passport was 'on board for delivery'. No need then to go to the PO/LPO.