Passport changes

[juddles]

Government to axe 'frequent traveller' passports? - Australian Business Traveller

Just saw this via ausbt - what should I think from this? Banishing 66 page passports? And "removing fees for lost passports"

Why?

 

[samh004]

Perhaps the quantity of them actually being printed is so low they consider the extra steps not worth the hassle?

 

[Buzzard]

Government to axe 'frequent traveller' passports? - Australian Business Traveller

Just saw this via ausbt - what should I think from this? Banishing 66 page passports? And "removing fees for lost passports"

Why?

Fees for lost passports have not been charged since the beginning of this year.
There is still a penalty however as replacement passports have a reduced validity period.
All previous losses over the preceding 5 years are counted.

Passport applications will also increase from 1 January 2017. Up by $20 for an adult, priority processing up by $54.

 

[juddles]

I got a new passport two weeks ago - was only in Australia for a fortnight so had to get the fast option.

Almost $500 for a 32 page passport

At least now many countries are not stamping them - but still many places put in a full page visa plus they wipe half a page with entry and exit stamps :/

 

[robtemt]

I hope the trend of customs/immigration stamping passports continues to decline.

I have two passports, USA and AUS.

As a result of a nice long european trip, and flights back and forth from SYD to LAX, and the stupidity of using 2 different passports depending on what airport I'm at... USA made me add pages to mine, and even though I did, at a price, many countries just stamped over other stamps instead of using the new, clean pages! I'd love to think my current AUS passport will last me though all my travels for its validity.

 

[Mattg]

That is rather annoying. I will have to renew my passport next year and was planning to get the "frequent traveller" one. With the smaller version, I'm almost certain that I will run out of pages before the passport expires.

 

[DavidFlynn]

We've had confirmation of this from DFAT over the weekend, story to be updated Monday with more info...

 

[Pleb Status]

With more countries bringing in electronic immigration systems for Australians (Smart gates etc), the pressure on passport space should reduce in the next few years. Getting eICAS access into SIN will save me a least six or seven pages.

Also some countries (like HKG and JPN) are providing loose printed entry 'visas' which take up no real space.

 

[leadman]

This post really made my day! I do a large passport in about 3 years, so with the government adding all the rush fee's etc, effectively another money making scheme if you count 2 rush fee's, plus the increase which will come I'm sure!

 

[Buzzard]

I got a new passport two weeks ago - was only in Australia for a fortnight so had to get the fast option.

Almost $500 for a 32 page passport

At least now many countries are not stamping them - but still many places put in a full page visa plus they wipe half a page with entry and exit stamps :/

How did you pay that much

A 32 page passport costs $254, priority processing adds $127 so it's under $400.

 

[juddles]

How did you pay that much

A 32 page passport costs $254, priority processing adds $127 so it's under $400.

You just made me check and you are correct

It was 397.95 which included 381.00 for the application and 16.95 for the photos taken at the post office.

 

[medhead]

So get in this year to save $20. Since my 10 years are up in 2017. I don't go near filling 32 pages, unfortunately.
I wonder if I can apportion passport cost for business travel onto my tax return?

 

[JessicaTam]

So get in this year to save $20. Since my 10 years are up in 2017. I don't go near filling 32 pages, unfortunately.
I wonder if I can apportion passport cost for business travel onto my tax return?

^ I don't see why not.

I have a couple of years to go before my passport expires, and I am not really keen on getting a new one early just for the extra pages.

 

[dajop]

Bit of a pain. If you live and work across multiple Asia countries it doesn't take long to fill up. Last double size filled up in 4 years. Current one should last at least 5 thanks to APEC BTC (thankfully as my company even requires business visas for Thailand) but I still travel to several countries that give you one page visas.

 

[eric2011]

Cant wait for the renewal online to start. Did my NZ passport a couple of weeks ago and it was so easy. Just took a photo on my iPhone, filled out the form, got another NZ'er to witness the from, attached the photo and sent it away. New passport returned 10 days later

 

[juddles]

.... Just took a photo on my iPhone,... New passport returned 10 days later

Wow! That is amazing

 

[eric2011]

Wow! That is amazing

Yep take the photo, upload it and they check it instantly to make sure it complies and then submit the application. The whole process took no more than 4 minutes from go to woah.

 

[JohnK]

I have a frequent traveller passport and now in the 6th year and I haven't quite reached the halfway mark. I am not sure the extra cost was worth the extra pages. I could have got normal passport and renewed early.

I hate it when fees go up but costs of a passport related to overall travel spend is minimal. I will probably renew the passport another 2 times, possibly 3 times.

 

[juddles]

I have only ever had the normal ones - but current one was full after 3 years - but maybe this is a good change for me as it saved me spending big money on a fat thing that upsets my travel wallet. And anyway, with my errant lifestyle I would probably fail to keep it long enough anyway - I have washed them in the past

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Can't find a date for the phase out. Really keen to get one while I can. Current normal passport is almost full after 3 years.
I know it's a #firstworldproblem.