Joined: Wed Jan 30 2008, 10:05AM Location: Queensland Posts: 215
Renewing a British Passport in Australia
Old style passports An old style "black British passport" can no longer be renewed, and you would need to apply for a NEW passport, with full documentation.
New Red Passports Renewal of a "Red Passport" requires a Form C1 or C2, your existing passport, 2 passport photos and the application Fee.
This will need to be sent to the Passport Office in Canberra.
Joined: Mon Jan 18 2010, 04:08PM Location: Australia Posts: 1
I have just viewed the High Commission website about renewing a British Passport in Australia and have been shocked and dismayed at the changes made to the process. I now find that I cannot send a renewal application by post but have to attend an Australia Post Office where they have staff trained in handling UK Passport applications. In my case, this means a minimum round trip of 262 kms (at least 5 hours driving time) not to say the cost of fuel. This is a disgrace and either shows a scant regard for UK citizens living in Australia or very poor research into the service provision by Australia Post. I would also like to add that the website is not easy to work through with a confusing amount of information that is not clearly divided between people living in Australia and elsewhere.
Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 09:08PM Location: Queensland Posts: 39
Everything changed in June 2009...
The British High Commission in Canberra stopped accepting postal applications on 15th June 2009
All British Passport renewals in Australia will be accepted at selected Post Offices, who will charge a fee of $50 (June 2009)
Australia Post staff will check your passport application with you face-to-face before forwarding on for processing at the Regional Passport Processing Centre in New Zealand.
Telephone Help lines are available at a cost of between £0.69 + International call fee, and $3.52 per minute.
Passports services for British nationals in Australasia and the South Pacific are delivered by the British High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand.
This is part of a global initiative to rationalise passport services and reduce administration costs, while continuing to deliver a quality service.
All applications sent directly to the British High Commission in Canberra will be returned. This also applies to applications made in person in Canberra or at any other British Consulate in Australia
[ Edited Tue Apr 13 2010, 08:05PM ] ABCDiamond Posting on various Expat forums since Dec 2003.
