Getting Here !

Passport Information

It is essential that your passport does not expire within six months of entering Australia or you will not be allowed into the country - even if you're only planning on staying a few days.

You should allow plenty of time to apply for a new passport, although some passport agencies will rush your application for an additional fee.

Most travellers apply for a passport at the passport agency in their home country, however people living outside their country of citizenship should apply through their nearest embassy or consulate.

Applications in Canada

To obtain a passport you will need two current photos; proof of Canadian citizenship; any previous Canadian passport, certificate of identity or refugee travel document issued to you in the last five (5) years; a completed application form and the application fee. A Canadian passport costs $60-$62 plus an additional $25 consular fee and it is usually issued with eight working days, although you should allow additional time for your passport to arrive through the mail.

You can either apply at your local passport office or by sending your application forms to the main passport office in Hull, Québec.

The Passport Office, Place du Centre Commercial Level 2, 200 Promenade du Portage, Hull, Quebec J8X 4B7. Website: www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/passport/. Tel: (819) 994 3500 or 1800 567 6868.

Applications in Ireland

Passport application forms are available from all Garda stations and from Post Offices which provide the Passport Express service. Completed application forms should be sent to the passport office in Cork (if you live in the counties of Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary or Waterford) or Dublin (if you live elsewhere in Ireland, including Northern Ireland). Passports should be issued within 10 working days.

Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 671 1633

1a South Mall, Cork
Tel: (021) 272 525

website: www.irlgov.ie/iveagh/

A passport application should include two passport photos (which have been signed and certified) as well as proof of citizenship and the application fee. An Irish passport is valid for 10 years and costs IE£45 for a 32-page passport and IE£55 for a 48-page passport.

Applications in New Zealand

New Zealand passport application forms can be downloaded from the passport office website and are also available from most travel agencies. Completed application forms should be sent to the passport office in Wellington along with proof of identity, proof of citizenship, two passport photos and the NS$80 application fee. In most cases passport applications are processed within 10 working days. New Zealand passports are valid for 10 years.

The Department of Internal Affairs, Passport Office, PO Box 10-526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 22 50 50
website: www.passports.govt.nz

Applications in South Africa

Passport application forms are available at all Department of Home Affairs offices in South Africa and South African consulates and embassies abroad. South African passports are valid for 10 years and cost around 80 rand. You had better make your travel plans well in advance as passport applications can take three to six months to process, particularly if you're making your application from outside South Africa.

For more information, contact the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria at (012) 3148911. Website: www.dfa.gov.za

Applications in the United Kingdom

British citizens can apply for a passport at offices of the UK Passport Agency in Belfast, Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport and Peterborough or at one of 2000 High Street partners throughout the UK including post offices and Worldchoice travel agents. British passports cost £28 for a 32-page passport and £38 for a 48-page passport; additional fees ranging from £4-£12 apply when lodging your application at an agency.

Passport applications lodged at post offices and travel agents are normally issued in around a month, while applications lodged at UK Passport Agency branches are processed in less than two weeks. Passport agency applications incur an additional £12 application fee. The UK Passport Agency is currently trialing an online application process - you can apply online at www.passport-application.gov.uk, however online applications are not recommended if you need your application processed quickly.

British passports are valid for 10-years. Contact the passport agency online on 0870 521 0410 or see their website (www.ukpa.gov.uk) for more information.

Applications in the United States

US citizens can apply for a passport at over 4,500 public places that accept passport applications which include courthouses and many post offices. Applications are processed in around six weeks however applications lodged at one of 14 passport offices are processed quicker - usually within two weeks. Passports cost US$60.

If you have more money than time, Passport Express (www.passportexpress.com) can process your application in around a week. An urgent application - processed in one to six business days - costs $245. A seven business day service costs $195.

For more information, contact the US Passport office at (202) 647 0518 or check their website: www.travel.state.gov/
passport_services.html