Your British passport is running out, but you live in Australia and don’t know if you can even make it back to the UK in order to renew it. Did you know that you can actually renew a UK passport while in Australia? You don’t have to be in the UK to renew your passport, and in this blog post we will show you exactly how to renew it and what you need.
When to renew UK passport in Australia
The best time for UK passport renewal is when it has just less than 6 (six) months before expiration. This is because it can take time for your passport renewal application to go through, and if you have enough time you should be able to solve any issues that arise during the entire process. The chances are that you are in Australia on some form of visa, so early renewal of your passport makes certain that your visa will be left unaffected. If your passport does expire, then your visa could be cancelled.
You will need to renew in good time due to how long it can take for your new passport to come through. Typically, it can take around 3 (three) to 6 (six) weeks for you to receive your new passport, but as you are overseas you should allow a little extra time, so 4 (four) to 7 (seven) weeks. This way you know how long you should leave at a minimum before your passport expires.
How to renew your UK passport in Australia
You might be thinking that applying for passport renewal while in a foreign country might be a little tougher than it normally is. But rest assured, UK passport renewal isn’t any more difficult outside of the UK than it is inside. This is because passport renewal is often seen as an easier process than applying for a new British passport, due to the fact that the government already has the information you provided when you first applied, meaning there will be no interviews to attend or multiple forms of proof required.
In order to renew your British passport you will need to fill out the passport renewal form online on the UK government site, it used to be done by going to a post office in Australia and sending your application off, but thanks to the age we live in it can all be processed online. When you are going through the application you will need a few things to hand:
- Your current passport, so that you can provide your passport number.
- A recently taken passport photo, either as a code or digital for you to upload.
- A way to pay for renewal of your passport.
You may also be required to provide supporting documents, but if you do need to provide them you will be informed near the end of the UK passport renewal process, how to send them, and where to send them to. Once you have sent off the application you will be able to track the progress by receiving texts or emails, or by logging on to the government website and looking at the progress.
Renewing a child’s UK passport in Australia
Renewal of a child’s passport happens a lot more often than with adults, as their passports are only valid for 5 (five) years, compared to 10 (ten) with adults, due to how often and quickly they change. This is why you need to pay extra close attention to the expiry date of a child passport.
The renewal of a child’s passport is very much the same as renewing an adult passport. You need to go to the UK government site for passport renewal and select the overseas option. You will be required to provide:
- The child’s passport, so you can input their passport number.
- A passport photo that meets the requirements for UK digital passport photos, or a digital code.
- A debit or credit card, so that you can pay for the renewal of the passport.
If there are additional documents required you will be informed near the end of the process, as well as how and where to send them. One thing to note is that when you are filling in the UK passport renewal form for a child, you should fill in all of the child’s information, unless it states that it requires yours specifically.
How to renew an expired UK passport in Australia
What happens in the event that you completely forget to renew your British passport in time, or you look at the passport only to see that it has already expired? Luckily, you are still allowed to renew an expired passport as expired passports can be renewed for up to ten years after their expiration date.
The process for renewing an expired British passport is the exact same as the process for renewing a passport that is still valid, as long as it was done within the 10 (ten) year window after expiration. You need to go online to the UK government website, and click through the passport section until you are on the renewal page for overseas applicants. Then you fill in the information it asks of you and provide whatever they require:
- Passport number. Your passport number from your expired passport will help with proof of your citizenship and eligibility for a UK passport.
- Passport photo. A digital photo, or code of a photo taken in a booth or photographers, that was taken within the last 30 (thirty) days to show your current appearance, for identification.
- Credit/Debit card. You will need to pay for passport renewal and a debit or credit card will allow you to pay for this online.
- Additional documents. There may be an occasion where additional documents are required, for further proof of identity. If required you will be told how and where to send them.
- Identity confirmation. Sometimes you will be required to have somebody confirm your identity. If this is the case, you will be informed and it can be done online.
Once all of this has been done you will just have to wait for approval of your renewal application and wait for your new passport to arrive.
Emergency UK passport renewal in Australia
Sometimes a situation crops up that requires you to travel almost immediately, and if this happens and you don’t have a valid passport you might think about applying for renewal and using the fast-track service. The fast-track service is only available if you are in the UK, so you will instead need to apply for an emergency travel document.
An emergency travel document allows you to journey through up to five countries, in an emergency, as long as all of your travel itinerary was shown when applying. The reason for requiring proof of your travel is so that border control can see that they are your true destination when you land. If your travel plans change then you will need to reapply for an emergency travel document.
You can apply for an emergency travel document if:
- You are a UK citizen living abroad, in this case living in Australia.
- Your passport has been lost or stolen.
- Your passport is damaged, full or expired.
- The emergency situation leaves you with no time to renew through normal channels.
- You provide proof of your travel itinerary.
In the situation where your passport is lost or stolen, you need to report it lost or stolen to the UK passport office, either online or by getting in touch with your embassy or consulate in Australia. This way the passport will be cancelled and you will be free to apply for a new one once your emergency travel is over and you are back in Australia to fill in the online application form. If you have applied for the emergency travel document before reporting your passport lost or stolen, then you will be reporting it as part of your application for the document.
UK passport renewal costs in Australia
As we stated above you will need a credit or debit card as part of the passport renewal process, as you will need to pay in order to renew your British passport. The cost will be different depending on whether you are renewing an adult’s or child’s passport, although there is a courier fee that will be the same for either passport application.
The costs for passport renewal are as follows:
- Adult passport – £86
- Child passport – £56
- Courier fee – £19.86
As you can see, the prices are in GBP, as these are how the prices are listed on the UK website. If you need to check how much it will cost in Australian dollars you should look at the currency exchange rates on the day you pay, if the website doesn’t show you once you go to pay. This is because exchange rates can fluctuate, so how much it is in AUD at the time of writing this blog can be different than at the time you are reading and/or applying.
UK passport renewal in Australia with Passport Photo Online
When renewing your UK passport in Australia, one of the most important parts of the process is getting a new passport photo. Passport photos for a British passport need to have been taken within the last month, no older than 30 (thirty) days old. This is because the passport photo has to show your current appearance. Being in Australia it might be a challenge to get a passport photo that meets the UK passport office requirements. So we have a solution for you, Passport-Photo.online.
Passport-Photo.Online is an application that enables you to take a passport photo yourself, anywhere you want. You can select what document you need a photo for, in this case a UK passport, and the app will use its advanced AI algorithm to determine whether or not the photo is correct, and make any necessary changes. The app has three main tasks:
- Background correction. It will change the background into the correct colour.
- Resizing and cropping. It will change the photo into the correct size and crop.
- Verification. It can verify whether or not the photo is correct.
Thanks to the verification system you will know if your photo will be accepted, as if the app says it will be, then it will be. You can download the app for both Android and iOS. To get a stunning passport photo from an app that is 100% safe and secure, download it by visiting the Google Play Store, or the Apple App Store.
Renewing a UK passport in Australia: summary
Passport renewal for UK citizens living in Australia is all done online, meaning you don’t have to leave your own home. If you are an adult filling in the passport application then you need to fill it in with your own information, but if you are applying for renewal of your child’s passport then their information must be filled in. Once you have filled in the application form, and paid, there will be a waiting time of around four to seven weeks, although that can change. You can track the progress of your application through email, text, or by logging on to the government website.
UK passport renewal in Australia: FAQ
How do you renew your UK passport in Australia?
– your current or expired passport so that you can provide the passport number,
– a digital passport photo that meets the requirements or a digital code for one,
– a credit or debit card in order to pay for the renewal.
How much does it cost to renew a UK passport in Australia?
How do I renew a child's UK passport from Australia?
Can you renew a UK passport in Australia?
Can I renew an expired UK passport in Australia?
How long does it take to renew a UK passport from Australia?
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Simon Wojtyczka is a writer with experience living and working in 7 countries, each adding depth to his work. Holding a Master’s in Applied Linguistics, he has a profound grasp of language and its intricate ties to culture.
