You might think we’re a little fussy when it comes to passport photos. That’s because we want you to enjoy your holiday!
Passport photos need to meet strict international standards. If we ask you to provide new photos, it’s because the ones you gave us don’t meet these standards. You may have trouble crossing borders if your passport is issued with a sub-standard photo.
Find out more about the photo requirements on our website.
Did you know that the R series passport is packed with iconic Australian landmarks, Indigenous art and native fauna?
Flick through the visa pages to go on a visual journey around Australia. These images of 17 beloved Australian landscapes double as a security feature. Under ultraviolet (UV) light, each image turns into a nightscape and a hidden species of native fauna appears.
Flip open to the middle page to see how Indigenous culture is represented in the passport’s design. The charcoal, ochre and white colours of the centre stitching are drawn from Indigenous artwork. The thread changes colour under UV light to the red, yellow and black of the Aboriginal flag.
Next time you go overseas, you’ll be taking a pocket-sized piece of Australian culture with you!
To find out more about other design and security features, see Australia’s passport.
Your passport is your most important identity document. Treat it with care and keep it free from damage. You can do this by:
Even minor damage or alterations can void your passport and stop you from travelling. It’s important that there’s no:
Find out more about using and protecting your passport and damaged and faulty passports on our website.
Don't leave your passport application to the last minute! Our processing times can fluctuate, particularly in the lead up to peak travel periods.
If you're planning a European summer getaway, make sure you have your passport before booking travel.
You can only apply for a visa with a valid passport, and you should allow a minimum of 6 weeks to receive your passport.
You can apply or renew online.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of a cyber incident affecting some clients of Inspiring Vacations travel agency.
Investigation into the cyber incident has found evidence that some personal information was compromised. This includes a number of Australian passport images.
Inspiring Vacations is investigating the matter to determine the full extent of the cyber-attack.
Affected passports are still safe to use for international travel. Your passport number cannot be used to obtain a new passport. Robust controls are used to protect passports from identity takeover, including sophisticated facial recognition technology. Further information on how your passport may be affected can be found on the APO website.
Protecting against scams and identity theft provides advice on safeguarding your personal information.
Customers can also seek help from IDCare, a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in providing advice and support to the Australian community in responding to identity theft.
Advice on how to protect yourself and your family from cyber security incidents is available on the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) webpage at: www.cyber.gov.au.
