How can I stop my child being taken overseas without my consent?
The only way to stop a child being taken overseas is through the Family Law Watchlist (link is external).
If the child is already overseas, contact police or border authorities in that country.
How can I stop my child getting a new passport without my consent?
If you request a child passport alert, we will give special scrutiny to any passport application for the child.
To request an alert, you must have parental responsibility for the child.
A child alert does not guarantee that we will refuse a passport to the child. If we determine that the child is entitled to a passport by law, we will issue a passport even if there is a child alert.
If the child already has an Australian or foreign passport, a child alert will not cancel the passport or stop travel.
The only way to prevent a child from being taken overseas is through the Family Law Watchlist (link is external).
How can I request a child passport alert?
The steps are:
- read all the information on this page about what a child passport alert can and cannot do
- obtain a Child Alert Request form from a passport office (link is external), your nearest Australian diplomatic or consular mission (link is external) or by calling us on 131 232
- complete the form and sign it
- attach a statement to explain why you’re requesting the alert
- attach copies of any court orders relating to the child
- lodge the completed form.
You can lodge your completed form by:
- taking it to a passport office (link is external) or Australian diplomatic or consular mission (link is external);
- mailing it to Passport Operations (PC9), GPO Box 9807, in your capital city; or
- scanning it and emailing it to the passport office in your capital city at:
- adelaide.alerts@dfat.gov.au (link sends e-mail)
- brisbane.alerts@dfat.gov.au (link sends e-mail)
- canberra.alerts@dfat.gov.au (link sends e-mail)
- darwin.alerts@dfat.gov.au (link sends e-mail)
- hobart.alerts@dfat.gov.au (link sends e-mail)
- melbourne.alerts@dfat.gov.au (link sends e-mail)
- perth.alerts@dfat.gov.au (link sends e-mail)
- sydney.alerts@dfat.gov.au (link sends e-mail);
- overseas.alerts@dfat.gov.au (link sends e-mail) (if you are not in Australia).
Remember to include attachments (in pdf or jpg format).
Do child passport alerts expire?
A child passport alert that is not supported by court orders is valid for up to 12 months.
If there is a court order, a child passport alert is valid until the child turns 18 or legally marries, or as directed by the court, whichever comes first.