Australian passport applications by mail (PC7 only)

Eligibility

To submit your application to renew your Australian passport by registered mail, you must be 18 years and over and need a passport that:

• was issued when you were aged 16 or older
• was issued on or after 1 January 2006
• had, when it was issued, at least two years’ validity
• has your current name, date of birth, place of birth and gender, and
• has not been reported lost, stolen, or cancelled.

If you don’t meet these criteria, you’ll need to book an appointment to lodge your application in person.

Documents

You must provide the following:

1. A completed renewal application form (Login or create an AusPassport account. You will be automatically directed to the correct form by answering the questions), dated within six months of lodgement, checking that:
   1. Section 5 of the form is signed and dated
   2. Your signature is kept inside the white box with no alterations or ‘whiteout’ on the signature or the date
   3. Your application form is valid, make sure your review the expiration date at the top of form
   4. Your form is printed correctly with no sections missing or cut-off
   5. Your place of birth is exactly the same as your previous passport
   6. You have provided your phone number and email address
       
2. Two recent and identical Australian standard passport photos, less than six months old, with your full name written on the back of one photo
   1. Please refer to our photo guidelines
   2. Do not attach the photos to the form, leave them loose in the envelope. Do not use staples, paper clips or anything else that may damage your photos.
   3. We recommend you ask the photographer to also provide you with a digital version (jpeg) of your photo.  We will advise if the quality of your paper photo is not suitable and ask you to email the digital version to us.  Do not automatically email the digital version unless you are asked by the embassy.
       
3. A photocopy of the biodata page of your most recent passport (this does not need to be certified. Do NOT copy every page of your passport). The photocopy should be on A4 paper, please do not cut to size.
    

Signatures

It is very important that your signature is included on your application in strict accordance with the guidelines. 

Your entire signature must be kept inside the white box provided on the form. If not, we can't process your form and your application will be delayed. 

Your signature must be dated within six months of lodgement and must be in BLACK INK. If not, we can't process your form and your application will be delayed. 

Do not alter your signature or the date. Do NOT use white out on your signature or the date. If there are errors on your application or it was dated more than six months before lodgement, you will need to reprint the form - taking care to sign and date it appropriately. 

Processing

It takes approximately six weeks to process your passport after successful lodgement. Your passport remains valid while the application is being processed and will be cancelled electronically 30 days after we have sent out your new passport. 

Incomplete applications cannot be processed and will be returned to you, further delaying the process. If you have travel plans, you may wish to consider lodging the application in person. 

Submission

When you’ve completed your application, send your application and photos (please do not send your passport) by registered mail to: 

Australian Embassy
Passport Office
Av. da Liberdade, 200-2
1250-147  Lisboa

Payment details

Once the Embassy receives your application, the passport's officer will verify if the application is fully completed. If fully completed, the passport's officer will telephone you, to proceed with the passport payment details. 

Review the passport fees for your application. All passport applications lodged overseas incur an additional overseas fee.

Common passport application errors

To avoid that your application form will be returned to you, please ensure that your application form does not contain any of the following errors before sending it to us:

• the signature was done using a blue or other colored pen (please only use black ink)

• the signature exceeds the borders of the box

• the signature or photos are older than 6 months

• the signature was done electronically or altered (e.g. using white-out)

• the form was not dated (below your signature)

• you forgot to write your name on the back of one photo

• the address on the application form is not a valid address (passports can only be sent out within Portugal or other accredited countries)

• the photos don’t comply with the photo guidelines (e.g. applicant wears glasses, the lighting is uneven, the photopaper isn't glossy, has scratches/ink marks etc.)

• the photos are attached to the form using sticky tape/staples (they will be attached at the Embassy). We recommend you ask the photographer to also provide you with a digital version (jpeg) of your photo.  We will advise if the quality of your paper photo is not suitable and ask you to email the digital version to us.  Do not automatically email the digital version unless you are asked by the embassy.

• the barcode on the top right corner of the form hasn't been printed properly, the page is cut off on the top/bottom or does not fit the whole A4 paper correctly

• if you are over 75 years old, you forgot to state if you want a 5-year senior or 10-year normal passport