Lexi Webster
Applying for an Australian passport in the USA is a straightforward process. You can apply for an Australian passport in the USA by mail or in person. To apply by mail, you need to follow the PC7 MAIL INSTRUCTIONS to prepare your mail application kit. To apply in person, you need to make an appointment online with any passport office. You can also apply online by visiting the Australian diplomatic or consular mission's website for local advice on lodging your application. The process is simple, and you can get started on the official website.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Application method | By mail or in person |
| Application form | PC7 Australian Passport Renewal Application form or Application for an Australian Passport Overseas (PC8) |
| Number of photos | 2 |
| Photo requirements | Less than six months old; must comply with photo guidelines |
| Additional documents | Original documents requested on the application form; court orders and additional passport forms to establish parental responsibility (if applicable) |
| Guarantor | Required unless qualifying for passport renewal |
| Payment | Visa, MasterCard or Discover card (some offices also accept other payment cards) |
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What You'll Learn
Application forms and requirements
When applying for an Australian passport in the USA, there are different application forms and requirements depending on whether you are an adult or a child, and whether you are renewing your passport or applying for the first time.
Adult Passport Renewal
Adults renewing their Australian passport can use the one-page PC7 Australian Passport Renewal Application form. This can be applied for by mail, following the PC7 mail instructions to prepare your application kit. The PC7 renewal application form is currently displaying an expiration date of three years after your passport expiration due to a technical issue. However, you may still apply using this form if you meet the other criteria.
Adult First-Time Application
If you are applying for your first Australian passport, you must use the five-page PC8 Application for an Australian Passport Overseas form. This form must be lodged in person by making an appointment online with any passport office.
Child Passport Renewal
Most child renewal applications for children aged 15 years and younger can be lodged by mail. The same PC7 form can be used as for adult renewals.
Child First-Time Application
If you are applying for a child's first passport (under 18 years of age), you must use the PC8 Application for an Australian Passport Overseas form. This form must be lodged in person. When lodging child applications in person, it does not matter whether the parent is an Australian citizen.
General Requirements
Regardless of age, all applications must include two passport-sized photos that comply with the photo guidelines. These photos must be less than six months old. When lodging the application, you must bring the original documents requested on the application form. Unless you qualify for a passport renewal, you will also need a guarantor. This guarantor must be an Australian citizen with a current Australian passport with at least two years of validity or a person of any nationality employed in an approved occupational group.
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Passport photos
To apply for an Australian passport in the USA, you will need to submit passport photos with your application. Here are the requirements and guidelines for these photos:
Firstly, it is recommended that you get your passport photos taken by a professional passport photo provider. This can include post offices, professional photographers, large chain stores with printing facilities, camera stores, some pharmacies and chemists, and other reputable businesses. It is advised that you avoid using online passport photo services or mobile apps due to the risk of identity fraud.
The photos must meet the following specifications:
- Two identical, good-quality colour prints, less than six months old, produced using dye sublimation (not an inkjet printer).
- No retouching or editing of the photo, including the removal of backgrounds, moles, wrinkles, or scars.
- Uniform lighting with no shadows or reflections, and appropriate brightness and contrast to show natural skin tone.
- The face must be centred and looking straight at the camera, not tilted in any direction.
- The photos should be 35mm to 40mm wide and 45mm to 50mm high.
- The size of the face from chin to crown can be a maximum of 36mm and a minimum of 32mm.
- If you regularly wear a head covering for religious reasons, you can keep it on for the photo. However, the covering must be plain and without patterns, and it should not obscure your face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, including the sides of your face.
- Jewellery should not obscure any part of your face, especially the eyes, mouth, and nose.
- Glasses are not permitted in the photo. If you cannot remove them for medical reasons, ensure the frames do not obscure your eyes, and there should be no reflections from the lenses.
- The photos should be printed on photo-quality paper.
When submitting your application, provide all three photos at your interview: the original photo signed by the guarantor and the two new photos you obtained before the interview. If you are using the one-page Australian Passport Renewal Application form (PC7), no additional steps are necessary as no guarantor is required.
It is also recommended to keep a digital copy of your photo, such as a JPEG file, in case the printed photo is damaged or has imperfections.
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In-person applications
To apply for an Australian passport in the USA, you will need to visit an Australian Consulate-General office in person. The office you need to visit depends on the state you are applying from.
Australian Consulate-General Offices in the USA
- Passport Office Australian Consulate-General, 575 Market Street, Suite 1800, San Francisco, CA 94105. This office accepts applications from Alabama, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Guam, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
- Passport Office Australian Consulate-General, Penthouse, 1000 Bishop St, Honolulu, HI 96813. This office accepts applications from Hawaii.
- Passport Office Australian Consulate-General, 3009 Post Oak Blvd, Suite 1310, Houston, TX 77056. This office accepts applications from Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
- Passport Office Australian Consulate-General, 2029 Century Park East, Suite 3150, Los Angeles, CA 90067. This office accepts applications from Alaska, Arizona, Southern California, Colorado, New Mexico, Southern Nevada (Las Vegas and Clark County only), Utah, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
Booking an Appointment
Appointments are released on Fridays, two weeks prior to the availability of appointment dates and times. New appointments are opened on Mondays at 9 am (Houston time). You can book appointments up to two months in advance.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
You will need to bring your completed application form, passport photos, and the original documents requested on the application form. If you are applying for a child aged 16 or 17, the child must come with you to your appointment.
Application Forms
You can request a pre-filled application form from your closest Australian diplomatic or consular mission. If you are using the Application for an Australian Passport Overseas (PC8) form, you must provide a guarantor. The guarantor must be either an Australian citizen with a current Australian passport with at least two years of validity or a person of any nationality employed in an approved occupational group. If you do not know anyone in the USA who can be your guarantor, you can obtain a guarantor from your previous country of residence.
Photo Requirements
All applications must include two passport-sized photos that comply with the Australian passport photo guidelines.
Processing Time
You should allow a minimum of six weeks to receive your passport after lodging your application. If you need your passport sooner, you can apply for an emergency passport, which can generally be issued in about two business days.
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Mail applications
If you are an adult applying for an Australian passport in the USA, you can use the one-page PC7 Australian Passport Renewal Application form to apply by mail. Refer to the PC7 mail instructions for how to prepare your application kit. You will need to bring the following items to your passport interview: your most recent passport, your completed application form, a Visa, MasterCard or Discover card for payment (some offices also accept other payment cards), and two passport photos less than six months old.
Most child renewal applications for children aged 15 years and younger can also be lodged by mail. Refer to the Child Renewal Mail Instructions to see if you are eligible and to prepare your mail application kit.
Please note that the PC7 renewal application forms are currently displaying an expiration date of 3 years after your passport expiration due to a technical issue. You may still apply using these forms if you meet all other criteria for a PC7 renewal application.
If you do not qualify for the renewal form, you must use the Application for an Australian Passport Overseas (PC8). This includes first-time applicants, applicants replacing a limited validity, emergency, or temporary passport, applicants under 18 years of age, and applicants whose child passport was issued to them when they were 15 years or younger. These applications must be lodged in person.
When lodging applications in person, it does not matter whether the parent is an Australian citizen. You will need to lodge your completed application at an Australian diplomatic or consular mission. Visit the Australian diplomatic or consular mission's website for local advice on lodging your application, including if you need to make an appointment. You must bring your completed application form, your passport photos, and the original documents requested on the application form.
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Application fees
The application fees for an Australian passport in the USA vary depending on the date and location of processing and can be paid in Australian or US dollars. All offices accept payment by Visa and Mastercard (credit or debit card). However, cash and cheques are not accepted at any office.
If you are applying in person, you will need to pay both an application fee and an acceptance fee. The application fee is paid to the US Department of State, while the acceptance fee is paid to the facility that takes your application. The total payable to the Department of State is $21.36, which includes the cost of delivering a new passport book.
If you are applying by mail, you can pay the fee online via the US government's secure payment site. After paying, you must print the electronic payment confirmation and include it in the package you submit. The fees for mail-in applications are different from those for in-person applications.
You can also have someone else pay on your behalf. If they are not present at your interview, they will need to complete and sign a Credit Card Authorisation Form, which you must present at the interview. Alternatively, you can purchase a prepaid Visa or Mastercard from many stores in the United States, including pharmacies, and use it to pay the fees.
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Frequently asked questions
You can apply for an Australian passport in the USA by mail or in person. To apply by mail, follow the PC7 MAIL INSTRUCTIONS to prepare your mail application kit. To apply in person, make an appointment online with any Australian passport office in the USA.
You must obtain two photos that meet Australian passport standards. Photos must be printed on a dye-sublimation printer (no inkjet prints) and cannot be selfies. See the website for a list of approved photographer locations.
You will need to bring your completed application form, passport photos, and the original documents requested on the application form.
Check the Fees page for current application fees and the type of payment cards accepted by your lodging office. You can also mark the boxes to authorise payment for Application Fees and the FedEx Fee on your application form.
Allow up to 6 weeks from the time your application fees are receipted to receive your new passport. You will receive an automated email when your application is complete, and your passport will be delivered via FedEx 1-2 working days afterward.
