Ruqayyah Snyder
If you are an Australian citizen, you can apply for a passport online or in person at a participating Australia Post outlet, or at your nearest overseas Australian diplomatic mission or consulate if overseas. If you are not an Australian citizen, you may be eligible for a Convention Travel Document (CTD) or a Certificate of Identity (COI). CTDs and COIs are machine-readable (biometric) travel documents that meet internationally agreed standards. To apply for a CTD or COI, you must complete a hardcopy PC5 Form and lodge your application at a State or Territory Passport Office (STO).
How to apply for a travel document in Australia
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can apply? | Australian citizens and non-citizens |
| Types of documents | Convention Travel Document (CTD), Certificate of Identity (COI), Limited Validity Passport (LVP), Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) |
| Validity | CTDs and COI are usually valid for one or two years |
| Where to apply? | State or Territory Passport Office (STO) |
| Application form | Online application or hardcopy PC5 Form |
| Additional requirements | Visa, travel insurance, passport photos |
| Processing time | Minimum of six weeks |
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What You'll Learn
Application process for Australian citizens
Australian citizens can apply for a passport or a travel document. Australian passports are issued to adults and children, with a maximum validity of 10 years for adults and 5 years for children.
Passport Application Process:
To apply for a passport, you can complete the application online and then print and lodge it at a participating Australia Post outlet or an Australian diplomatic mission or consulate if overseas. You can also request a hardcopy application form from these outlets. If you are in Australia and have urgent passport application requirements, you can book an appointment at a State or Territory Passport Office (STO).
Travel Document Application Process:
If you are an Australian citizen overseas and need to cross a border to reach an Australian Embassy, you may be issued a temporary travel document. This is known as a Pre-Travel Document (PTD). PTDs do not include a passport chip, so a visa may be required even when Australian citizens can usually travel visa-free.
If you are applying for a Convention Travel Document (CTD) or Certificate of Identity (COI), you must complete a hardcopy form and lodge your application at a State or Territory Passport Office (STO). These documents are usually valid for one or two years.
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Application process for non-citizens
Non-citizens of Australia can apply for travel documents, but they must be in Australia at the time of application and cannot have never held a travel document before. The Australian government issues two types of travel documents to non-citizens: Convention Travel Documents (CTDs) and Certificates of Identity (COIs). These documents are accepted in fewer overseas countries than CTDs and do not confer citizenship, consular protection, or the right to re-enter or remain in Australia.
To apply for a CTD or COI, you must first call the Australian Passport Office Contact Centre (APOCC) to obtain a hardcopy PC5 Form. You cannot apply for these documents online. Once you have filled out the form, you must call APOCC again to book an appointment to lodge your application at a State or Territory Passport Office (STO) in a capital city. You will need to bring the completed form and any other required documents to this appointment in person.
The only way to obtain an application form is to call 131 232 and select option zero to be connected with an operator. You will need to lodge a Change in Situation request with the Department of Home Affairs and wait for the outcome before lodging your CTD or COI application.
CTDs are typically valid for one or two years, while COIs are valid for two years. If you return to your home country and become eligible for a travel document from that country, your COI becomes invalid immediately.
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What to do if you encounter issues with the online application
If you encounter issues with the online application for an Australian travel document, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot and complete your application. Here's what you can do:
- Try again later: Sometimes, the issue may be temporary or due to a glitch. Trying again later to access the online application service, AusPassport, may resolve the issue.
- Contact the Australian Passport Office for assistance: If the problem persists, don't hesitate to contact the Australian Passport Office for help. They can provide guidance and support to resolve any issues you're facing. You can find their contact information on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
- Check your eligibility: Ensure that you meet the requirements for the specific travel document you're applying for. For instance, if you're applying for a Convention Travel Document (CTD) or Certificate of Identity (COI), you must already have held one of these documents previously if you're outside of Australia.
- Gather necessary documents: Ensure that you have all the required documents before submitting your application. For CTD or COI applications, you may need to provide proof that you cannot obtain a travel document from your country of nationality, such as a letter from your country's embassy. You may also need to lodge a Change in Situation request with the Department of Home Affairs before submitting your CTD or COI application.
- Complete the application form: For CTD or COI applications, you must complete a hardcopy PC5 Form, as there is currently no online application option for these documents. You can obtain this form by calling the Australian Passport Office Contact Centre (APOCC) or contacting your nearest Australian diplomatic or consular office if you're overseas.
- Submit your application: Once you have completed the form and gathered all necessary documents, submit your application at a State or Territory Passport Office (STO) in Australia or an Australian diplomatic mission or consulate if you're overseas.
Remember to carefully review the requirements and instructions for the specific travel document you're applying for, as the process may vary slightly depending on your circumstances.
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How to obtain the necessary forms
To obtain the necessary forms for a travel document in Australia, you must first determine which type of document you require. The two main types of travel documents issued to non-citizens in Australia are Convention Travel Documents (CTDs) and Certificates of Identity (COIs). CTDs and COIs are machine-readable (biometric) travel documents that meet internationally agreed standards. They are not evidence of a right to re-enter or remain in Australia and do not confer citizenship or consular protection.
The only way to obtain an application form is to call the Australian Passport Office Contact Centre (APOCC) at 131 232 and select option 0 to be connected with an operator. You will then be instructed on how to obtain the PC5 form, which is the approved hardcopy form for CTDs and COIs. In Australia, you can also request a hardcopy passport application form from accredited Australia Post outlets.
Once you have completed the form, you will need to call the APOCC again to book an appointment to lodge your application at a State or Territory Passport Office (STO) in a capital city. You will need to bring the completed form and any other required documents, such as proof of identity and travel plans. Applications for CTDs and COIs must be lodged in person, and you may be eligible for an interview waiver under certain circumstances.
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Where to lodge the application
To lodge your application for a travel document in Australia, you must be physically in Australia. You can complete a passport application online, then print and lodge it at one of the participating Australia Post outlets across Australia or at their nearest overseas Australian diplomatic mission or consulate if overseas. In Australia, hardcopy passport application forms are available on request from Australia Post outlets that are accredited to offer passport services. Overseas, hardcopy forms are only available on request from an overseas post.
Each Australian State and Territory capital city also has a Passport Office (STO), where urgent passport applications can be lodged in compelling or compassionate circumstances. Customers can book an appointment to lodge at an STO through the Australian Passport Office Contact Centre (APOCC).
If you are applying for a Convention Travel Document (CTD) or a Certificate of Identity (COI), you must lodge your application at a State or Territory Passport Office (STO). Australia Post outlets do not accept CTD and COI applications. You must call the APOCC to book an appointment to lodge your application.
If you are applying for a CTD or COI, the only way to get an application form is to call 131 232. Select option zero to be connected with an operator. Once you have filled in the form and have all the required documents, you will need to call 131 232 again to make an appointment to lodge your application at a capital city passport office.
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Frequently asked questions
A travel document is a form of identification that allows you to travel overseas. It can be a passport, a Convention Travel Document (CTD), or a Certificate of Identity (COI).
If you are an Australian citizen, you can apply for a passport online or in person at a participating Australia Post outlet or Passport Office. If you are not an Australian citizen, you may be eligible for a CTD or COI, which you can apply for by calling the Australian Passport Office Contact Centre (APOCC) to obtain the necessary forms and book an appointment.
Both are machine-readable biometric travel documents that meet internationally agreed standards. However, COIs are accepted in fewer countries than CTDs, and COIs do not confer any right to re-enter or remain in Australia.
CTDs are typically valid for one or two years, while COIs are usually valid for two years.
If you are an Australian citizen, you may be able to obtain a Limited Validity Passport (LVP) with a maximum validity of one year. If you are not an Australian citizen, you may be able to obtain an emergency travel document from an Australian diplomatic mission or consulate if you are overseas.
