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The history of the Australian passport is a long and complex one, with many changes over the years. Before 1901, Australia was made up of six separate British colonies, and as such, Australian citizens travelled using British passports. In 1912, the first federal passport regulations were introduced, and passports issued by the Australian government still bore the words British Passport on the cover until 1967. During World War I, monitoring and identifying those crossing international borders became critical, and in 1917, Australia introduced its 'X' series passport. It wasn't until 1949 that the term Australian citizen was first used in legislation, with the passing of the Nationality and Citizenship Act, and in 1950, Australian passports began to distinguish between Australian citizens and other British subjects. Since then, Australian passports have undergone many changes, including the introduction of biometric ePassports in 2005 and the ''R' series passports in 2022, featuring artwork by Indigenous artists.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First federal passport regulations | 3 September 1912 |
| Mandatory passport system introduced | 1915 |
| 'X' series passport introduced | 1917 |
| 'A' series passport introduced | 1920 |
| 'A' series passport cover redesign | 1937 |
| Passport Act | 1938 |
| Nationality and Citizenship Act | 1948 |
| Australian citizenship recognised in legislation | 26 January 1949 |
| 'B' and 'C' series passports replaced by 'E' series | 1950 |
| 'British Passport' removed from cover | 1967 |
| 'M' series ePassport introduced | October 2005 |
| 'N' series ePassport introduced | May 2009 |
| 'P' series passport introduced | June 2014 |
| 'R' series passport introduced | September 2022 |
| Passport cost | AUD$412 as of 1 January 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
The first Australian passports
The history of the Australian passport is a long and intriguing one, with many changes over the years. Before 1901, Australia was made up of six separate British colonies, and as such, Australian citizens used British passports for international travel.
In 1912, the first federal passport regulations were introduced, but it was not until 1917 that Australia introduced its first series of passports, the 'X' series. These were followed by the ''A' series in 1920, which featured the word 'Australia' and the Commonwealth Coat of Arms on the cover. Despite this, until 1967, Australian passports still bore the words "British Passport" on the cover, reflecting the country's history as British colonies.
During World War I, the monitoring and identification of those crossing international borders became critical to Australia's security, and in 1914, the War Precautions Act mandated that all persons over 16 years of age leaving Australia possess a passport. In 1948, the Nationality and Citizenship Act was passed, and in 1949, the term "Australian citizen" was used for the first time in Australian legislation. This Act came into force on 26 January 1950, marking the birth of Australian nationality and the beginning of a distinction between Australian citizens and other British subjects in passports.
The evolution of the Australian passport has been influenced by various factors, including the country's emerging sense of national identity, its diverse multicultural society, and changing attitudes towards gender and Indigenous Australians. Today, the Australian Passport Office, an agency of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, issues passports to Australian citizens worldwide.
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The removal of British Passport from the cover
The evolution of the Australian passport has been influenced by several factors, including the country's emerging sense of national identity, its diverse multicultural society, and shifting attitudes towards gender, families, and Indigenous Australians. International security concerns have also played a significant role.
In 1901, the six British colonies in Australia joined to form the Commonwealth of Australia, yet Australians retained their British nationality. Passport usage was uncommon, and those who needed one used British or other national passports. During World War I, the monitoring and identification of individuals crossing international borders became critical to Australia's security, and the War Precautions Act 1914 mandated that all individuals over 16 years of age possess a passport when leaving the country.
The first federal passport regulations were introduced in 1912, and passports issued by the Australian government bore the words "British Passport" on the cover until 1967. In 1920, the 'A' series passport was introduced, featuring the word 'Australia' and the Commonwealth Coat of Arms on the cover. However, in 1937, the 'A' series passport design was modified to include the words 'British Passport Commonwealth of Australia' and the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.
In 1948, the Nationality and Citizenship Act was passed, and Australian nationality came into existence on 26 January 1950 when the act came into force. This act distinguished between Australian citizens and other British subjects, and the term "British subject" took on a specific meaning in Australian nationality law. Despite this, British subjects who were not Australian citizens could still obtain an Australian passport.
It was only in 1967 that the words "British Passport" were removed from the covers of Australian passports, marking a shift in the country's relationship with Britain. Since then, Australian passports have continued to evolve, incorporating new security features and reflecting the country's changing social landscape. Today, the Australian Passport Office strives to stay at the forefront of passport technology, security, and customer service, and it has introduced biometric passports and enhanced security measures to ensure the integrity of Australian travel documents.
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Australian passport regulations
The first Australian federal passport regulations were introduced in 1912, and a mandatory passport system was introduced three years later, in 1915. During World War I, the monitoring and identification of those crossing international borders were considered critical to Australia and its allies' security.
The Australian Passport Office (APO) of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issues Australian passports to Australian citizens in Australia and overseas. Australian citizens can apply for passports at most Australia Post outlets due to a partnership between APO and Australia Post. The APO is committed to providing a secure, efficient, and responsive passport service.
Australian passports are issued as evidence of identity and citizenship by Australian citizens who travel internationally. They are also used to facilitate access to consular assistance from Australian embassies worldwide. As of July 2024, Australian citizens could access 188 countries and territories visa-free or with a visa on arrival, ranking the passport eighth in the world for travel freedom.
Australian passports have undergone several changes over the years, with the latest 'R' series passports introduced in September 2022, featuring artwork by Indigenous artists and enhanced security measures. The APO has developed new technology and processes to improve its passport products and services, including biometric passports or ePassports, which have been issued since 2005.
In terms of passport regulations, Australian citizens are not required to renew their passports before they expire. However, a valid passport is needed to travel to Australia. The APO also provides emergency passports for urgent travel needs. When applying for a passport, certain requirements, such as photographs, must be met. Repeated loss or theft of a passport may result in a Reduced Validity Passport, and the Australian government shares information on lost and stolen passports with some countries and Interpol.
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Australian passport issuance and citizenship
An Australian passport is a travel document issued by the Commonwealth of Australia to individuals holding any form of Australian nationality. The document facilitates access to consular assistance from Australian embassies around the world. As of July 2024, Australian citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 188 countries and territories, ranking the passport eighth in the world for travel freedom.
The first federal passport regulations in Australia were introduced on 3 September 1912. However, it was not until 1917 that the ''X' series passport, one of Australia's earliest, was introduced. In 1920, the 'A' series passport was introduced, with the word 'Australia' and the Commonwealth Coat of Arms on the cover. In 1937, the 'A' series passport cover was redesigned to carry the words 'British Passport Commonwealth of Australia' and the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. It was only in 1967 that the words "British Passport" were removed from the covers of Australian passports. During World War I, the monitoring and identifying of those crossing international borders was deemed critical to Australia's security, and the War Precautions Act 1914 required all persons over 16 years of age to possess some passport when leaving the country.
Australian nationality came into existence on 26 January 1950, when the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 came into force. This was the first time that the term 'Australian citizen' was used in any Australian legislation, including the Australian Constitution. The Act has been amended more than 30 times since 1948, and it is still the basis for how a person becomes an Australian citizen. In 1984, the Act was amended to ensure that Australian citizens were no longer considered British subjects.
The Australian Passport Office (APO) of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for issuing Australian passports to citizens in Australia and overseas under the Australian Passports Act 2005 and related laws. Since 1983, APO has partnered with Australia Post to enable citizens to apply for passports at most Australia Post outlets. Australia Post provides a nationwide passport service on behalf of APO, distributing application forms, receiving applications and renewal applications, and interviewing applicants.
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The evolution of Australian passport technology
In the early decades of the 20th century, Australia's passport system underwent several changes. The ''X' series passport, one of the country's earliest, was introduced in 1917. This was followed by the 'A' series passport in 1920, which featured the word 'Australia' and the Commonwealth Coat of Arms on its cover. The 'A' series underwent a redesign in 1937 to include the words 'British Passport Commonwealth of Australia'.
The Passport Act, promulgated in 1938, restricted passport issuance to British subjects only. However, the concept of Australian citizenship emerged with the enactment of the Nationality and Citizenship Act in 1948, becoming law in 1949, and further reinforced by the Australian Citizenship Act in 1973. This significant development led to the introduction of the 'E' series passport in 1950, which replaced the previous 'B' and 'C' series, distinguishing between Australian citizens and other British subjects.
Over time, Australia's sense of national identity and changing societal attitudes influenced the evolution of its passport. In 1967, the words "British Passport" were removed from the covers of Australian passports, marking a shift in the country's relationship with Britain. The Australian Passport Office (APO), established in 1983, has played a pivotal role in driving passport technology and security advancements.
In October 2005, Australia introduced biometric passports or ePassports, featuring an embedded microchip with the holder's biographical and personal data. This innovation positioned Australia at the forefront of passport technology. The 'R' series passports, launched in September 2022, showcase Indigenous artwork and incorporate advanced security features, including a layered plastic photo page and unique Australian landscape designs on each visa page.
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Frequently asked questions
The first federal passport regulations in Australia were introduced in 1912, but the passports still bore the words
The words "British Passport" were removed from the covers of Australian passports in 1967.
In 1984, the Australian Citizenship Act was amended so that Australian citizens would no longer be considered British subjects.
