Australian High Commission
Canada
Responsibility for Bermuda

PC7 Mail Instructions

Instructions to submit a PC7 application by mail
 

Adults using the one-page Australian Passport Renewal Application (Form PC7) can apply by mail. All other clients must apply in person.
 

The steps to apply by mail are:

  • Prepare your application form

  • Prepare your photos

  • Complete your credit card authorization form

  • Complete your cover sheet and delivery information

  • Prepare your application kit (you do not need to mail your original passport).

  • Send your application kit to your passport lodging office

  • You must contact your passport lodging office if you have questions about urgent travel, before mailing your application


Please see the information below for detailed instructions.
 

 

PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION FORM 

  • Go to www.passports.gov.au to create an account and fill out your application online
     

  • Print your completed application (colour or black & white) on Australian A4 or North American Letter-size paper. You may need to adjust your printer settings so that the application fits on Letter-size paper, especially if you use Google Chrome. Look for 'shrink to fit' or 'fit to page' in your print settings
     

  • Compare your printed form with the image onscreen. Check that your printed form shows:

    • a barcode at the top right-hand corner of the printed page that starts with 778

    • the Interviewing Officer Use Only section is showing clearly at the botttom of the printed page, with nothing cut off

    • a black triangle is showing clearly in the bottom left and right-hand corners of the printed page
       

  • Sign and date your printed application at Section 5, using a black pen, making sure:

    • to use Australian date format (DD/MM/YYYY)

    • there are no alterations to your signature or date

    • your signature is fully contained within the white signature box and does not touch the edges of the signature box

    • to sign and date the declaration by hand; digital signatures and typed date will not be accepted.
       

  • You must provide your current residential address on your application form

    • P.O. Box or Business addresses cannot be accepted

    • Please provide a statement on a B11 General Declaration form if you need to have your new passport mailed to an alternate address, and include this with your application kit

 

PREPARE YOUR PHOTOS

  • Obtain 2 passport photos that meet the Australian passport photo standards. Refer to the Australian Passport Office website, including for the camera operator guidelines 

    • photos from pharmacies and department stores tend to be poor quality and are generally not accepted

    • no selfies allowed

    • no background removal

    • photos must be printed on a dye sublimation paper (no inkjet prints)

    • we recommend also obtaining a digital version of the photo (.jpg) from your photoshop, which can later be emailed to our office if requested, as this may assist in correcting photo rejections
       

  • Print your full name on the back of your photo

    • your photos do not need to be endorsed by a guarantor/referee
       

  • Make sure ink from your printed name on the back of the photo doesn't smudge on to the face of the second photo
     

  • Do NOT attach your photos to your form (no clips). Protect your photos in a small envelope

 

COMPLETE YOUR CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION FORM

  • Print a credit card authorization form and complete the details for Visa or MasterCard only. Payment cannot be made by debit card, cash or cheque
     

  • Mark the boxes on the form to authorize payment for Passport Application Fee and Postage Fee (registered mail), plus Emergency Passport Fee, if applicable
     

  • Alert your bank to the upcoming charges. Some transactions are declined because your card is not physically present, particularly if you are out of province. If your transaction is declined, your application may be returned.
     

  • Check our Fees page for current application fees. All fees are charged in Canadian dollars

 

COMPLETE YOUR PC7 COVERSHEET AND DELIVERY INFORMATION 

  • Print a PC7 Coversheet (printable PDF) (HTML) and complete it and include this with your application. Only one PC7 Coversheet is required per family group

  • Please provide a statement on a B11 General Declaration form to request your new passport be sent to a different address (e.g. business address). Passports are sent by Canada Post registered mail and someone must sign on delivery. If you do not include this form your passport will automatically be sent to the residential (home) address you have listed on your application

 

PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION KIT

Your application kit must include:

  • PC7 Coversheet (one per family group)

  • Your completed PC7 application form

  • Two passport photos

  • Credit card authorization form

  • If you have travel booked, a copy of your itinerary

  • A completed B11 General Declaration if you need your passport delivered to an alternate address

  • If the current passport is damaged - a handwritten statement using the B11 General Declaration form explaining how/when/where the passport damaged occured, plus a photocopy of the photo page of the passport

  • *DO NOT mail your original passport with your application.

 

SEND YOUR APPLICATION KIT TO YOUR PASSPORT LODGING OFFICE IN CANADA

  • Find out which passport office accepts mailed-in applications from your province or territory in Canada . Applications sent to the incorrect office will be returned.
     

  • Make sure your envelope is clearly marked to the attention of the Passport Office
     

  • If you are applying for an Emergency Passport for urgent travel, you must contact your passport office before mailing your application.
     

  • You must clearly write 'EMERGENCY PASSPORT'  on the outside of your envelope.
     

  • We recommend you use a mail or courier service that provide a tracking number so you can confirm delivery.

 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

After delivery, allow up to 2 weeks for processing of your application to begin. You will know that we are working on your application once you see the charges appear on your credit card statement.


Monitor your email and your voicemail in case we need to contact you for further information


If your application is complete, it will be forwarded to Australia for further processing and for your passport to be printed.

The Australian Passport Office (APO) advises that you should allow a minimum of 6 weeks to receive a passport, no matter where you apply

  • Note: Standard processing time does not include additional postage delivery time in Canada


If you have questions about urgent travel, please contact the passport office where you have mailed your application.


We will send you an automated email advising your application is complete when we receive your new passport from Australia. Your new passport will be sent to you via Canada Post registered mail, approximately 1-2 business days after it has been received from Australia. Please contact Canada Post directly for information on registered mail delivery times in Canada.


If you are part of a family group your passport will be sent once all the passports are ready and all group members have received their automated message.