Australian High Commission
Canada
Responsibility for Bermuda

Passports

Australian Passport Services

 

Update: Canada Post Strike - Delivery of Passports

 

The Australian High Commission Ottawa and the Australian Consulates in Toronto and Vancouver, use Canada Post to arrange delivery of new Australian passports by registered mail to clients within Canada.  

Canada post has officially announced a resumption of postal services as of Tuesday 17 December 2024, but will not accept new mail until Thursday 19 December 2024. Please see their website at:  Labour discussion updates | Our company | Canada Post

Passport clients who are not travelling:  we will now mail your new passport using Canada Post registered mail (from 19 December 2024). *Please be aware that postage delivery times may be delayed and/or longer than normal.

Passport clients who are travelling in the near future:  if you are concerned about receiving your passport, please contact the office where you submitted your application, using the details below, to discuss your options:

     Australian High Commission Ottawa: [email protected]

     Australian Consulate-General Toronto: [email protected]

     Australian Consulate Vancouver: [email protected]


Clients can also provide a prepaid self-addressed courier waybill (FedEx, UPS, Purolator, DHL, etc.) by email to the office where your application has been submitted.


We will continue to monitor the situation with Canada Post and will update messaging accordingly.

 

How to obtain a passport in Canada


Step by step instructions:


     1.  Fill out your passport application form online at the Australian Passport Office global website

  • you will need to create an account first

  • once you have completed your application online, you can use letter size paper to print it, however you may need to adjust your printer settings so that the top/bottom of the pages are not cut off
     

     2.  Sign and date your form using Australian date format (DD/MM/YYYY)

  • make sure all sections are signed before your interview. Passport staff cannot witness signatures. Check that there are no alterations to signatures or dates.

  • applications containing overwritten dates or dates in Canada/US date format cannot be accepted
     

     3.  Obtain two (2) new passport photos

     4.  Check whether you can apply by mail or in person 

  •     BY MAIL -

    • Adults eligible to use the one-page PC7 Australian Passport Renewal Application form can now apply by mail. 

    • You do not need to mail your original passport with your PC7 application.

    • To apply by mail, please follow the PC7 Mail Instructions to prepare your application kit. 
       

    • Notice: From 3 January 2023, child renewal applications for children aged 15 or younger can be lodged by mail.

      • First-time passports, passports for children aged 16 and 17 years and applications to replace temporary or emergency passports must continue to be lodged in person by appointment. Please refer to the 'In Person' details below.

      • For child applications accompanied by declarations on B4, B5, B7 or B9 forms (e.g. applications involving surrogacy, Australian court orders or without full parental consent), please check with your lodging office whether an in-person lodgement is required.

      • To apply by mail, please follow the PC8 Mail Instructions to prepare your application kit.
         

  •    IN PERSON - by appointment only

    • Applications can be lodged in person by making an appointment in advance with any passport office in Canada.

    • Clients using the five-page PC8 Application for an Australian Passport Overseas must apply in person

      • *child renewal applications (aged 15 or younger) can be submitted by mail - see above

      • for all other child applications at least one parent must lodge the application in person

      • children aged 16 and 17 years old must attend the interview, together with at least one parent  

      • children aged 15 years and younger are not required to attend

    • Prepare for your interview

      • Review the checklists below for your application, including the requirments for names changes, guarantors and translation of foreign documents.


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

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

  • Do not make any travel plans that cannot be changed before you receive your passport.

  • If you have any questions, including regarding urgent travel, please contact your nearest Passport Office.

 
Quick Links and Application Checklists

1. Australian Passport Renewal Application (form PC7)

2. PC7 Mail Instructions

3. PC8 Child Renewal Instructions

4. Overseas Australian Passport Application (form PC8 – ADULT – age 18 years or older)

5. Overseas Australian Passport Application (form PC8 – CHILD – under age 18 years)   

6. List of Approved Guarantors in Canada

7. Name changes (*client must use form PC8)   

8. Passport & Travel Document Fees

9. Passport Photo Guidelines   

10. Translation of Foreign Documents

11. Dual Nationals

12. Children born overseas

13. Credit card authorization form (downloadable PDF) 
14. Credit card authorization form (web page form to print)

 

Which form should I use? 

Please register online to complete and print your passport application, at the Australian Passport Office global website  .  You will automatically be directed to the correct form.

Your application form does not need to be printed in colour and can be printed in black and white.

The application form online is set at Australian A4 size paper. When printing your application form, you may need to adjust your printer settings to fit the application form for printing on North American Letter-size paper (8.5" x 11") or Legal-size paper (8.5" x 14"). Please pay close attention to ensure that all details are visible on each printed page. 

If you are unable to complete the form online OR if you wish to obtain a printed form to be completed by hand, please contact your nearest Australian diplomatic or consular mission .

The following information below outlines the criteria for each application:

Australian Passport Renewal Application (PC7)

                1. you are an adult (18 years or older), AND

                2. your most recent passport was issued when you were 16 years old, AND

                3. you are not changing your name , AND

                4. your most recent passport is/was valid for over two years at the time of issue, AND

                5. your most recent passport has not been reported lost/stolen, AND

                6. your most recent passport was issued on or after 01/01/2006, AND

                7. you are successfully able to answer the security questions on the website

 

Application for an Australian Passport Overseas (PC8 – Adult or Child)

* if you do not qualify for a renewal form, you must use the Application for an Australian Passport Overseas. This includes the following applicants:

                1. you are applying for a first Australian passport

                2. you are applying for a child passport (under 18 years of age)

                3. you are applying for a first adult passport and your child passport was issued to you at 15 years
                     or younger

                4. you are replacing a lost or stolen passport

                5. you are changing your name or personal details on the passport

                6. you are applying for your first passport after resumption of Australian citizenship

                7. you are applying to replace a limited validity, emergency passport,

                8. you cannot answer the security questions for the renewal form.


Where to lodge your Australian passport application

Adults eligible to use the one-page PC7 Australian Passport Renewal Application form can apply by mail. 

*From 3 January 2023, child renewal applications for children aged 15 or younger can also be lodged by mail. Refer to the details listed above.

All other clients required to use the five-page PC8 Application for an Australian Passport Overseas must to continue to apply in person, by appointment.


Canada: Applicants must arrange a passport appointment  in advance at the Australian High Commission Ottawa, the Australian Consulate-General in Toronto or the Australian Consulate in Vancouver.  You are welcome to arrange the appointment at your nearest location. Appointments are available from Monday to Friday only.


Bermuda: While the Australian High Commission Ottawa has consular jurisdiction for Bermuda, passport applicants residing in Bermuda are welcome to also lodge their passport application at your nearest Australian mission, Australian consulate or Australian embassy, including in the United States .

 

What to bring to your passport appointment

It is important that you bring the correct documents to your passport interview so your application can proceed. All documents must be original. We do not accept copies of any kind, including copies made by a notary public. 


Passport Application Checklists

1. Australian Passport Renewal Application (PC7)

2. Overseas Australian Passport Application (PC8 – ADULT – age 18 years or older)

3. Overseas Australian Passport Application (PC8 – CHILD – under age 18 years)   


Translation of Foreign Documents

Where an original supporting document is in a language other than English, an original English translation is required, by an approved certified translator:

     List of approved provincial organizations in Canada (excluding Quebec)
     List of approved organizations in Quebec
     If you are obtaining the translation in Australia, please contact the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI)

 

Do I need a guarantor? 

If you are lodging the Adult Passport Renewal Application (PC7), your application form and photos do not need to be endorsed by a guarantor.

If you are lodging the Overseas Australian Passport Application (PC8), you will require a guarantor to correctly endorse the back of your photos and to complete section 11 of the application form:

 List of Approved Guarantors in Canada


The following information outlines the required documentation to lodge a passport application – however, you should always review the requirements for your application from the Australian Passport Office . If you have any questions prior to your appointment, please contact the office where you are lodging your application.

 

Australian Passport Photos

Please check your photos! Australian passport photos are different to Canadian passport photos and sometimes can be difficult to obtain. It remains your responsibility to ensure the photos meet the Australian passport photos requirements. It is our experience that photos from local pharmacies and department stores do not normally have a high enough resolution to meet our requirements.

Please provide 2 new passport photos, that are not more than six months old, and that meet the Australian passport photo requirements and Camera Operator Guidelines  . 

Your photographer should also be able to produce: glossy prints at a high resolution; photos without shadows or flash reflection on your face; photos with no ‘red-eye’; and no ‘background-removal’ or ‘post-capture alteration’. Photos cannot be re-touched.

Ask for a digital version of your passport photo as well - this may be emailed to the passport office, if requested, and may assist with photo rejections. 

If you are lodging the Adult Passport Renewal Application (PC7), your photos do not need to be endorsed by a guarantor. Simply print your full name on the back of one of your photos.

If you are lodging the Application for an Australian Passport Overseas (PC8), you will need a guarantor to endorse your photos. Please refer to PC8 applications instructions above.

 

Urgent Travel – Emergency Passport

If you need to travel within the next three weeks, please contact a passport officer where you are lodging your application.  You may be eligible for an Emergency passport. Please note that not everyone is eligible for an Emergency passport and you should discuss this with the passport officer before making any travel plans. Please bring proof of your need to travel to your appointment, such as your original travel itinerary, letter from employer, etc.

Emergency Passport – an application for an emergency passport is normally processed within two (2) business days. The document has four visa pages, the document does not have an electronic chip and the validity will be limited. If you are planning to travel from Canada to Australia via the United States, an emergency passport may not be eligible for entry under the United States Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) . Applicants will need to contact their nearest United States visa office, prior to arranging travel, to enquire about entry to the United States with an emergency passport and to arrange an urgent visa appointment .

It remains your responsibility to ensure your emergency passport is suitable for travel, including transit, to a particular country.  The Australian High Commission cannot assist travellers to obtain a visa or make visa appointments for any foreign countries.

 

Lost or Stolen Passports

To report the loss or theft of your Australian passport, please contact the Australian Passport Information Service (APIS) on 131 232 or if you are overseas, please contact your nearest Australian diplomatic or consular mission .


Travel Document and Passport Fees

Passport fees are set in Canadian dollars and are subject to monthly review in accordance with exchange rate fluctuations.

As of 1 July 2015, an additional Overseas Surcharge will be applied to passport applications lodged outside of Australia. This fee will not apply to emergency passports.

Fees for passport applications lodged in Ottawa, Toronto or Vancouver may be paid by credit card (Visa or MasterCard only). The following credit card authorization form can be printed, completed and signed, if another person wishes to pay for your passport application by credit card only.

Credit card authorization form (downloadable PDF) 
Credit card authorization form (web page form to print)

 

Feedback

If you wish to provide comments on passport services, please complete the online feedback form available on the Australian Passport Office (APO) website .

 

After hours Passport and Consular Assistance

Australian citizens who require urgent consular or passport assistance may contact the Australian High Commission in Ottawa during regular business hours on: +1 613 236 0841. Outside of regular business hours, please contact the 24-Hour Consular Emergency Centre in Australia on: +61 2 6261 3305. Please visit Smartraveller for more information.

 

Disclosure:
Personal information provided to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is protected by law, including the Privacy Act 1988. We may collect, use and disclose your personal information, including to overseas recipients where we reasonably believe it is necessary, to provide you with consular assistance. Important information about the privacy of your personal information is contained in our Consular Privacy Collection Statement, which you should read and understand. Copies of the Statement are available at http://www.dfat.gov.au/dept/consular/privacy.html or by requesting a copy from the Department and/or The Australian High Commission, Ottawa.