Australian Passport Renewal 2026: Cost, Timeline and Step by Step

An adult Australian passport costs $422 for 10 years, a child’s passport (under 16) costs $213 for 5 years, and standard processing takes up to 6 weeks from lodging to delivery. Those are the fees for applications lodged on or after 1 January 2026, and they are the same whether you are renewing or applying for the first time. If your passport meets the conditions, you can renew online without visiting a post office. Priority processing adds $308 and Fast Track adds $107, but both are only for eligible customers with an urgent need. This guide covers fees, timelines, who can renew online, the paper process, photos, urgent options and the mistakes that cause delays.

Australian passport fees in 2026

These are the fees for applications lodged in Australia on or after 1 January 2026. There is no GST on passport fees. Applications lodged from overseas pay an overseas surcharge on top ($189 for an adult passport and $92 for a child passport).

Fees are reviewed every year and usually take effect on 1 January, so the amount you pay depends on the date you lodge. Our figures come from the Australian Passport Office fee schedule as summarised by independent sources (listed at the bottom), because the official fee page could not be opened by our research tools. Confirm the final amount on the official passports.gov.au fees page before you pay.

Free tool: passport cost and lodge-by date

Pick the passport type, the service speed and your travel date. The tool adds up the fee and works out the latest date you should lodge using the official timeframes. Fast Track and Priority timings follow the Australian Passport Office processing times page.

How long does an Australian passport take?

The Australian Passport Office says to allow at least 6 weeks from lodging your application to getting your passport. The stages below are official maximums, and the timeframes exclude postage and delivery times where noted. Complex cases, such as a child’s application without full parental consent, take longer.

Peak periods such as the lead-up to Christmas and the school holidays can be slower, so do not plan around the minimum. A good rule is to start renewing when your passport has about 9 to 12 months left, which also covers countries that require 6 months of validity on arrival.

Can you renew your passport online?

Online renewal is the fastest and simplest route when you qualify. According to the Australian Passport Office, you can renew online if your passport:

• was issued when you were 18 or older,
• shows your current name, date of birth, place of birth and gender,
• has not been lost, stolen or cancelled in the past 5 years,
• expired less than 3 years ago or expires within 2 years, and
• was issued with at least 2 years of validity.

You must also be renewing an adult Australian passport, be in Australia, apply for yourself and not need the passport within 2 days. If you do not qualify, you use the standard renewal process at a participating post office.

Free tool: am I eligible to renew online?

How to renew your passport online, step by step

1. Get your photo first. Have a passport photo taken by a provider such as an ID Station or Australia Post outlet, and keep the photo code you are given.
2. Sign on white paper. Sign with a black pen on plain white paper, scan or photograph it, and save it as an upright JPEG.
3. Start the online application on the passports.gov.au website and confirm you are eligible.
4. Verify your current passport. Enter its details exactly as printed, including the letters at the start of the number, with no spaces.
5. Add your photo code and signature, then review your details carefully.
6. Pay by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. Your application is lodged once payment succeeds.
7. Wait and track. Allow at least 6 weeks. The new passport arrives by Registered Post, usually within about a week of dispatch.

Renewing on paper at Australia Post

If you do not meet the online conditions, or you are applying for a child, you lodge a paper application at a participating Australia Post outlet or a passport office. In general you will need to:

• Complete the application form, which you can start on the passports.gov.au website.
• Bring your current passport if you are renewing, and your birth certificate or other proof of identity if the form asks for it.
• Have your photos taken and attached, since most post offices offer this.
• Provide a guarantor if the form requires one. Guarantors are usually people who have known you for at least 12 months and hold an Australian passport, but check the current rules on the form.
• Pay the fee at the counter. Passport offices accept only EFTPOS, Mastercard or Visa.

Requirements for first-time applicants, children and name changes are stricter than for a standard adult renewal, so read the instructions for your situation on the official site before you go.

Passport photo and signature rules

Photos are one of the most common reasons applications are delayed or sent back. Use a photo provider rather than taking a selfie, because providers know the technical rules and issue the photo code used for online renewal. The official guidance is that the photo must be a recent picture of you, so do not reuse an old photo.

• Use an ID Station or an Australia Post outlet that offers passport photos.
• Keep the photo code and use it soon after, because it is how your digital photo is retrieved.
• For online applications, your signature must be a clear JPEG of your own signature on plain white paper, upright and not cropped.
• Look at the photo before you accept it. If the facial features are not clear, ask for a retake.

Urgent and last-minute passports

If you need a passport quickly, there are two paid speed-ups, both on top of the standard fee and only for eligible customers in Australia. Priority (2-day processing) costs $308 and Fast Track (5-day processing) costs $107. Priority and Fast Track are not available if you are applying from outside Australia, have difficulty proving your identity, are applying for a child without full parental consent, or have had two or more passports lost or stolen in the last five years.

For urgent travel you generally need to show a compassionate or compelling need, such as the death or serious illness of an immediate family member, carer obligations or an urgent business commitment. The process is to call 131 232, book an appointment at your nearest passport office, show your evidence and pay the Priority fee if required. The Priority timeframe is up to 11 business days in total, so it is not instant. Overseas, an emergency passport costs $265 and is issued by an embassy or consulate.

Lost, stolen or damaged passport

Report a lost or stolen passport immediately to the Australian Passport Office on 131 232. A passport reported lost or stolen is cancelled and cannot be reactivated, even if you find it later, so you need a new one. A replacement costs $265 when it is allowed, and repeated losses can make you ineligible for Priority service. A damaged passport usually cannot be used for travel and should be replaced.

New citizens, name changes and dual citizens

Only Australian citizens can hold an Australian passport. If you are an international student or graduate who has become a citizen, your first passport is a new application, not a renewal, and you will need your citizenship certificate. Our guide to Australian citizenship eligibility and how to apply explains the steps before that.

• Name changes: if your name has changed by marriage or otherwise, you generally cannot use the online renewal and need to lodge a paper application with evidence of the change.
• Dual citizens: Australian citizens are generally required to use an Australian passport when entering and leaving Australia, even if they also hold another country’s passport. Check Smartraveller for your situation.
• Not a citizen yet: renew your home country’s passport through your embassy or consulate. Do not leave it too late, because many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months, and visa applications also need a current passport.

Common mistakes that delay a passport

• Leaving it too late. Six weeks is the minimum, not the average, in busy periods.
• Booking travel before the passport arrives. Online renewal cancels your old passport, so you cannot use it while you wait.
• Typing the passport number wrongly. Include the letters at the start and no spaces.
• A poor photo. Use a proper provider and check it before accepting.
• Expecting Priority to be automatic. It needs an eligible urgent need and an appointment.
• Paying the wrong fee. The fee depends on your lodgement date and passport type. Check the official fee page on the day.
• Forgetting the 6-month rule. Many countries want at least 6 months of validity on arrival, so a passport that looks fine may not be accepted.

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Sources and further reading

• Australian Passport Office, Online passport renewal
• Australian Passport Office, Processing times
• Australian Passport Office, Urgent travel and Priority processing
• Australian Passport Office, Fees
• This is Australia, Passport fees (effective 1 January 2026)
• VisaHQ, Australian passport price rises to AU$422 from 1 January 2026
• Smartraveller, Australian Government travel advice

Last checked 19 October 2026. Fee figures are for applications lodged on or after 1 January 2026 and may change in January 2027. The official fee page could not be opened by our research tools, so the figures come from consistent independent summaries of the official schedule. Confirm with passports.gov.au before you pay. This is general information, not immigration or legal advice.

Related guides

Planning life in Australia? See Australian citizenship eligibility, the moving to Australia checklist, how to get a National Police Check, the first week in Australia checklist and money saving tips for Australia.

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