New System to Change How Aussies Apply for Passports ?

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A big change might be on the way for Aussie travellers — you could soon be able to apply for or renew your passport entirely online, no post office visit required.

At the moment, if you’re getting a new adult passport, you still have to rock up to a post office to lodge your application. Renewals can be partly done online, but most people still go in person so staff can check documents.

Now, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has confirmed it’s working on a fully digital application system. A listener told 2GB’s Ben Fordham they’d been to a Port Stephens post office and were told a 100% online process was coming soon.

Australia Post licensee Angela Cramp says it’s been in the works for a while.

“If they had the capacity, it would’ve been here two years ago,” she said. “Full online applications are supposedly six to 12 months away, but eventually it will happen.”

Even once it’s live, you’ll still be able to go into a post office if you prefer the in-person option — something Cramp says many travellers still like for peace of mind.

No firm launch date yet, and Australia Post is staying tight-lipped — but if you’ve been putting off that passport renewal because of the post office queue, relief might be just around the corner.

Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka – the leading platform for news for Australians.