Applying by Mail – Eligible PC8 Child Renewals only

The Australian Consulate-General in Geneva now accepts mailed-in applications for PC8 Child Renewals for passports.

Please follow the below guidelines carefully to ensure your child’s application is completed and received by us correctly. Applications received by mail containing errors or missing documents will be returned to you unprocessed at your cost.

Check your eligibility:

To be eligible to renew your child’s Australian Child Passport by mail the child must:

be aged 0 – 15 and,
have previously held an Australian passport

If your child’s passport does not meet the above criteria, you will need to book an appointment to lodge the application in person.

Prepare your application:

To prepare your child’s mailed-in passport application complete this checklist. Please ensure you read and complete the checklist carefully. Applications received by mail containing errors or missing documents will be returned to you unprocessed at your cost.

Please do not send us your child's current passport. It remains valid (unless it has expired) while the application is being processed and will be cancelled electronically 30 days after we have sent out your new passport.

Please do not send your application to the Australian Embassy in Bern. All passport applications are processed in Geneva. Please ensure you follow the instructions using the detailed checklist we have provided at the link above.

Postage:

For all mailed-in passport applications you are now required to include a stamped (CHF 6.30), self-addressed return envelope (C5 size). Prepaid Registered mail stickers are not accepted.

Passports can only be mailed within Switzerland.

Alternatively, you can collect your passport in person from the Consulate-General in Geneva.

Processing:

Mailed-in applications will be charged in Australian dollars (AUD) (subject to exchange rates and any overseas transaction fees).

Once your child’s passport application has been received and processed, we will advise you by email. An official receipt for payment will be attached to this email.

Current processing times remain around 4-6 weeks.

Urgent Travel:

If you have urgent travel, you may be eligible to apply for an Emergency passport. Please contact us at [email protected] for more information. Emergency passports for children will require both parents attending an appointment in person at the Consulate in Geneva. You will be requested to provide evidence of the urgency.

We look forward to receiving your child’s passport renewal application in the mail. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have further questions.