COVID-19
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The Australian Consulate-General in Geneva is currently only accepting passport appointments by email to: [email protected]. The general waiting time for an appointment is 3 weeks. Appointments are held Monday to Thursday.
If you require an urgent appointment you must in addition provide specific details of confirmed travel plans or other need. |
Applying for an Australian passport
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Urgent Travel: If you need to travel urgently, please call the Consulate-General in Geneva (+41)22 799 91 00 during business hours or send us an e-mail: [email protected] |
Dual Nationals
If you have an Australian passport, you must enter and exit Australia on a valid Australian passport. If your Australian passport has expired, you will not be allowed to enter Australia on a foreign passport (cannot be granted a visa). It is your responsibility to keep your Australian passport valid. An Australian passport is conclusive evidence of a person's identity and citizenship, and provides the holder with unfettered right of entry to Australia. For more information, please visit Smartraveller.
Follow the steps below to renew or apply for your Australian passport while in Switzerland.
All passport applications must be lodged in person, by appointment only. There are no exceptions, even if you have renewed by mail in the past or if you live a long distance from our offices.
If there is an urgent need to travel, you may need to apply for an emergency passport instead of, or in addition to, a new full validity passport.
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Step by Step Instructions |
Notes |
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1. Complete and print your application form online at the global website |
Login or create an AusPassport account. You will be automatically directed to the correct form by answering the questions. For information on passport application process please check the information sheets below and the Australian Passport Office website. |
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2. Print, Sign and Date the application form
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Print: Once you have completed your application online, you can use A4 size paper to print it. You may need to adjust your printer settings so that the top/bottom of the pages are not cut off (look for Shrink to Fit or Fit to Page settings). Chrome and Firefox users should pay particular attention to this, as it is common for pages to be printed incorrectly if you do not manually adjust your print settings. Signatures: When using the PC8 form insure all sections are signed (guarantor, parents, witness & child) before your interview. Passport staff cannot witness signatures. The PC7 form can be signed at the interview. Date: Signatures are valid for six months. An application signed more than six months ago cannot be accepted. Check there are no alterations to signatures and dates. Application forms containing overwritten dates or signatures cannot be accepted. Please reprint and sign a new page. |
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3. Obtain Two Passport Photos |
Carefully check the photo specifications as poor quality photos are the most common reason an application cannot be accepted. Check our list of Passport Photographers in Switzerland and the Passport Photo Guidelines. |
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4. Prepare for your interview Please carefully read the information sheets to ensure you attend the interview with the correct supporting documents.
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Review the required documents for your application and review the checklist to avoid common errors. Check the requirements for name change, translation of foreign documents and guarantors. Supporting Documents: All documents must be original documents. We cannot accept certified copies. Please review the information sheets below for the required supporting documents: Adult simplified renewal (Form PC7, 1 page) Adult all other (Form PC8, 5 pages) Child (Form PC8, 5 pages) Name Change (Form PC8, 5 pages) Replace a lost/stolen or emergency passport (Form PC8, 5 pages) Guarantor/Referee (only required when using the PC8 form) |
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5. Book an appointment to lodge your application. * |
Since 1 July 2015, all passport applications must be lodged in person, including renewals. There are no exceptions to this rule, even if you have lodged by mail in the past or live far from our office. For child applications, one parent must lodge the application in person. It does not matter whether the lodging parent is an Australian citizen.
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6. Allow up to 3 weeks to receive your new passport
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You can keep your current passport valid while your new one is being processed. Please advise the passports officer at the beginning of your appointment that you would like to retain your passport for travel. Otherwise, the passport will be cut/cancelled and returned to you at the time you lodge. Mailed within Switzerland: The new passport will be sent to you by registered mail to a Swiss address only (home, work or friend). A postage fee applies. Collect in Geneva: You will be notified by email when the new passport is ready and to make an appointment to collect. |
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7. Further passport information
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Passport Fees and payment methods |
* The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) uses third-party software (Setmore) to manage the Consulate-General's appointments. Your personal information (including your name and contact details) will be collected by DFAT via Setmore to book your appointment and for related purposes. By proceeding with this booking, you are consenting to the collection of this information by Setmore on DFAT's behalf for these purposes. If this information is not collected, DFAT's ability to arrange your appointment will be limited. Your personal information will be handled by Setmore in accordance with Setmore's Privacy Policy, and by DFAT in accordance with DFAT's Privacy Policy.
Passport Validity
Ordinary Passport (32 visa pages):
10-year validity for persons aged 16 and over
5-year validity for children aged 15 years and under
5-year validity for persons aged 75 years and over (optional)
Replacement Passport (32 visa pages):
Only available to overseas applicants with full visa pages or minor damage but with more than 2 years validity remaining on their current passport. A replacement passport will be issued for a lower few but with the same expiry date as the passport being replaced.
Emergency Passport (4 visa pages, no chip):
Only Australian citizens can be issued with an Emergency Passport in circumstances where either they cannot complete all requirements (other than identity, citizenship and entitlement) for the issue of a full validity passport or they can complete all requirements but there is a need to travel urgently. This travel document will contain only 4 visa pages and the validity will be limited to a period between seven and twelve months, to meet the immediate travel needs of the client. The Emergency Passport will be issued within two working days, once all requirements are fulfilled. A new full validity passport may be applied for simultaneously, using the same application form and photos as for the Emergency Passport.
It is the responsibility of the holder to ensure the travel document is suitable for entry, transit and exit for any ongoing travel including visa requirements.