Australian Permanent Mission and Consulate-General
Geneva
Switzerland, Liechtenstein

Passport Services in Switzerland

COVID-19 Notice

The Permanent Mission and Consulate-General want to provide a safe environment for both staff and visitors and we ask that everyone adhere to the advice of local authorities. In support of host government protocols in place in response to the SARS-Cov-2/COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Permanent Mission and Consulate-General  in Geneva have decided to postpone all non-urgent passport and notarial appointments until 30 April 2020.

If you have a consular or passport emergency, please email the Consulate on Australian.consulate-geneva@dfat.gov.au or call us on +41 22 799 91 00. If you require urgent consular assistance outside of business hours please contact +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas, or 1300 555 135 from within Australia.

Medical authorities have implemented certain safety measures to limit and control the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). This includes limiting large social gatherings, not traveling, exercising good hygiene measures and limiting physical contact. We urge you to respect the advice from local authorities and the mitigating actions suggested to contain and reduce the spread of Covid-19. More information can be found on the website of the Federal Office of Public Health.

Australia’s travel and medical advice can be found on Smartraveller and on Australia’s Department of Health websites. For up-to-date advice on entering Australia, please visit the website of the Department of Home Affairs https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/current-alerts/novel-coronavirus.

Applying for an Australian passport

Please follow the steps below to renew or apply for your Australian passport while in Switzerland. 

 

       Urgent Travel: If you need to travel urgently, please call the Consulate-General in Geneva (+41)22 799 91 00 within business          hours or send us an e-mail: Australian.consulate-geneva@dfat.gov.au

 

 

Dual Nationals: Australian citizens cannot be granted a visa for Australia. When travelling to and entering Australia, all Australians, including those who hold dual nationality, must be able to prove that they are an Australian citizen. An Australian passport is conclusive evidence of a person's identity and citizenship, and provides the holder with unfettered right of entry to Australia.

Step by step instructions

Notes

1.  Complete your application online at the global website 

You will need to create an account first. 

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 with the bottom cut off if you do not manually adjust your print settings. 

2.  Sign and date your form 

Signatures: When using the PC8 form make sure 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 only. An application signed more than six months ago cannot be accepted. 

Check there are no alterations to signatures or dates.  Applications containing overwritten dates or signatures cannot be accepted. 

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.

4.  Prepare for your interview - please read the information sheets (links opposite) to ensure you attend the interview with the correct documents. 

Review the required documents for your application and go through 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 for a list of 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)

Guarantor/Referee (only required when using the PC8 form)

5.  Lodge your application in person and pay the fees at the time of your appointment.

 


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.

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                   Passport and Consular Fees 

 

Since 1 July 2015, all 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.

For child applications, one parent must lodge the application in person. It does not matter whether the lodging parent is an Australian citizen.

Children aged 16 and 17 years old must attend the interview, together with one parent.

Children aged 0 -15 years are not required to attend the interview.

6.  Allow up to 3 weeks to receive your new passport

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: It will be sent to you by registered mail to a Swiss address only (home, work or friend). 

Collect in Geneva: You will be notified by email when the new passport is ready. Collect without an appointment Monday to Friday from 9:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:30.

 

 

 

 

Further Passport Information

Passports FAQs

Passport Fees

Report a lost or stolen passport

Original documents located in Australia or other Country

 

 

Validity of a passport 

·        Ordinary Passport (32 visa pages):

10-year validity for persons aged 16 years and over
5-year validity for children aged 0-15 years and optional for persons aged 75 years and over

 

·        Replacement Passport (32 visa pages):

Only available to overseas applicants with full visa pages or minor damages but more than 2 years validity remaining on their current passport. A replacement passport is a lower fee but will be issued with the same expiry date as the passport being replaced.

 

·        Emergency Passport (4 visa pages):

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 of between 7 and 12 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 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 Ordinary Passport or Emergency Passport is suitable (entry, transit and exit) for any ongoing travel including visa requirements. Please check with the airline and countries you will visit and/or transit for confirmation.