Passport Services

Passport Appointments and Processing Times

Our online booking system remains closed.

Passport processing times (after your appointment and after the application has been finalised) are currently around 6-8 weeks (not including transit or postage times) owing to an increase in passport application requests – you should factor this into your travel plans. To minimise processing time, make sure your application includes everything we need.

Appointments for passport services can only be made by sending an email to: [email protected]

Passport appointments are held Monday to Friday in Geneva. Please note there is currently a 1-2 week waiting time for passport appointments.

To schedule an appointment please provide the following in your email:

1. Title your email with: Last name, First Name – Passport Appointment
2. Your full name, contact phone number and email address
3. Preferred ‘days’ and ‘times’ (morning/afternoon) and where you will be coming from
4. The number of passports you are requiring (include names and age of children) and type of passport (e.g., Adult simplified renewal, Adult first, Child, Name Change, Lost/Stolen/Damaged)
5. If you require an urgent appointment, please provide specific details of your urgency (e.g., evidence of confirmed travel plans).

More information can be found at: Getting a passport: How it works | Australian Passport Office (passports.gov.au)

Emergency Passports - If you have confirmed travel plans during this time, it may be possible to have an Emergency Passport issued while your new passport is being processed. Emergency Passports take 2 business days to process (once the application is complete). There is an additional Emergency Passport fee. Emergency passports are only valid for up to 12 months and don’t have a chip. Because of this, there are restrictions on using them in some countries. Check the visa requirements of any country you plan to enter or transit. At the same appointment, you can apply for a new full-validity passport and the emergency passport (using the same application form and photos), then collect the full-validity passport when you get home.

Step-by-Step Instructions

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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 (step 4) below and the Australian Passport Office website.

2.  Print, Sign and Date the application form 

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 ensure 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.

3.  Obtain Two Passport Photos

Carefully check the photo specifications as poor quality photos are the most common reason an application cannot be accepted.

• Photos that do not meet the below requirements will result in a delay in the processing of your passport.
• Two identical, good quality colour glossy prints that are printed at the highest resolution, less than six months old, produced using dye sublimation, not from an inkjet printer.
• More information on passport photos can be found at: Photo guidelines
• In addition to the two printed photos, we strongly recommend providing the digital format of your photos to accompany your application – you can send these to us via email. (A high-resolution JPEG digital image - the minimum photo size requirement is (416w x 536h pixels) otherwise the image loses resolution and becomes blurry and unsuitable for use).

4.  Prepare for your interview

Please carefully read the information sheets to ensure you attend the interview with the correct supporting documents. 

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 Seriously Damaged, Lost, Stolen or Emergency Passport (Form PC8, 5 pages)

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

Original documents located in Australia or another Country

5.  Book an appointment to lodge your application. Please see the ‘Passport Appointments’ information at the top of this page for information on how to book an appointment.

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. (If possible, we strongly recommend both parents attend the appointment). It does not matter whether the lodging parent is an Australian citizen.

• Children aged 16-17 years must attend the interview, together with one parent.
• Children aged 0-15 years are not required to attend the interview.

6.  Allow up to 6-8 weeks to receive your new passport (not including transit and postage times)

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 (CHF6.30).

Collect in Geneva: You will be notified by email when the new passport is ready and to make an appointment to collect. 

We are unable to post passports outside of Switzerland.

7.  Further passport information

Passports FAQs

Passport Fees and payment methods

Report a lost or stolen passport

Passport care 

How to apply for Australian citizenship

Travelling as a Dual Citizen