How to Apply for a British Passport in Australia
Due to Australia having a large UK expat population, many British citizens will reach a point where they must apply for or renew their UK passport from Australia. Additionally, citizens of Australia can apply for their first British passport upon becoming British citizens.
For more information on how to apply for your passport or renew an existing one, please do not hesitate to call Total Law on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or contact us online.
When Can I Apply For a British Passport?
In the case of Australian citizens applying for a British passport, they must first obtain British citizenship through the route of marriage, birth, etc. It will be important to meet the specific eligibility requirements for whichever route you choose.
For those who have an existing UK passport that is due to expire, it is essential to renew your British passport six months before the expiry date, or when you have run out of blank visa pages.
You will also need to renew your British passport in the instance that it is lost or stolen.
You are able to apply for the British passport at any time, but it is important to note that as of June 2022, it may take up to eleven weeks for UK passport renewal from Australia, so you must make your application with this in mind.
For those with an original British passport as issued by the UK government will be valid for 10 years. If you are a British citizen living in Australia, then you may reach a point where you must apply for a new UK passport or renew your existing one from Australia.
You are able to apply for a British passport from Australia, provided that you already have a UK passport or you qualify for one. Luckily, the process of applying for a British passport is now easier than ever, with a straightforward, online process to follow.
Checklist Of What You Need To Apply For a British Passport
The documents that you will require for your own British passport application will depend upon your own circumstances.
For most cases of obtaining a British passport or renewing an existing British passport you are going to need:
- Either a digital passport photo, or the ability to take your own digital photo at home with a camera, tablet or smartphone. It is important to note that you will be more likely to pass the online checks the first time if you get your photo taken professionally. When you get professional photos you can get given a digital version or a code that you can input into your application
- An online payment method or valid bank card. You will not be able to pay your fees with a prepaid card
In the case of renewal you will also require your current UK passport. On the renewal application form you will be asked to enter your existing passport number. You will also have to send your old passport to the UK government so that they are able to cancel it.
You can call Total Law on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or contact us online for more advice in relation to your specific situation.
Processing Time Of The British Passport Application
The application itself will only take a few minutes if you have all the required documents ready to apply for your British passport.
The entire process of applying for and then receiving your UK passport can take up to eleven weeks, so it is important to prepare within this timeframe.
If you require your British passport as a matter of urgency, then there is the option to apply for an emergency travel document.
It will usually take about 3 to 4 weeks for the Passport Office to process your renewal application for your passport. When this is done you will then receive your new and old passport in the post separately, from DHL.
How Can Total Law Help?
Due to Australia having an incredibly large expat population, many British citizens may reach a point where they need to apply for a new British passport or renew their British passport while abroad.
While it might initially feel daunting to apply for your UK passport from another country, the process is usually fairly straightforward provided you have all of the guidance you require.
If you are currently residing in Australia and you think you may be eligible for a British passport, get in contact with us for more information.
Get in touch with us at Total Law by calling on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or contacting us online.
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