Australian passport

Australian passport
The front cover of a contemporary Australian ePassport (with chip )
Date first issued	24 October 2005 (biometric passport) June 2014 (current version)
Issued by	Australia
Type of document	Passport
Purpose	Identification
Eligibility requirements	Australian citizens
Expiration	10 years after issuance for adults and children aged 16+ 10 or 5 years for adults aged 75 and over 5 years for children until the age of 16
Cost	Adult: Ordinary: A$254 Frequent traveller: A$382 Aged 75 or over (5 year passport): A$127 Child: Under age of 16: A$127 Aged 16 or 17: A$254 [1][2]

Australian passports are travel documents issued to Australian citizens under Australian Passports Act 2005 by the Australian Passport Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Australia and overseas, which enable the passport bearer to travel internationally. Australian citizens are allowed to hold passports from other countries,^[3]

The 100 point check personal identification system applies to new applicants for an Australian passport,^[4] and an Australian passport can in turn be used as an identification document of the passport holder (worth 70 points in the 100 point check scheme). The scheme's requirements do not apply to a renewal of a passport.

Since 24 October 2005 Australia has issued only biometric passports, called ePassports, which have an embedded microchip that contains the same personal information that is on the color photo page of the passport, including a digitized photograph. SmartGates have been installed in Australian airports to allow Australian ePassport holders and ePassport holders of several other countries to clear immigration controls more rapidly, and facial recognition technology has been installed at immigration gates.^[5]

History

Before 1901, Australia consisted of six separate British colonies. Passports usage was not common, and if required British or other national passports were used. In 1901, the six colonies joined to form the Commonwealth of Australia, but Australian passports did not exist. During World War I, the monitoring and identifying of those crossing international borders was regarded as critical to the security of Australia and its allies, and the War Precautions Act 1914 required all persons over 16 years of age, on leaving Australia, to possess some passport.^[6] Passports issued by Australia were issued only to "British subjects" and were described as "British Passports".

Australian nationality came into existence on 26 January 1949 when the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 came into force, and the words British Passport on the cover of Australian passports were replaced by Australian Passport. British subjects, who were not Australian citizens, continued to be entitled to an Australian passport. The term "British subject" had a particular meaning in Australian nationality law. The term encompassed all citizens of countries included in the list contained in the Australian Citizenship Act 1948. The list of countries was based on, but was not identical with, those countries (and their colonies) which were members of the Commonwealth from time to time. The list was amended from time to time as various former colonies became independent countries, but the list in the Act was not necessarily up-to-date as far as to constitute exactly a list of countries in the Commonwealth at any given time. This definition of "British subject" meant that, for the purposes of Australian nationality law, citizens of countries which had become republics, such as India, were classified as "British subjects". This legal category was abolished in 1984 by the Australian Citizenship Amendment Act 1984, and Australian passports began to be issued exclusively to Australian citizens,^[7] though existing passports held by non-citizens continued to be valid until each expired.

Since 24 October 2005, Australia has issued only biometric passports, called ePassports, which have an embedded RFID microchip that contains the same personal information that is on the color photo page of the passport, including a digitized photograph. SmartGates have been installed in Australian airports to allow Australian ePassport holders, and ePassport holders of several other countries, to clear immigration controls more rapidly, and facial recognition technology has been installed at immigration gates.^[5]

• In 1917, 'X' series passports issued.
• In 1949, after Australian nationality was created, the words Australian Passport replaced British Passport on the cover of Australian passports.^[6] Two types of passport were issued:^[6]

1. 'B' series passports — issued (within Australia only) to British subjects who were not Australian citizens.
2. 'C' series passports — issued to Australian citizens.

• In 1950, ‘E’ series passport replaces ‘B’ and ‘C’ series.^[8]
• In 1964, ‘G’ series passport introduced, with the St Edward's Crown at the top of the cover, the word ‘Australia’ followed by the Australian Coat of Arms, and the words ‘British Passport’ at the bottom.^[8]
• In 1967, the word ‘British Passport’ was removed from passports but retain the Crown. The word ‘Australia’ appears below the Crown, followed by the Australian Coat of Arms and the word ‘Passport’.^[8]
• In 1975, Responsibility for Australian passport functions transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs (now the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), from the then Department of Labour and Immigration.^[8]
• In 1980, Computerised Passport Issue and Control System (PICS) launched.^[8]
• Before 1983, a married woman's passport application had to be authorised by her husband.^[6]
• In 1983, the Department partnered with Australia Post to allow the issuance of Australian passports at most Australia Post outlets.^[6]
• In 1984, ‘T’ series passport introduced, with Crown emblem removed from cover.^[8] And machine readable lines and were the first to have a laminate built into the document.^[6]
• In 1986, the introduction of Single Identity passports meant children could no longer be included on their parent's passport.^[6]
• In 1988, ‘H’ and ‘J’ series passports issued with Bicentennial logo. And until 1988, a woman could apply for and receive a passport in her married name, before she was actually married.^[6]
• In 1994, Digitised colour printing of photograph and signature on the glue side of the laminate introduced.^[8]
• In 1995, ‘L’ series passports introduced, with kangaroo motif security laminate. The personal data pages initially included a photograph and a cut out piece of paper with the holders signature under a sheet of adhesive laminate.^[8]
• From approximately 1998, the personal data page for 'L' series passports was colour laser printed and under a sheet of adhesive laminate
• The 'M' series passport was issued from 27 November 2003, which included enhanced security features. The personal data page of these passports is printed by ink-jet onto the adhesive surface of the security laminate, the laminate itself containing a holographic design.
• From October 2005, the 'M' series was issued as a biometric or e-passport. An electronic passport logo was printed under the passport number on the personal data page. The front cover was printed in gold ink.
• Since May 2009 the 'N' series has been issued as a biometric or e-passport. The passport is black instead of blue and has a slight font and case change to the word 'Passport' on the front cover. The front cover printing is now in silver. Additional fraud counter-measures have been included in the passport including a 'Ghost Image' and 'Retro-Reflective Floating Image' on the laminated page. Each page features images of Australia printed throughout the document making every visa page unique and more difficult to reproduce.^[9]
• In late June 2014, the "'P' series" have been issued with innovative security features that make it even more difficult to forge. Australian-flag blue with gold embossed cover, the 'P' series passport builds on the already advanced features of the e-Passport. The 'P' series is printed using the same technologies as Australian banknote. Visible security features include a new security laminate with the world’s first colour floating image.^[10]

Types of passports

Emergency passport

Official passport

Diplomatic passport

Different types of passports

• Standard Passport (Blue or Black Cover) – Issued for ordinary travel, such as vacations and business trips, it has 34 visa pages (42 pages overall) with 10 years validity.
  • Frequent Traveler Passport – Issued to frequent travelers, such as business people (66 visa pages).
  • Child's Passport – Issued to Australian citizens aged under 18 years, for half the cost of a standard passport, it has 34 visa pages with 5 years validity.. Children 16 and over, are issued with 10 year validity passport.
  • Emergency Passport - Issued to Australian citizens that urgently need to travel on short notice or urgently need to replace their lost or stolen passport. Emergency passports are issued with a maximum 12 months validity.
• Official Passport (Grey-asparagus Cover) – Issued to individuals representing the Australian government on official business. (42 pages)
• Diplomatic Passport (Red Cover) – Issued to Australian diplomats, top ranking government officials and diplomatic couriers. (42 pages)

The embedded chip stores the owner's digitised photograph, name, gender, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and the passport expiry date. This is the same information that appears on the printed information page of every passport. Facial recognition technology was introduced with the release of the ePassport to improve identity verification and reduce identity-related fraud.

Physical appearance

The current 'P' series Australian passports are Australian-flag blue, with the Australian coat of arms emblazoned in gold in the centre of the front cover. The word "Passport" and the international e-passport symbol () are inscribed below the coat of arms, and "AUSTRALIA" above. The standard passport contains 42 (pps 17 & 18 unusable as they contain the contactless IC) visa pages, but it can be issued in a 74-page format upon request for an additional fee.

Identity Information Page

Australia N series ePassport information page

The Australian passport includes the following data:

• Photo of passport owner
• Type (P for passport)
• Code of Issuing State (AUS)
• Document No.
• Name
• Nationality (Australian)
• Date of Birth
• Sex (male, female and indeterminate). First reported in 2003 with recipient Alex MacFarlane, intersex people with "indeterminate" birth certificates could choose 'X'.^[11][12][13] In 2011, this was extended to permit intersex and trans people to choose this when supported by a doctor's statement. Individuals may report their identified gender without having had surgical intervention.^[14][15]
• Place of birth (Only the city or town is listed, even if born outside Australia)
• Date of issue
• Owner's signature
• Date of expiry
• Authority (Australia if issued in Australia, or the name of the issuing diplomatic mission if issued overseas – e.g. London^[16])

The information page ends with the Machine Readable Zone.

Passport note

The passports contain a note from the issuing state that is addressed to the authorities of all other states, identifying the bearer as a citizen of that state and requesting that he or she be allowed to pass and be treated according to international norms. The note inside Australian passports states:

The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, being the representative in Australia of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, requests all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer, an Australian Citizen, to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford him or her every assistance and protection of which he or she may stand in need.

Languages

The passport is printed in English. French translation is found on the identity information, observations, chip centre and notice pages.

Features

• Microprinting – for example, horizontal lines on the notice/bearer's information pages are made up of microprinted words.
  • In L-series passports, the first verse of Advance Australia Fair is used.
  • In M-series passports, the words are from Waltzing Matilda.
  • In N-series passports, the lines are made up of the word "Australia" repeated.
  • N-series passports also feature microprinted words from Clancy of the Overflow on the visa pages.
• The laminate of the identity information page on M-series and later passports contains retro-reflective floating images of kangaroos.

Renewal

Australian citizens, aged 18 years or over who have an adult Australian passport that was valid for at least two years when issued, and was issued on or after 1 July 2000, in the current name, date of birth and sex or have a child Australian passport that was valid for at least two years when issued, and was issued on or after 1 July 2005, and that were 16 years or over at the time of issue may apply online for a renewal. If overseas, this may be done by contacting the nearest Australian diplomatic mission.

Renewals are not available for lost or stolen passports, in which case an application for a new passport must be made.

Refusal to issue passport

Under the Australian Passports Act 2005, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has the power to refuse, cancel or suspend a passport on a number of grounds including national security or health.^[17]

Visa requirements

Visa requirements for Australian citizens

An Australian passport does not, in itself, entitle the holder to enter another country. To enter another country, the traveller must comply with the visa and entry requirements of the other countries to be visited, which vary from country to country and may apply specifically to a particular passport type, the traveller's nationality, criminal history or many other factors.

According to the 2016 Visa Restrictions Index, Australian passport holders can visit 169 countries visa-free or with visa on arrival.

Foreign travel statistics

According to the statistics these are the numbers of Australian visitors to various countries per annum in 2015 (unless otherwise noted):

Foreign travel statistics
Destination	Number of Australian visitors
American Samoa[note 1][18]	978
Austria[note 2][19]	152,404
Azerbaijan[20]	2,233
Bahamas[note 3][21]	3,858
Bhutan[22]	1,546
Bolivia[note 1][23]	12,564
Bosnia and Herzegovina[24]	6,736
Botswana[note 1][25]	17,657
Brazil[26]	44,896
Brunei[note 4][27]	18,845
Cambodia[28]	134,748
Canada[29]	307,123
Cayman Islands[note 5][30]	1,772
Chile[31]	46,010
China[32]	637,300
Cook Islands[33]	21,558
Costa Rica[34]	11,642
Croatia[35]	132,590
Cyprus[36]	12,996
Dominican Republic[37]	2,638
Ecuador[note 1][38]	13,686
Estonia[note 2][39]	5,846
Fiji[40]	367,273
Finland[41]	26,959
French Polynesia[42]	9,167
Germany[43]	317,350
Greece[44]	183,165
Guatemala[note 1][45]	17,206
Guam[note 5][46]	2,675
Hong Kong[47]	574,270
Hungary[note 2][48]	37,522
Indonesia[note 1][49]	1,128,533
India[50]	263,101
Israel[51]	31,900
Italy[52]	945,000
Jamaica[note 1][53]	2,513
Japan[54]	376,075
Jordan[55]	20,461
Kiribati[note 1][56]	625
Kyrgyzstan[57]	2,200
Laos[58]	34,665
Latvia[59]	5,670
Lithuania[60]	4,400
Macau[61]	92,404
Macedonia[62]	6,625
Malaysia[63]	486,948
Malawi[note 6][64]	10,250
Maldives[65]	19,733
Mauritius[66]	17,900
Mexico[note 5][67]	76,746
Micronesia[68]	1,075
Mongolia[69]	4,804
Montenegro[note 1][note 2][70]	4,078
Myanmar[71]	30,820
Namibia[72]	7,888
Nepal[73]	18,619
Netherlands[note 1][74]	188,000
New Caledonia[75]	20,926
New Zealand[76]	1,326,800
Niue[note 6][77]	461
Oman[note 3][78]	15,616
Pakistan[note 6][79]	13,200
Palau[80]	1,135
Panama[81]	4,349
Papua New Guinea[82]	91,368
Peru[83]	41,568
Philippines[84]	241,187
Romania[85]	10,166
Russia[86]	46,072
Samoa[87]	30,302
Serbia[note 2][88]	11,830
Seychelles[89]	1,661
Singapore[90]	1,043,568
Slovenia[91]	26,102
Solomon Islands[92]	9,509
South Africa[93]	99,205
South Korea[94]	133,266
Sri Lanka[95]	63,554
Suriname[96]	188
Swaziland[97]	551
Taiwan[98]	76,122
Tanzania[note 3][99]	17,001
Tonga[100]	11,930
Thailand[101]	805,946
Timor-Leste[note 1][note 7][102]	13,429
Turkey[103]	225,762
Tuvalu[note 4][104]	116
Uganda[note 3][105]	7,842
Ukraine[106]	2,840
United Kingdom[107]	1,043,000
United States[note 1][108]	1,389,358
Vanuatu[109]	46,098
Vietnam[110]	303,721
Zambia[note 1][111]	11,201
Zimbabwe[note 1][112]	18,381

Declared area offence

Australian law makes it an offence for Australians to enter, or remain in, certain regions designated as 'declared areas'.^[113] The Government may declare an area (but not a whole country) if it considers terrorists are operating in that area. The maximum penalty is 10 years imprisonment, however it is a defence if a person can show they entered or remained for legitimate purposes prescribed in regulations. As at June 2015 declared areas include:

• Mosul district, Ninewa province in Iraq
• Al-Raqqa province in Syria

See also

• Australian Certificate of Identity
• Australian nationality law
• Biometric passport
• Visa requirements for Australian citizens

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Passports of Australia.

• Gateway to the IATA Timatic Web database from Qantas website
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT): Australian Passports website
• smarttraveller.gov.au – travel advisories and bulletins provided by DFAT including:
  • United States-New Entry Requirements
  • Europe: Entry Requirements : Schengen Convention
• Portrait of an Australian – a virtual artists' book in the form of an Australian passport created by Jonathan Tse; digitised and held by the Australian Library of Art, State Library of Queensland^[114]
• https://web.archive.org/web/20060805203832/http://www.silicon.com:80/publicsector/0,3800010403,39161215,00.htm
• A Passport Identifies who a Person Is
• Australian Passport Office Apologises to Stephanie Imbruglia

References

Citations

Sources

• http://www.dfat.gov.au/dept/passports/ - Outdated, see this one instead: http://www.passports.gov.au/
• http://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/passports/Policy/TravelDocuments/index.htm
• http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2005/fa132_05.html
• http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2006/fa045_06.html
• http://www.stlucia.gov.lc/faq/do_i_need_a_visa_to_enter_saint_lucia.htm#Do_Not_Require_Visas

Links to related articles
Australian travel documents Passport Document of Identity Certificate of Identity Passports   Africa Central CEMAC Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo, Republic of the Equatorial Guinea Gabon Angola Congo, Democratic Republic of the São Tomé and Príncipe Eastern Burundi Comoros Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Rwanda Seychelles Somalia Somaliland10 South Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Northern Algeria Egypt8 Libya Morocco Sahrawi Republic9 Sudan Tunisia Southern Botswana Lesotho Namibia South Africa Swaziland Western Mauritania Saint Helena1 ECOWAS Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Côte d'Ivoire Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Liberia Mali Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo   Americas Caribbean Anguilla1 British Virgin Islands1 Cayman Islands1 Cuba Dominican Republic Montserrat1 Turks and Caicos Islands1 CARICOM Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Dominica Grenada Haiti Jamaica Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Central Costa Rica Panama CARICOM Belize Central America-4 El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua North Bermuda1 Canada Denmark (Greenland) France (Saint Pierre and Miquelon) Mexico United States Iroquois League South Chile Andean Bolivia Colombia Ecuador Peru CARICOM Guyana Suriname Mercosur Argentina Brazil Paraguay Uruguay Venezuela   Asia Central & North Afghanistan Kazakhstan6 Kyrgyzstan Russia3 Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan East People's Republic of China Hong Kong11 Macao11 Japan Korea, North Korea, South Mongolia Republic of China (Taiwan)9 South Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Southeast Brunei Burma Cambodia East Timor Indonesia Laos Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam West Abkhazia5 9 Armenia7 Azerbaijan5 Bahrain Cyprus7 Egypt8 Georgia5 Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Nagorno-Karabakh7 9 Northern Cyprus7 9 Oman Palestinian Authority Qatar Saudi Arabia South Ossetia5 9 Syria Turkey4 United Arab Emirates Yemen   Europe Other Europe Abkhazia5 9 Albania Andorra Armenia7 Azerbaijan5 Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Faroe Islands Georgia5 Guernsey1 Iceland2 Isle of Man1 Jersey1 Kazakhstan6 Kosovo9 Liechtenstein2 Macedonia Malta, Sovereign Military Order of Moldova Monaco2 Montenegro Nagorno-Karabakh7 9 Northern Cyprus7 9 Norway2 Russia3 San Marino2 Serbia South Ossetia5 9 Switzerland2 Transnistria9 Turkey4 Ukraine United Kingdom1 Vatican City2 European Union Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus7 Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Gibraltar1 Greece Guernsey1 Hungary Ireland Isle of Man1 Italy Jersey1 Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom1   Oceania Australia Fiji Kiribati Marshall Islands Micronesia, Federated States of Nauru New Zealand Palau Papua New Guinea Pitcairn Islands1 Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu   International organizations Defunct passports Passport types International organizations European Union laissez-passer International Committee of the Red Cross Interpol United Nations laissez-passer Defunct British Indian Empire1 Czechoslovakia East Germany Korean Empire League of Nations refugee (Nansen) Mandatory Palestine Rhodesia Soviet Union12 UNMIK Travel Document Yugoslavia Types Biometric Camouflage Diplomatic Fake Hajj Horse Internal International Machine-readable Pet Travel document alien refugee stateless person World 1 A) Includes Crown Dependencies, British Overseas Territories, and former British plantations, crown colonies, colonies, protectorates, protected states, mandates, trust territories and other British possessions. B) The Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey are not part of the European Union, but Manxmen and Channel Islanders are citizens of the European Union; the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey, and Manxmen and Channel Islanders themselves (unless they qualify and apply for recognition of a change in status), are however excluded from the benefits of the Four Freedoms of the European Union. C) The Government of the United Kingdom also issue passports to British nationals who are not British citizens with the right of abode in the United Kingdom and who are also not otherwise citizens of the European Union. 2 Open border with Schengen Area. 3 Russia is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The vast majority of its population (80%) lives in European Russia, therefore Russia as a whole is included as a European country here. 4 Turkey is a transcontinental country in the Middle East and Southeast Europe. Turkey has a small part of its territory (3%) in Southeast Europe called Turkish Thrace. 5 Azerbaijan and Georgia (Abkhazia; South Ossetia) are transcontinental countries. Both have a small part of their territories in the European part of the Caucasus. 6 Kazakhstan is a transcontinental country. Kazakhstan has a small part of its territories located west of the Urals in Eastern Europe. 7 Armenia (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Cyprus (Northern Cyprus) are entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe. 8 Egypt is a transcontinental country in North Africa and Western Asia. Egypt has a small part of its territory in Western Asia called Sinai peninsula. 9 Partially recognized. 10 Not recognized by any other state. 11 Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China 12 The Soviet Union was a transcontinental country located in Eurasia Category Commons  List Australia articles History Timeline Bibliography Prehistory Archaeology European Exploration 1788–1850 1851–1900 1901–1945 Since 1945 By topic Constitutional Diplomatic Economic Federation Immigration Indigenous Military Monarchy Railway Geography Climate Continent Deserts Environment issues Earthquakes Flora Fauna Forests Geology Islands Mountains Regions Protected areas Rivers Subdivisions States and Territories Capitals Cities Politics Constitution Courts Elections Donations Electoral system Parties Federal budget Foreign relations Government overview Governor-General Human rights LGBT rights Intelligence and security Law enforcement whistleblower protection Military Monarchy National debt Parliament Public Service Women Government leaders Government ministers Economy Agriculture Dollar (currency) Energy Gross state product Home ownership Public housing Household income Manufacturing Media Mining Poverty Reserve Bank Stock Exchange Superannuation Taxation Telecommunications Tourism Transportation Welfare system Society Crime Demographics Education Ethnic groups Health care Homelessness Immigration Languages Religion Women Culture Architecture Art Arts Australian English Cinema Cuisine Dance Literature Music Public holidays Radio Sport Symbols Television Theatre Outline Index Book Category Portal