Eligibility

For a renewal, you must be 18 years and over and you currently hold a passport that:

• was issued when you were aged 16 or older
• was issued on or after 1 January 2006
• had, when it was issued, at least two years’ validity
• matches your current name, date of birth, place of birth and gender, and
• has not been reported lost, stolen, or cancelled.

If you don’t meet these criteria or require an emergency or replacment passport (due to full visa pages or damage), you’ll need to book an appointment to lodge your application in person. 

Documents

You must provide the following:

1. A completed renewal application form, dated within six months of lodgement, checking that:
   1. Section 5 of the form is signed and dated
   2. Your signature is kept inside the white box with no alterations or ‘whiteout’ on the signature or the date
   3. Your application form is valid, make sure your review the expiration date at the top of form
   4. Your form is printed correctly with no sections missing or cut-off
   5. Your place of birth is exactly the same as your previous passport
   6. You have provided your phone number and email address
       
2. Two Australian standard passport photos, less than six months old, with your full name written on the back of one photo
   1. You can refer to our photo guidelines
   2. Do not attach the photos to the form, leave them loose in the envelope. Do NOT use staples, paper clips or anything else that may damage your photos.

 

Most common errors

To avoid that your application form will be returned to you, please ensure that your application form does not contain any of the following errors before sending it to us:

• the signature was done using a blue or other colored pen (please only use black ink)

• the signature exceeds the borders of the box

• the signature or photos are older than 6 months

• the signature was done electronically or altered (e.g. using white-out)

• the form was not dated (below your signature)

• you forgot to write your name on the back of one photo

• the address on the application form is not a German address (passports can only be sent out within Germany)

• the photos don’t comply with the photo guidelines (e.g. applicant wears glasses, the lighting is uneven, the photopaper isn't glossy, has scratches/ink marks etc.)

• the photos are attached to the form using sticky tape/staples (they will be attached at the Embassy)

• the barcode on the top right corner of the form hasn't been printed properly, the page is cut off on the top/bottom or does not fit the whole A4 paper correctly

• if you are over 75 years old, you forgot to state if you want a 5-year senior or 10-year normal passport 

Payment and processing

Once we have received your completed application, we will send you a payment link by email. Please ensure that your email address is legible on the form and that it is an email address you use regularly. 

The current processing times can be found under Advice and Processing Times here: Passport Services (embassy.gov.au).  Your passport remains valid while the application is being processed and will be cancelled electronically 30 days after we have sent out your new passport. 

Incomplete applications cannot be processed and will be returned to you, further delaying the process. If you have travel plans, you may wish to consider lodging the application in person. 

Submission

When you’ve completed your application, send your application and photos (please do not send your passport) by registered mail to: 

Passport Office

Australian Embassy Berlin

Wallstraße 76-79

10179 Berlin

 

or 

 

Passport Office

Australian Consulate-General Frankfurt

Neuer Mainzer Straße 52-58

60311 Frankfurt am Main