Australian Embassy
Germany
Germany

Frequently Asked Questions

 

APO WEBSITE

  • I completed my application online. Have you received it? No. All online applications must be printed and lodged by post or in person with the required documents and fees. It is not possible to lodge an Australian passport application electronically through the APO website.

  • Some information on the APO website differs from the information on the Embassy website. Which one is correct? The APO website should be used only to generate the correct application form, which must then be printed and physically lodged. Most of the guidance on the APO website relates to applications lodged in Australia. Passport application processes overseas are different. If you intend to lodge your application in Germany, please focus on the information provided on this website.

  • It says that my current passport will have to be handed over when applying for a new passport. Is this true? No, you keep your current passport and can use it as normal while the process is underway. It will be electronically cancelled 30 days after we sent out your new passport.

  • I found a way to track my application through the APO website. Is this tracking accurate? No, we kindly ask you to refrain from tracking your application through the APO website and contact the office where you lodged your application in Germany directly to receive an update.

 

CARDINAL DOCUMENTS

  • Do I need to provide my child’s full birth certificate? Yes. A full birth certificate showing both parents’ names must always be provided, regardless of where the child was born or whether the child has previously held an Australian passport. Any documents not issued in English must be accompanied by an official English translation. Further information can be found here. 
  • Do you accept notarised or certified copies of documents? If you lodge your application by post, please submit document copies in accordance with the guidelines. If you attend an appointment in person, you must bring the original documents. 
  • What if my original documents are in Australia and I am concerned about posting them to Germany? You may ask a friend or family member to take your original documents to a Passport Office in Australia. Staff will sight the originals and forward certified copies directly to the Berlin or Frankfurt office by email. The documents must be sighted before you lodge your application in Germany. 

 

CITIZENSHIP

  • I am an Australian citizen and have just had a baby. What do I need to do? Before applying for an Australian passport, your child must first obtain Australian citizenship by descent through the Department of Home Affairs. Once citizenship has been granted, you may apply for a passport using the Application for an Australian Passport Overseas form. For further information please visit: www.homeaffairs.gov.au. DFAT cannot assist you with citizenship enquiries.
  • Can my children be added to my Australian passport? No. Each Australian citizen child must hold their own Australian passport.

 

DAMAGED PASSPORTS & FULL VISA PAGES

  • My passport is damaged (washed, torn), do I have to apply for a replacement passport?  Click here for further information.
  • My passport is nearly full but is valid for another x years, is it possible to add extra pages? It is not possible for pages to be added to Australian passports, so you will have to apply for a new passport by completing a passport renewal form.

 

GUARANTORS & PARENTS' CONSENT

  • Do I need a guarantor for my PC7 renewal applications? Only PC8 passport applications require an endorsement by a guarantor. Renewal applications do not require an endorsement.
  • My child's mother/father is overseas - how do I get consent? A number of legal requirements must be met before a passport may be issued to a child. Specifically, each person listed on the full birth certificate/who has legal caring responsibility for the child must supply their consent. If the non lodging parent is overseas, they can provide their consent at an Australian Passport Office in Australia or at an Australian High Commission or Embassy in the country in which they reside. Further information can be found here.
  • I am unable to obtain the consent of my child's father/mother as I am no longer in contact with them, what can I do? If you are unable to obtain the consent of all persons with parental responsibility, you can request that the child's passport application be considered under the special circumstances provisions in passports legislation. Child passport applications that do not include full consent take longer to process and normal turnaround times do not apply. 

 

LODGING YOUR APPLICATION

  • My overseas address cannot be verified online. What should I do? The system cannot verify overseas addresses. This message is a warning only. If the address is correct, you may continue with the application.
  • I keep getting error messages when completing the form online. What is the problem? This usually occurs due to an incorrect response earlier in the application. Applicants in Germany must answer “No” to residing in Australia. When asked if you wish to renew a passport, answer “Yes” only if you qualify for a PC7 renewal form.
  • I made a mistake on my application. Can I use correction fluid? No. Correction fluid or tape invalidates the form. Errors must be crossed out, corrected by hand and initialled.
  • Why can’t I use the renewal form? You may not be eligible, or the information you entered may not exactly match your passport records. If you believe you are eligible and cannot access the form, contact the Berlin or Frankfurt office with your full name, date of birth, passport number, mother’s maiden name, address and phone number, and explain that you are unable to print the renewal form.
  • Should I include my Driver's License details in section 16? Only complete this section if you hold a valid Australian driver’s licence. Otherwise, leave it blank. As all forms are applicant specific, this section needs to be left blank when applying for a child passport.
  • Section 3B – where can I find the Citizenship Certificate number? If your citizenship certificate includes a client number, this must be entered in Section 3B of the PC8 form. If no client number is listed, enter the certificate number instead.
  • Can I lodge my application in Germany if I do not live there? No. Applicants should lodge their application at the Australian High Commission, Embassy or Consulate in the country where they reside.

 

MARRIAGE & NAME CHANGES

  • I have recently been married. How do I change my name on my passport? You will need to apply for a new passport by completing the a full 5-page PC8 application form (please note that you do not qualify for a renewal form). Please read our name change section for further information.
  • I have recently married a foreign national, how can I obtain an Australian passport for my spouse? We can only issue an Australian passport to an Australian citizen. When you marry a citizen of another country, it does not entitle your spouse to hold an Australian passport (unless they also hold Australian citizenship). If you and your spouse would like to live in Australia you should contact the Department of Home Affairs: http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au

 

PASSPORT PHOTOS

  • The size and quality of your passport photograph are critical. Australian passport photo requirements differ from German standards, particularly in relation to head size and the possibility to wear glasses. You must familiarise yourself with the Australian passport requirements and ensure that your photographs comply, otherwise your application may be rejected. German photo booths or DM should not be used, as they are not set to Australian standards. Selfies will not be accepted.

 

UPCOMING TRAVEL

  • Can I keep my current passport while applying for a new one? Yes, you keep your current passport and can use it as normal. It will be electronically cancelled 30 days after we sent out your new passport.
  • Will the visas in my previous passport still be valid after it has been cancelled? You should check the status of your visa with the authority which issued it, i.e. the relevant Foreigners' Office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany.
  • I have an Australian passport and a German passport, which passport do I use when entering Australia? An Australian passport is conclusive evidence of a person’s identity and citizenship and provides the holder with right of entry to Australia. An Australian citizen cannot be granted a visa for Australia in a foreign passport, so use your Australian passport to depart from and return to Australia. 
  • My airline insists that I travel on an Australian passport as proof of citizenship. Can they request that from me? In the absence of an Australian passport, airlines are unable to assess a person's claim to Australian citizenship at the time of check-in and may decline to carry the traveller. We recommend applying for an Australian passport to enable you to return to Australia.
  • Can I travel on my passport if the name differs to the name on my airline ticket?  Any specific questions regarding what an airline will accept as proof of identity should be directed to the airline.