It's estimated that over one million British citizens live in Australia. If you're one of them, and planning on continuing to travel in the future, you'll need to renew your United Kingdom (UK) passport when it expires.
The process for renewing your UK passport from Australia is similar to renewing it from within the UK, but there are a few additional steps you need to take. In this step-by-step guide, we'll outline how to handle a UK passport renewal from Australia. We'll also answer some of the most frequently asked questions in general about renewing your UK passport from overseas.
If you are living in Australia and need to send money back home or elsewhere overseas, you should know that there are cheaper options than using your bank to transfer money. CurrencyFair is up to eight times cheaper than traditional banks when you need to send money abroad.
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When should I renew my UK passport?
You should plan to renew your UK passport six months before it's due to expire, or as soon as you run out of blank visa pages. You should also renew it if it's lost or stolen. You can apply at any time, but as of June 2022, it can take up to eleven weeks to renew a UK passport from Australia, so it's worth getting prepared in advance to account for any delays.
How do I renew my UK passport in Australia?
The easiest way to renew your UK passport from overseas is to apply online using the UK government website. You can apply online for a UK passport renewal if you're a British national or if you want to renew another person's UK passport from overseas, for example, if you're applying for your child. You'll need:
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Your current UK passport, and any passports you have for other countries. You'll need to enter your passport number on the renewal application form. You'll also need to send the UK government your old passport so they can cancel it. If you no longer have your old passport, you can report it as lost or stolen.
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A digital passport photo, or the ability to take a digital photo at home using a digital camera, smartphone or tablet. Your chances of passing the online checks are better using a photo taken professionally. Also, a professional passport photo provider will be able to give you either a digital version of your passport photo or a three-part code that can be uploaded to the online application to add your photo directly.
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A bank card or online payment method. You can't pay using a prepaid card.
If you would rather apply by post, you can request an application form by contacting the UK Passport Adviceline at +44 (0)300 222 0000, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm and Saturday, Sunday and UK bank holidays, 9am to 5:30pm.
How much does a UK passport renewal from Australia cost?
The cost for a standard 34-page passport is £86 for an adult, and £56 for a child. There's also the option for a 50-page passport, if you're a frequent traveller and require additional pages, for £96.
Then there's a £19.86 courier fee to have your new passport delivered. You can pay online during the passport application using Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
If you need to check how much it'd be in Australian dollars, you can check CurrencyFair's live conversion rates.
How long does it take to renew a UK passport in Australia?
The online application should only take a few minutes if you have all the documents and photos required on hand. The process of renewing a UK passport from Australia can take up to eleven weeks, so it's important to plan if you need to renew your passport for a trip.
Once the passport office has received and processed your application, if everything is in order, your new passport will be sent to you by courier.
If you need to renew your passport urgently, there's the option to apply for an emergency travel document (also called an "emergency passportâ€) which we explain in more detail below.
How do I get an emergency UK passport from Australia?
If you're in Australia and can't wait eleven weeks to get your passport renewed before you travel, you can apply online for an emergency travel document for £100. It lets you travel to your destination (through a maximum of five countries) and return to Australia. It'll normally be ready two working days after you apply.
However, there are some limitations for who can apply. You generally can't get an emergency travel document if you've never had a UK passport. And you must be all of the following:
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A British national.
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Outside the UK.
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Travelling soon enough (and able to provide proof of travel plans) that you won't be able to wait eleven weeks for a new passport.
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Without a valid passport, whether your previous one was lost, stolen, damaged, recently expired or full.
Sending money abroad with CurrencyFair
If you need to send money back to the UK or elsewhere overseas, CurrencyFair can help save you money when you need to send money abroad. As long as you have set up your Australian bank account, you can send money home from Australia with CurrencyFair. It's ideal for expats who need to:
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Send regular savings home.
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Make mortgage payments and other property expenses overseas.
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Remit the sale of shares abroad.
Remember that you can save up to eight times what you'd spend using a bank when you transfer money abroad with CurrencyFair. Our transparent fees and exchange rates end up saving you more, as seen in our comparison assessment.
You can access great exchange rates in Australia from any device, at any time, and send and receive international money transfers in over 20 currencies and 150 countries with a CurrencyFair account.
If you are living abroad, check out our other expat articles for helpful information:
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UK state pension in Australia: a guide to claiming and taxability.
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EFTPOS cards: a guide for expats in Australia and New Zealand.
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Moving abroad: the hard parts about living and working abroad.
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Working abroad: 9 countries with the best work life balance.
This information is correct as of June 2022. This information is not to be relied on in making a decision with regard to an investment. We strongly recommend that you obtain independent financial advice before making any form of investment or significant financial transaction. This article is purely for general information purposes. Photo by Ethan Wilkinson on Unsplash.
