How To Renew Your Indian Passport In Australia?

Do you want to renew your Indian passport in Australia? The procedure is simple to follow. The Government of India has tried to speed up the application procedure and shorten the wait time for passport issuance for its nationals. India Passport, Visa Services Centre, or VFS Global, is in charge of processing passport applications.

All applications must be sent to VFS, not the Consulate General or the Indian High Commission. Let’s examine the process involved:

Renewal Of An Indian Passport In Australia

The initial step in the passport application process is to go to VFS Global. There is a detailed guide.

The online application form for renewing an Indian passport in Australia can only be found on this website.

1. The Type of Passport Service Required

A variety of passport services are provided by VFS Global, including changing names, genders, and appearances, giving up the passport upon becoming an Australian citizen, and more. You have to select one of the two possibilities listed below if you want to renew or replace your passport:

• Lost/Damaged Passport
• A new passport (on expiry of the current passport)

Selecting a service is essential since applying for a new passport when one expires differs from replacing one that has been lost or damaged. The replacement of a lost or damaged passport may require the submission of additional paperwork.

2. Documents Necessary for Indian Passport Renewal In Australia

 If you submit the required documents alongside only then the passport application is complete.

The list of supporting documents for the passport renewal varies depending on the passport application. For instance, additional paperwork is needed when replacing a minor’s passport.

The following is a list of the documents you will require for Indian Passport Renewal In Australia:

• Two current passport photos that meet the requirements of the government.
• The current original passport (unless the applicant is a minor and applying for their first passport or has lost their passport).
• Showing proof of the current Visa Status (Visa Grant Notice, Visa sticker, VEVO).
• The application for a passport has been printed and completed.
• Correctly filled Personal Particular Form.
• Print and complete the checklist for renewing an Indian passport in Australia.
• Bring an appointment letter if you want to drop the form off in person.

You can search the checklist for renewal on the VFS Global website. The VFS Global website has the renewal checklist available.

Suppose you need to modify any specific information about your passport, such as your residence, marital status, name, gender, appearance, signature, etc.. In that case, you will find a list of supplementary documents needed on the checklist.

If you don’t provide these additional documents, your new passport will remain unaltered and contain all of the information from your previous passport.

Once you’ve completed the form, verified it all, noted the papers you need, and filled out any further forms, Print everything so you have hard copies. 

Attach your photos and sign the necessary pages as shown on the list, then double-check the information before clicking submit.

3. Setting Up An Appointment

You must make an appointment with the VFS centre to drop off the hard copies of your form and supporting documentation after completing the online application for an Indian passport renewal in Australia.

You will receive a Letter of Appointment and a confirmation email if your request is approved for an appointment. The Letter of Appointment must be printed, and you must have a copy with you on the appointed day. You won’t be allowed in until you present the letter. Here’s an overview of what to anticipate during your passport renewal appointment:

• You will need to go through security, so plan to arrive 15 to 20 minutes before the appointment.
• Access to the centre is only given to the applicant. A parent or legal representative may accompany minors.
• Bring all required paperwork, including a printed copy of the application and two passport photos.
• Documents that are incomplete or inaccurate won’t be accepted. You might have to make another passport renewal appointment.

You may be required to ask for another appointment if you miss the first one, but you can only do so 24 hours after the first one’s scheduled date and time. The application will then be saved in the system, and you will need to wait for a call from the centre to come to pick it up.

4. Fees For Indian Passport Renewal In Australia

The charges are updated each month and subject to change based on exchange rates. Use the offered fee calculator to determine how much you must pay at the time of application.

A standard passport with 36 pages will cost you over $100 if you pay with a credit card. Based on your specific details and the demands of the application centre, the fee calculator can offer the most precise estimate. Always check twice before completing the application to see how much it will cost to renew an Indian passport in Australia. The payment can be made in person during your appointment.

5. Processing Time For Indian Passport Renewal In Australia

The renewal of Indian passport time in Australia depends on several different factors. Here’s a look at the approximate timelines given by the Consulate. We advise applicants not to book tickets or make any travel plans unless they have a renewed passport in hand.

4 Weeks – Same Consulate – In Australia

The application will be processed in around four weeks if you are renewing your passport in Australia at the same Consulate that handled your prior renewal or issue.

In other words, if you obtained your initial passport from the Sydney Consulate General and are applying there again, your passport will be processed in four weeks.

Eight Weeks – Different Consulate – Outside Australia

The processing time will be eight weeks if you are applying for renewal, but your previous passport was issued by a different consulate in Australia or a Consulate outside Australia.

As a result, if a consulate issued your prior passport in Melbourne or Mumbai, but you now live in Sydney, it will take eight weeks to process your application. Damaged or lost passport renewal also takes eight weeks.

It’s essential to keep in mind that you must submit your application from your current residence. If you resided in Melbourne before but currently live in Sydney, you should apply from Sydney. This holds even if you submit an online application for an Indian passport renewal in Australia and handle everything by mail.

Renewal Of Indian Child Passport In Australia

Due to the involvement of the parents, the procedure for renewing an Indian passport for a child in Australia is slightly different. Parents must accurately complete the form, and if the child is too young to sign properly and consistently, you must add their thumbprint to the space provided on the form directly below the photo. During the application appointment, parents of a minor will also accompany them and can enter the centre building with them.

The supplementary documents required include:

• Annexure ‘C’ if the details of both parents can’t be submitted and the minor has one guardian or parent.
• Annexure ‘D’ if both parents’ information can be submitted. Both parents or all legal guardians are required to sign this form.
• Copies of both parents’ passports.
• Copies of the parents’ first and last visa pages, attested by a notary.

To find out if there are any additional requirements for renewing an Indian child’s passport in Australia, check the most recent Passport checklist.

Please ensure a child is awake and looking at the camera when you take their photo for a passport. You should be able to see both page edges, and nothing should be covering their mouth. Ensure the child’s face is not obscured by the hair across the child’s eyes or any toys, blankets, etc.

Urgent Indian Passport Renewal In Australia

The Urgent Passport processing service or TATKAL is currently unavailable. We advise getting an Emergency Certificate from the Consulate if your passport has expired and you need to visit India urgently. This certificate, however, is only given in the event of a genuine emergency, such as the passing away or critical sickness of a close relative.

For non-emergency cases, you will have to wait 4–8 weeks.

Renewing Indian Passport In Australia Through Post

There is a service for renewing an Indian passport in Australia via mail if you don’t want to deliver or pick up the application documents in person. The procedure is not too complex. Until your application is finished and filed online, you must adhere to the abovementioned instructions.

Next, you must send your application to the closest IPVSC to your place of residence rather than making an appointment with the VFS Centre. The package must be delivered to the authorized P.O. Box in your jurisdiction, whether you send it by postal service or courier.

Once the passport renewal application has been approved, your new passport will be sent to your house through secure mail or a specified courier. During the application procedure, mail the appropriate papers and make the required payments online. Incomplete or unpaid applications will be rejected, and you will need to repeat the entire process.

Wrapping It Up!

This is all the information you need to know about renewing an Indian passport in Australia. Before applying, we advise candidates to visit the VFS Global website and carefully understand the procedure once more.