Passports and Things

[Gold60]

In fairly general terms, does anyone know from when you had to have a passport (or similar Travel ID document) to either leave Australia, and/or enter the UK – by ship or plane?

We are doing some family history research and are trying to track down what happened to our mum’s mum – who was from Nthn Ireland. We are having trouble locating a Death record in Australia for her, and thus she MAY HAVE gone back to the UK after 1951. She would have been in her early 50’s at this stage, and presumably travelled as a tourist or returning expat, or similar.

We were advised by the UK Passport Office that they do not have any record of her getting a UK passport after 1922 when she came to Australia. SO, IF she left Australia we presume she may have left under an Australian passport.

Before we launch ourselves off into the National Archives to look at passport issuance and passenger movement records, we would like to have some idea where we should start from if passports weren’t compulsory to have to leave and enter.

Any ideas please?

 

[opusman]

From wikipedia:

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.[8] Passports issued by Australia were issued only to "British subjects" and were described as "British Passports".

 

[ajd]

The above seems correct, according to the definitive text on the subject: https://dfat.gov.au/about-us/public...tion-a-history-of-the-australian-passport.pdf - June 1915 was when the War Precautions Act was used to set up mandatory passport regulations.

Also note that until 1984, Australia would issue passports to British subjects who weren't Australian citizens, so passport-holding doesn't necessarily imply citizenship...

 

[Gold60]

Yes, i thought this would be a fairly easy question to answer. So far I've spent a couple of weeks on working out which is the best way to go. So many choices and variables, LOL.....

The above seems correct, according to the definitive text on the subject: https://dfat.gov.au/about-us/public...tion-a-history-of-the-australian-passport.pdf - June 1915 was when the War Precautions Act was used to set up mandatory passport regulations.

Also note that until 1984, Australia would issue passports to British subjects who weren't Australian citizens, so passport-holding doesn't necessarily imply citizenship...

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to family history ... patience is a virtue.

I gather your actual question isn't about passports, but to trace your grandmother, probably back to the UK where she may have died?

There are many resources out there, but have a look at Free BMD ... its not as straightforward as it sounds, though.

But back to departing Australia, enquire at the National Archives about outgoing passenger records for shipping; you should find the name if its there, irrespective of what passport they held.