Dual EU (5 year validity) and Australian passports

[Austman]

This is similar to http://www.australianfrequentflyer....l-british-and-australian-passports-40097.html

Five year validity passports and renewal procedures/costs

I have dual citizenship - Australian and Swedish (EU).

My 10 year validity Swedish passport expires soon. But since 2005, Swedish passports have only been valid for 5 years. Sweden is not alone with the 5 year validity: New Zealand, Singapore and many other countries issue 5 year passports. In practical terms, a 5 year passport is really only fully useful for 4.5 years.

A Swedish passport renewal cannot be done by post. They must take your photo and fingerprints themselves to record in the biometric chip. In Australia you must personally visit the Swedish embassy in Canberra - there is no other choice. In Sweden you go to police stations that have passport issuing capability - there are more than 100 country wide and you can book a time on-line.

In Sweden a passport renewal costs just SEK 350:- (AUD 50.00) and sometimes they can be collected on the same day as they are applied for (but within 5 business days is the official time). But in Australia and other countries outside Sweden, passport renewal costs SEK 1,400:- (AUD 200.00). There is also a delivery fee of SEK 150:- (AUD 20.00) if you wish to collect the passport elsewhere from where you applied for it.

So I have to decide if a 4.5 year EU passport is really worth the effort and cost: The time and cost of getting to Canberra and $230.00 for the passport. Or getting to Sweden and paying $70.00.

5 year passports (well 4.5 years effectively)!! Not happy!

 

[nickykim]

Yep the move to 4.5 year NZ passports is seriously making me think I should drag out my citizenship certificate and go for an Australian passport next time I renew.

 

[samh004]

Having just renewed my British passport I'm not sure how long the validity of it will be, but I paid more for more pages hoping to travel more so will not be amused if it's just 5 years validity, especially considering the price. They're definitely making money off travellers.

But to answer your question, that sucks.


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[ozmille]

I renewed my Belgian one last year and just got an email from the Embassy last week about this new biometric requirements for new applications. The good news is that the Belgian guys are doing a tour of all the Honorary Consulates around Australia once a year so we can just head down and all the biometric data will be recorded there, no need to head down to Canberra. We've had the 5y rule for as long as I can remember.

 

[clifford]

Having just renewed my British passport I'm not sure how long the validity of it will be, but I paid more for more pages hoping to travel more so will not be amused if it's just 5 years validity, especially considering the price. They're definitely making money off travellers.

But to answer your question, that sucks.


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I assume you did this via Wellington. That's a huge rip off IMHO.

I can go to let's say Peterborough, and get a new passport with 10 years validity on the same day for half the price.

You have been ripped off, but perhaps you don't care.

 

[samh004]

I assume you did this via Wellington. That's a huge rip off IMHO.

I can go to let's say Peterborough, and get a new passport with 10 years validity on the same day for half the price.

You have been ripped off, but perhaps you don't care.

I can’t leave Australia… heck can’t even leave QLD… so I did it via Australia Post as I have no other option? I can’t get to the UK, and even if I could, that’d surely cost more than just walking into Australia Post?