Passport renewal soon to be online.

[Blackadder]

Passport renewal soon to be online.

Supposedly within a 12 month timeframe, renewing your passport could be as simple as going online to the my gov website.
If this eventuates it will be a most welcome change to the current renewal system imo.

 

[lovestotravel]

I assume they will reduce the fees, given there is less manual processing involved.............

 

[Lynda2475]

Im sure I filled in my last renewal online, then just printed form and dropped off with Photos at Aus post and it arrived a week later.

 

[Austman]

If you can sell real estate, open a new bank account, submit your tax return etc, ALL online without needing to physically interact with anyone, a passport renewal should be a doddle.

The online methods of ID exist.

 

[p--and--t]

I assume they will reduce the fees, given there is less manual processing involved.............

Or increase the price to cover all the IT development work to make the process easier for patrons

 

[Blackadder]

Im sure I filled in my last renewal online, then just printed form and dropped off with Photos at Aus post and it arrived a week later.

Seems this will be a step up from that, with no physical form to print out.

 

[lovestotravel]

Im sure I filled in my last renewal online, then just printed form and dropped off with Photos at Aus post and it arrived a week later.

Sure sounds like a manual process to me

 

[serfty]

Im sure I filled in my last renewal online, then just printed form and dropped off with Photos at Aus post and it arrived a week later.

Effectively the same for me in 2017.

The PM/Licencee is supposed to do an interview but for renewals this is often cursory.

 

[SYD]

Effectively the same for me in 2017.

The PM/Licencee is supposed to do an interview but for renewals this is often cursory.

The physical step is to check the PP photo that you got somewhere else only for AustPost rep to say it’s not good enough and charge you for them to retake it… (happened to me on last renewal).

 

[dylarr]

Even without the legal framework to accept digital statutory declarations and deeds which seems to be the enabler of this change according to the article, I never understood the need for the physical step of visiting a post office for renewals. A lot of Australian diplomatic missions overseas accept passport renewals by post without the need to see a person so the requirement to visit a post office whilst on-shore seems completely redundant.

 

[Lynda2475]

Sure sounds like a manual process to me

Well by typing in previous passport number the rest was filled in automatically, no need to get it witnessed like previously. It was mostly automated.

Plenty of time for them to iron out glitches until my next renewal.

With all the auspost closures regionally guess they needed to invest.

 

[zig]

I have just assisted my mother to renew her passport in person at Aust Post office. I know she wouldn't be able to manage an online renewal process, so I hope some consideration is given to those who find this challenging and an option to do it in person remains an option.

 

[SydneySwan]

So what is the next improvement? Passport emailed to you to print out at home.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

And didn't they say that Auspost lost the passport renewal contract a few months/a year and a bit ago too.
What would this mean for scam wise though, if we get "invites" to renew our passports, is that then on us to check if the sender is bona fide.
Possibly $1b in the May budget will try to stop scams where businesses or govt agencies names are used in scams, but will that be enough?
""*Its now time to renew your passport, click here*"".
Then we have to waste time to see if that email or sms is bona fide or not.
Good idea, but it leaves the door ajar for scams.
Fake linkt/fake ATO/fake AFP/fake Auspost (*sms/emails*)...
Not to mention fake mygov.
Edit: hope they have an option to do it the old fashion way for those who don't want to do it the new fangled way, or who are not net savvy to apply online, or don't want to provide info into the never never.
+++
Re: Sydneyswan's reply above,
Them posting passports as it is now done, is already iffy is someone goes through your letter box before you do.

 

[Lynda2475]

Them posting passports as it is now done, is already iffy is someone goes through your letter box before you do.

Well you don't have to have it posted home - you can have it delivered to PO Box or collect from Post office or Passport Office to reduce chance of mail theft.

 

[gaz0303]

Just had to renew kids passports, some for the third time. Online renewals not available and required visit to PO to show birth certificates again. Lodged 2pm on Friday, passports sent by 9am the following Friday. Glad I didn’t pay extra for the quicker service.

 

[SydneySwan]

Re: Sydneyswan's reply above,
Them posting passports as it is now done, is already iffy is someone goes through your letter box before you do.

Not only that but at the previous renewal of one of my kids passports (2016 I think it was), the delivery address was incorrect - it was addressed to number nn where our address is nn followed by a letter. The nn house is about 90 metres from our house. Fortunately the people there knew us and hand delivered it to us.

 

[Danger]

Anything that saves me going to Australia Post is a win, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[zylian]

If they deliver in that timeframe will be very good timing for my renewal given my passport expires Dec 2024.

 

[wandering_fred]

Asked today at the local AusPost. 6 weeks was quote but observed that seems to be a bit sooner...
Remember that seniors' passports (over 75 years of age) with five years validity are HALF price (rounded in the government's favor)
Until the travel insurance get too expensive happy wandering
Fred