I've just seen on the passport office website that the frequent traveller passport is being phased out on Nov 30.. My question is, does anyone know when the new scheme of letting people order replacement passports (with same number and expiry) would be introduced?
The article on AusBT a while back made a mention of it but I can't seem to find official confirmation of that anywhere - it was also stated that the new scheme would be introduced before the frequent traveller passport would be phased out, a claim I highly doubt now.
My predicament is that I travel overseas for 2 weeks tomorrow (back on Nov 20) and then off again on Nov 27 with 3 pages left on the passport, which doesn't give me enough time to apply for a frequent traveller passport before it's canned, since they don't offer priority processing for the thick passports. Under the current scheme, I'd get a brand new passport and have to move a bunch of visas over to the new number - a cumbersome process that I would very much like to avoid.
Have you looked at getting a co-current passport? They've been around for a now while and let you get a 2nd passport for the purpose of getting visas but they're only valid for 3 years.
You can apply for a co-current passport by calling the passport office (131 232) but you'll need to prove that you actually need the 2nd passport.
I am pretty keen to find this out too. One of the great advantages of this change I see is for those of us with APEC cards. They are linked to the passport number so if, in the future, we can get extra passports with the same number as the one which is full this will be FAR FAR better than frequent traveler ones. The problem is particularly acute now that the APEC card lasts 5 years. I go through 2 to 3 passports in that time.
So yea, does anyone know what is going on in this area? Anyone with the info would be great!
The concurrent passport is only valid up to three years, but the duration is at the discretion of the issuer.
I recently needed a concurrent passport and was issued one with only one year validity.
Oh ok cheers, I didn't realise it was up to 3 years. A family member has gone a concurrent passport but he seem to get the full 3 years each time (I guess a lot of travel to South America where visa's are needed is probably a factor).
Just phoned up the Passport Office, the new Replacement Passport will be available from Dec 4, issued with the same expiry as your previous passport, but with a *different* passport number unlike previous reported. So your existing passport will still be cancelled once you apply for your new one... that's a bummer. No escaping having to replace visas!
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Frequent traveller passport being phased out
alansu
alansu
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 22 Jan 2015
Total posts 88
I've just seen on the passport office website that the frequent traveller passport is being phased out on Nov 30.. My question is, does anyone know when the new scheme of letting people order replacement passports (with same number and expiry) would be introduced?
henrus
henrus
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Oct 2013
Total posts 766
Grenadines
Grenadines
Member since 04 Nov 2017
Total posts 1
I am pretty keen to find this out too. One of the great advantages of this change I see is for those of us with APEC cards. They are linked to the passport number so if, in the future, we can get extra passports with the same number as the one which is full this will be FAR FAR better than frequent traveler ones. The problem is particularly acute now that the APEC card lasts 5 years. I go through 2 to 3 passports in that time.
Ross
Ross
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 May 2014
Total posts 83
The concurrent passport is only valid up to three years, but the duration is at the discretion of the issuer.
henrus
henrus
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Oct 2013
Total posts 766
Oh ok cheers, I didn't realise it was up to 3 years. A family member has gone a concurrent passport but he seem to get the full 3 years each time (I guess a lot of travel to South America where visa's are needed is probably a factor).
alansu
alansu
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 22 Jan 2015
Total posts 88
Just phoned up the Passport Office, the new Replacement Passport will be available from Dec 4, issued with the same expiry as your previous passport, but with a *different* passport number unlike previous reported. So your existing passport will still be cancelled once you apply for your new one... that's a bummer. No escaping having to replace visas!