How to 'replace' a full passport, instead of just renewing it

By Chris C., May 2 2019
How to 'replace' a full passport, instead of just renewing it

This article is part of our ongoing Business Travel 101 series for newcomers to the world of business travel.

With Australia no longer issuing 64-page ‘frequent traveller’ passports to new applicants, its much easier for globetrotters to fill a modern passport with stamps and visas long before it expires – but rather than ‘renewing’ that passport, you can ask DFAT to ‘replace’ it instead.

Unlike a typical passport renewal – where you’re charged a $293 fee in return for a fresh passport valid for the next 10 years – a ‘replacement’ passport is instead a reprint of that existing passport, retaining the same expiry date but with a new passport number (at a cost of $184).

To be eligible, your current passport must have at least two years remaining until expiry, although it’s fair to say that requesting a ‘replacement’ over a ‘renewal’ makes the most sense when a relatively new passport is filled up quickly, many years before its expiry date, as opposed to an older passport that's closer to its expiry date, even if a few years off.

Whether your new passport comes as a renewal or a replacement, as it’ll have a new issue date and passport number, don’t forget to re-apply for a US ESTA or Canadian eTA, if needed, as approval for visa-free travel to those countries is attached to each passport number, not to an individual traveller.

If the passport you’re replacing still has any valid visas inside, also check with each country to see whether you’ll still be able to use them – by presenting your ‘old’ passport with a valid visa alongside your new, valid passport for entry into that country – or whether a new visa will be required in that new passport.

To renew or replace your Australian passport, apply via the DFAT Australian Passport Office website.

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Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.

Australia needs to take a look how efficient New Zealand is at renewing passports. First NZ charges A$ 181 not A$ 293 for a renewal.
Second my wife who is a Kiwi was able to do her application online and had a passport in her hand in Thailand three days after applying. That is what Australia should aspire to.
Thirdly, Australia needs to bring back the 64 page passport, clearly no idea of the behavior of foreign countries to use whole pages: USA B1 visa, Nepal 15 day tourist visa, Tanzania, India, Congo. Not to mention the bad stamping that takes up half or more of a page.
We have a government for the people not of the people.
Introduction of Smart gates was a great example of efficiency and use of technology. Need to apply that to Passports and reduce the time and cost like New Zealand

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge

01 Sep 2011

Total posts 414

Do you know if DFAT would automatically return the "old" passport because of live visas (usa allows the old one to be presented with the new) and also APEC connected number, or does it have to be requested?

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

08 Mar 2017

Total posts 14

Do you know if DFAT would automatically return the "old" passport because of live visas (usa allows the old one to be presented with the new) and also APEC connected number, or does it have to be requested?
It gets automatically returned with a chunk of the cover page removed. I have used previously obtained visas with the old passport without any issues at all.

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