Online passport renewal / Oz visitor visa

[Sophiesdog11]

My DD needs to renew her passport for a volunteering trip in mid-Sept to a Pacific country, followed by time in Sydney on way back. We couldn’t renew before today as we just back from a family holiday, and her departure from UK has been brought forward 2 weeks.

She is 19 and going from child to adult passport, looks same as current photo - will she need her online application countersigned, if so, how is it done online? We have someone who can do it, but not sure how it is done if indeed it is needed.

The website says 3 weeks to return, has anyone applied recently that can say whether it will take this long? I am assuming we need to send old passport back before new one is issued?

So, when she gets her new passport, she then needs to apply for an electronic visitor visa for Oz, it seems to be more or less instant but can anyone confirm this? We need to book flights but want to know she has passport and visa before doing that!

Yes she will need countersigning , it’s done via an email link for the countersigned

My friend got hers back in a few a few weeks ago, and yes you need to post the old one back as well

• in a week

I applied for a new passport (adult renewal) last Wednesday online, sent my old passport off on Thursday and received my new passport this Wednesday.

Thanks, that seems hopeful that she’ll have it back quick.

So in terms of counter signature, does everyone need one regardless of whether changed from previous photo (I know in the past, if you hadn’t changed much, you don’t need a counter signature)? I was hoping as she hasn’t changed much in 4 yrs she might not need one!

In terms of sending old one back, do they supply an address and did you send it back registered?

WRT the visa - yes a visitor visa is instant - they send you an email confirming it. I've heard that there are some bogus sites that charge you for applying, so be careful! This is the link to use uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/IMMI_holiday_info_eng.html

Not sure about a counter signature. I didn't need one, just completed the process online.

It gave me a reference and address to send old passport to and I sent it first class. Got texts almost daily to update me on progress of application and got my old passport back today.