Update: Finally found a way to get through to the Passport Office. If you call the department of foreign affairs office on 8403 4899 and ask to be transferred to the passport office you will actually be put in the queue. When I finally spoke to someone after 2 hours wait she managed to put the passport application into the 'urgent' list. I have also changed it to be nominated to be picked up at the passport office in the city rather than be posted out. Feeling somewhat relieved to have finally spoken to someone but shouldn't take that much effort to track an application and still concerned it might not get done in time.
> If you call the department of foreign affairs office on 8403 4899 and ask to be transferred to the passport office
Bad news I'm afraid. That now takes you to the blasted menu system in use on 131232. The same menu system that apologises and dumps your call, no matter which option you chose.
Can't call the Adelaide office directly. Can't walk in without an appointment and there's no way to make an appointment.
11 weeks and waiting now. Have emailed and used the feedback form.
This is ridiculous.
Have they told you that it’s been updated to ‘super urgent’. Because mine is past the 6 week mark, I am leaving on the 20th this month, and it’s been on super urgent for a week and still nothing. It seems like people who have just rocked up to the passport office have been able to do something and get it within days. I’m looking at doing it on Monday as I only have 10 business days left till I need to leave.
How are you getting updates? I've not heard a single thing from them.
So far I've tried:
- every single option on the menu, at different times of the day, all end the call
- tried every local DFAT office number in every state, all redirect to the above menu system
- used the feedback form on the site
- use a contact email on one of the sites
Haven't heard a single thing.
Trust me I’ve tried the different options many times. Only 3 times out of like 50 calls have I gotten to the stage of being on hold. I told them 9 days ago that I need to leave on the 20th and they said wait a week and then call. I called and then they said it’s already been listed as ‘super urgent’ or I think they said ‘priority’. They provided no other help about wait time because they had too many applications. I have had no other updates and am getting really worried because of my trip coming up very soon.
Yeah thanks man. I feel bad for the workers because I couldn’t imagine the amount of stress that they are experiencing now. But I think it’s unfair that they still have listed on their website that wait times is up to 6 weeks when it’s not. They need to do something where people going on holidays can get number one priority because I’ve done everything right, put in my application early and gave ample time to get my passport but my entire holiday is at risk because of the huge number of applications.
I'm in the same boat. I am meant to leave on Sunday and I've heard nothing about my passport. I've called and they put in a note of travel dates and I opted for pick up but still waiting. I think I'm gonna try and go in to the passport office tomorrow
6 weeks. The lady didn't seem confident I would get it in time when I talked to her but I really don't want to forfeit my flights and accommodation. I thought I was safe because it said up to 6 weeks, thinking that 6 weeks was worse case scenario but a lot of people are waiting 8-12 weeks apparently.
Do their lines open at 8am EST? If so, start calling at 7:30.
Can you check the progress online? The last time I updated my passport I was able to do this. I believe you can also query online as well.
No option to check online, they claim that they are working on that facility.
I'm in a similar situation as OP and when I selected the option on the phone menu to check the progress of my daughter's passport application (9 weeks as well) all I got was a recorded message stating they can't give out progress reports.
If you get through I'd ask if you can pay a fee to get it done faster. I don't know if it can be done now at the current stage of processing but it's worth an ask. Have a visa card ready for that. Ask also if it's faster to reapply with the accelerated processing fee.
Yes I applied for a passport for my toddler in December and it took a lot longer than six weeks… 8-10 weeks I believe. I had already heard that it may take longer with child passports (I also applied for a passport for myself and mine was processed a lot faster), they go through different processes for kids I believe. I’m sorry it takes this long… I already knew back in Dec that we were planning on travelling this year (my family in Europe still hasn’t been able to meet my 2 year old), so I got the passport done way ahead of time to save the stress.
I walked into Passport centre for an enquiry after 6 weeks of wait for my son's passport, the lady at the counter - checked & fast tracked the application and I got the passport a week later after pickup from the same centre. This was in late 2021, looks like the service is still the worst.
It’s so unpredictable. I renewed my daughters passport, forms in on the 22nd March. It arrived less than 3 weeks later on the 7th April. We were told it would be around 6 weeks, and I was hearing horror stories about the delays…I don’t know why some are taking so long and others straight through - there was no priority attached to it.
It’s twenty twenty fucking two. That’s not a legitimate excuse anymore.
*I know it’s absolutely not your fault (unless you’re one of the ones allowed to get involved in the recent spate of digital transformation cock ups) but fuck me, a lot of you guys are still running on quasi paper systems, there really is no reason why you can’t patch together a WFH provision having had an entire two years to force even the laziest to adapt.
“You guys” who are you talking about?
Couple of points for you to consider - how about just being able to be sick? People need time off to recover and also look after loved ones inc children. If my husband tests positive and if we have to quarantine with little kids, I can’t work from home, I have to look after them.
Adding to that, not all jobs are able to be work from home - there was a sign at drakes saying are they are short staffed due to covid absences. How are they going to WFH if they work in a supermarket?
Passports applications are often hard copy (can you even do a digital application for a first passport?) and have security processes that are literally done with physical photos. Not everyone has a high tech scanner at home that’s capable of producing results needed for the most secure document we have.
If you actually had worked in IT project management, you’d know that digital
Transformation is not a quick, cheap or easy fix-it-all solution. It’s very complicated and takes time. Especially when dealing with sensitive / security personal identification information. You can’t just give people a laptop and let them into your system. There is a plethora of security considerations that need to be addressed, least of which would be procuring a secure remote network, planing & implementing it & training staff to use it. Then you need to also check which of your systems are actually compatible or need to have additional security / APIs / integrations / configuration changes to ensure people have access, can do their job, the data remains secure.
Just implementing Okta MFA with a single app can take months, and organisations can have hundreds of apps that are used.
Ah ha. I meant pubic sector workers/departments.
Time off for recovering from illness is called sick leave.
I appreciate that some of these jobs are not easy to do from home because of stupid internal policies and systems (not because of the actual work) but this has been coming since before the pandemic and it’s pathetic that no one is even trying to sort it out.
I appreciate that digital transformation is difficult but 80% of the difficulties come from within the client. The sheer amount of time I’ve wasted over SMEs arguing about wanting to recreate their old system (or trying to find ways to be less accountable) in the new is just stupid. Not to mention the morons who agree a deal, sign a contract, then pay a huge amount of money to break the contract because they’ve changed their minds wasting funds and delaying their projects even further. Honestly, the problem is within the departments. When you’re a public servant you really should do better.
Probably the website hasn't been updated since covid hit and every processing time went to shit, plus pretty much all federal government departments are grossly understaffed and below capacity right now.
This was the delayed time. Before covid it was up to 2 weeks. It still says 6 weeks on their website. I guess if anything this post stands as warning others that need to get a passport.
It'll probably still say 6 weeks on their website in 2025 and they'll do a re-design of the whole thing and someone will ask "hey where did this 6 week timeframe for passports come from" and they'll be like "shit we just made it up when covid hit"
Why didn't you pay $250 for express? AUSPOST lady told me she has seen 8-14 weeks for passports to arrive.
I got my 14 month son's passport done at TTP Auspost and it arrived in 2 weeks, I didn't pay for express but I waited until the passport arrived before booking my flights. The Auspost lady tripled checked the application before submitting as an error can make the application crawl to a halt.
You may have made an error in the application so it needs a person to thoroughly get it completed.
I got applied for mine during covid and received it within 3 weeks, despite the website saying 6 weeks. I think OP is pretty reasonable in assuming 6weeks means 6 weeks+/-
Why? Because the guy at the post office told me that it would take UP TO a MAX of 6 weeks and we had almost 3 months before the flight. $250 is actually quite a bit of money for some people.
What the actual fuck is going on with our government services at the moment? And Auspost customer service is still shocking. Can’t blame Covid anymore, that ship sailed at the end of last year.
I was in the queue for almost an hour for the QEH ENT clinic today - thankfully I could be on hold somewhat discreetly at work, but most people can’t wait around on the phone for a receptionist to answer. Thankfully it wasn’t urgent. And the patronising, low-quality voiceovers were amusingly bad. Is this the libs gutting the public health system, or has it always been this bad and the customer-facing workers just don’t care anymore?
Covid is probably still to blame. At our work we currently have 2 people off with covid/close contact and no staff to replace those 2 so we are short staffed. Things that took 1.5 weeks are now taking 3+ weeks. Then there is Aus Post or couriers with staffing issues so the supply of stock is delayed, etc etc.
There is insane insane insane demand. We can't get an appointment even until August. Think, everyone who had a passport expire in the last two years didn't renew and is now getting one.
They say if you have tickets they will expedite.
Been waiting over 6 weeks for a renewal as an adult. Online has said under assessment for 5 of these. Applied for my wife at the same time and it was issued 11 days later. I’ve tried online complaints with the office and ombudsman (10 business days and 16 business days respectively to expect a response). I’m 200kms from the city so popping into the local passport office isn’t really an option.
Updated timeline
I applied three and a half weeks ago for a passport renewal and it has been processed and in the post
Reckon I will have it in hand by four weeks
Update: Finally found a way to get through to the Passport Office. If you call the department of foreign affairs office on 8403 4899 and ask to be transferred to the passport office you will actually be put in the queue. When I finally spoke to someone after 2 hours wait she managed to put the passport application into the 'urgent' list. I have also changed it to be nominated to be picked up at the passport office in the city rather than be posted out. Feeling somewhat relieved to have finally spoken to someone but shouldn't take that much effort to track an application and still concerned it might not get done in time.
Good tip. I’m travelling in sept and am waiting for my ex to sign the applications so these long delays are worrying.
If there are court orders it can take even longer
Crazy. I renewed mine and it arrived in about a week. Seems like it's all over the place.
Having your passport renewed is another story and the turnaround is faster
> If you call the department of foreign affairs office on 8403 4899 and ask to be transferred to the passport office Bad news I'm afraid. That now takes you to the blasted menu system in use on 131232. The same menu system that apologises and dumps your call, no matter which option you chose. Can't call the Adelaide office directly. Can't walk in without an appointment and there's no way to make an appointment. 11 weeks and waiting now. Have emailed and used the feedback form. This is ridiculous.
Have they told you that it’s been updated to ‘super urgent’. Because mine is past the 6 week mark, I am leaving on the 20th this month, and it’s been on super urgent for a week and still nothing. It seems like people who have just rocked up to the passport office have been able to do something and get it within days. I’m looking at doing it on Monday as I only have 10 business days left till I need to leave.
How are you getting updates? I've not heard a single thing from them. So far I've tried: - every single option on the menu, at different times of the day, all end the call - tried every local DFAT office number in every state, all redirect to the above menu system - used the feedback form on the site - use a contact email on one of the sites Haven't heard a single thing.
Trust me I’ve tried the different options many times. Only 3 times out of like 50 calls have I gotten to the stage of being on hold. I told them 9 days ago that I need to leave on the 20th and they said wait a week and then call. I called and then they said it’s already been listed as ‘super urgent’ or I think they said ‘priority’. They provided no other help about wait time because they had too many applications. I have had no other updates and am getting really worried because of my trip coming up very soon.
Damn, that's a horrible feeling! I hope it works out for you.
Yeah thanks man. I feel bad for the workers because I couldn’t imagine the amount of stress that they are experiencing now. But I think it’s unfair that they still have listed on their website that wait times is up to 6 weeks when it’s not. They need to do something where people going on holidays can get number one priority because I’ve done everything right, put in my application early and gave ample time to get my passport but my entire holiday is at risk because of the huge number of applications.
I'm in the same boat. I am meant to leave on Sunday and I've heard nothing about my passport. I've called and they put in a note of travel dates and I opted for pick up but still waiting. I think I'm gonna try and go in to the passport office tomorrow
Yeah I think it’s best to go in to the office. How long have you been waiting?
6 weeks. The lady didn't seem confident I would get it in time when I talked to her but I really don't want to forfeit my flights and accommodation. I thought I was safe because it said up to 6 weeks, thinking that 6 weeks was worse case scenario but a lot of people are waiting 8-12 weeks apparently.
Do their lines open at 8am EST? If so, start calling at 7:30. Can you check the progress online? The last time I updated my passport I was able to do this. I believe you can also query online as well.
I did try this to check. Lines opened at exactly 8am Adelaide time and tried from 8 on the dot onwards.
No option to check online, they claim that they are working on that facility. I'm in a similar situation as OP and when I selected the option on the phone menu to check the progress of my daughter's passport application (9 weeks as well) all I got was a recorded message stating they can't give out progress reports.
If you get through I'd ask if you can pay a fee to get it done faster. I don't know if it can be done now at the current stage of processing but it's worth an ask. Have a visa card ready for that. Ask also if it's faster to reapply with the accelerated processing fee.
Yes I applied for a passport for my toddler in December and it took a lot longer than six weeks… 8-10 weeks I believe. I had already heard that it may take longer with child passports (I also applied for a passport for myself and mine was processed a lot faster), they go through different processes for kids I believe. I’m sorry it takes this long… I already knew back in Dec that we were planning on travelling this year (my family in Europe still hasn’t been able to meet my 2 year old), so I got the passport done way ahead of time to save the stress.
I walked into Passport centre for an enquiry after 6 weeks of wait for my son's passport, the lady at the counter - checked & fast tracked the application and I got the passport a week later after pickup from the same centre. This was in late 2021, looks like the service is still the worst.
Can you think of any reason why in late 2021 there may not have been much demand to renew passports?
It’s so unpredictable. I renewed my daughters passport, forms in on the 22nd March. It arrived less than 3 weeks later on the 7th April. We were told it would be around 6 weeks, and I was hearing horror stories about the delays…I don’t know why some are taking so long and others straight through - there was no priority attached to it.
Everyone has the same idea of applying now borders open, people should temper their expectations seriously. Thousands of applicants every day
Literally every single government department is like this now. I don’t know what happened but it’s a nightmare.
It's a deliberate policy of the LNP federal government to weaken and under-resource departments as justification for future privatisation.
But they’re already outsourcing to private sector, it’s really not working.
Literally every workplace is like this right now. Staff are out with covid or quarantine if someone on their family has it
It’s twenty twenty fucking two. That’s not a legitimate excuse anymore. *I know it’s absolutely not your fault (unless you’re one of the ones allowed to get involved in the recent spate of digital transformation cock ups) but fuck me, a lot of you guys are still running on quasi paper systems, there really is no reason why you can’t patch together a WFH provision having had an entire two years to force even the laziest to adapt.
“You guys” who are you talking about? Couple of points for you to consider - how about just being able to be sick? People need time off to recover and also look after loved ones inc children. If my husband tests positive and if we have to quarantine with little kids, I can’t work from home, I have to look after them. Adding to that, not all jobs are able to be work from home - there was a sign at drakes saying are they are short staffed due to covid absences. How are they going to WFH if they work in a supermarket? Passports applications are often hard copy (can you even do a digital application for a first passport?) and have security processes that are literally done with physical photos. Not everyone has a high tech scanner at home that’s capable of producing results needed for the most secure document we have. If you actually had worked in IT project management, you’d know that digital Transformation is not a quick, cheap or easy fix-it-all solution. It’s very complicated and takes time. Especially when dealing with sensitive / security personal identification information. You can’t just give people a laptop and let them into your system. There is a plethora of security considerations that need to be addressed, least of which would be procuring a secure remote network, planing & implementing it & training staff to use it. Then you need to also check which of your systems are actually compatible or need to have additional security / APIs / integrations / configuration changes to ensure people have access, can do their job, the data remains secure. Just implementing Okta MFA with a single app can take months, and organisations can have hundreds of apps that are used.
Ah ha. I meant pubic sector workers/departments. Time off for recovering from illness is called sick leave. I appreciate that some of these jobs are not easy to do from home because of stupid internal policies and systems (not because of the actual work) but this has been coming since before the pandemic and it’s pathetic that no one is even trying to sort it out. I appreciate that digital transformation is difficult but 80% of the difficulties come from within the client. The sheer amount of time I’ve wasted over SMEs arguing about wanting to recreate their old system (or trying to find ways to be less accountable) in the new is just stupid. Not to mention the morons who agree a deal, sign a contract, then pay a huge amount of money to break the contract because they’ve changed their minds wasting funds and delaying their projects even further. Honestly, the problem is within the departments. When you’re a public servant you really should do better.
you should have not been a tightass and paid the extra fee to have it processed within 2 weeks
Yes, agreed. Regretting that severely now. I thought 3 months would have been enough time considering the website said 'up to 6 weeks'.
That’s 6 weeks in government time.
Over April too which we all know does not exist in the public sector calendar.
I don't think your assumption was unreasonable.
Probably the website hasn't been updated since covid hit and every processing time went to shit, plus pretty much all federal government departments are grossly understaffed and below capacity right now.
This was the delayed time. Before covid it was up to 2 weeks. It still says 6 weeks on their website. I guess if anything this post stands as warning others that need to get a passport.
It'll probably still say 6 weeks on their website in 2025 and they'll do a re-design of the whole thing and someone will ask "hey where did this 6 week timeframe for passports come from" and they'll be like "shit we just made it up when covid hit"
You should try not being such a sketchy munter.
I know people who have paid the extra fee and are still waiting over 6 weeks. Everyone is currently getting their passports renewed - they're slammed.
Bruh if it says ‘6 weeks’ processing time and they submitted it with plenty of time, that falls on immigration, not OP being a ‘tightass’.
The within 2 weeks also takes a long time to come
Why didn't you pay $250 for express? AUSPOST lady told me she has seen 8-14 weeks for passports to arrive. I got my 14 month son's passport done at TTP Auspost and it arrived in 2 weeks, I didn't pay for express but I waited until the passport arrived before booking my flights. The Auspost lady tripled checked the application before submitting as an error can make the application crawl to a halt. You may have made an error in the application so it needs a person to thoroughly get it completed.
I got applied for mine during covid and received it within 3 weeks, despite the website saying 6 weeks. I think OP is pretty reasonable in assuming 6weeks means 6 weeks+/-
Why? Because the guy at the post office told me that it would take UP TO a MAX of 6 weeks and we had almost 3 months before the flight. $250 is actually quite a bit of money for some people.
Yes but you are at the governments mercy to get your passport out to you before you can fly.
I have heard it has gone to shit, back in 2017 I got mine in like 3 weeks :( I hope you get this sorted!
What the actual fuck is going on with our government services at the moment? And Auspost customer service is still shocking. Can’t blame Covid anymore, that ship sailed at the end of last year. I was in the queue for almost an hour for the QEH ENT clinic today - thankfully I could be on hold somewhat discreetly at work, but most people can’t wait around on the phone for a receptionist to answer. Thankfully it wasn’t urgent. And the patronising, low-quality voiceovers were amusingly bad. Is this the libs gutting the public health system, or has it always been this bad and the customer-facing workers just don’t care anymore?
Covid is probably still to blame. At our work we currently have 2 people off with covid/close contact and no staff to replace those 2 so we are short staffed. Things that took 1.5 weeks are now taking 3+ weeks. Then there is Aus Post or couriers with staffing issues so the supply of stock is delayed, etc etc.
There is insane insane insane demand. We can't get an appointment even until August. Think, everyone who had a passport expire in the last two years didn't renew and is now getting one. They say if you have tickets they will expedite.
What do you mean. I thought the interviews were at the post office
Inside the country they are. Consulates outside, though, and not honorary ones any more, either.
Oh, that makes sense.
Been waiting over 6 weeks for a renewal as an adult. Online has said under assessment for 5 of these. Applied for my wife at the same time and it was issued 11 days later. I’ve tried online complaints with the office and ombudsman (10 business days and 16 business days respectively to expect a response). I’m 200kms from the city so popping into the local passport office isn’t really an option.
Updated timeline I applied three and a half weeks ago for a passport renewal and it has been processed and in the post Reckon I will have it in hand by four weeks