The Australian Passport Office (APO) confirmed they are experiencing a huge processing delay issue as there has been a high demand for passports since the reopening of Australia’s international border.

On 10 June 2022, APO reported having issued nearly 400,000 passports in the first three months of 2022, which is more than double the total number they issued over the same period in 2021.

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell said the government told him that an extra 300 people has been hired for the hotline on this issue.

Mr Clennell added that an extra 1000 staff are also being trained to help in the next few weeks. The situation is expected to considerably improve by about September.

Passport applications are assessed individually and processing times vary depending on the number of applications lodged.

There are also extra security checks, especially for child passport applications and they often take longer to process.

With the passport demand on the rise, APO advises those who plan on travelling abroad soon to make sure they allow a minimum of six weeks to get a new passport or renew one.

For more information, visit https://www.passports.gov.au/frequently-asked-questions-faq

The information provided is for general use only and should NOT be taken as Migration Advice. For information about your circumstances, please contact Milestone Migration for immigration assistance.