The Australian Government is now in a caretaker period in advance of the forthcoming election. Until a new government is sworn in, government operations are conducted in accordance with the caretaker conventions.
ANZAC Day 2025 Commemoration
We welcome members of the Australia and New Zealand community in East China to attend the 2025 ANZAC Day Commemoration in Shanghai.
Friday 25 April marks the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. Join us this ANZAC Day as we honor the courage and sacrifice of Australians and New Zealanders who contributed to shaping the story of our nations.
Please register via the RSVP link. Click here for more information.
Voting in the 3 May 2025 Federal Election (updated 17 April 2025)
The Australian Federal Election has been announced for Saturday 3 May 2025. If you’re an Australian citizen overseas on the day of the election, you can still have your say by voting at on overseas voting centre or by postal vote.
In-Person Voting
Commencement of pre-poll voting may be delayed if ballot papers have not been received from the Australian Electoral Commission. Please refer back to this notice before attending the Australian Consulate-General in Shanghai to vote. The latest schedule is as follows:
|
Day |
Opening Hours |
Location |
|
Monday 21 April |
Closed – Easter Monday holiday |
|
|
Tuesday 22 April |
Closed |
|
|
Wednesday 23 April |
TBC |
|
|
Thursday 24 April |
9:00am to 4.00pm |
Australian Consulate General Shanghai |
|
Friday 25 April |
9:00am to 4.00pm |
Australian Consulate General Shanghai |
|
Saturday 26 April |
Closed |
|
|
Sunday 27 April |
Closed |
|
|
Monday 28 April |
9:00am to 4.00pm |
Australian Consulate General Shanghai |
|
Tuesday 29 April |
9:00am to 4.00pm |
Australian Consulate General Shanghai |
|
Wednesday 30 April |
9:00am to 4.00pm |
Australian Consulate General Shanghai |
|
Thursday 1 May |
Closed – Labour Day holiday |
|
|
Friday 2 May |
9:00am to 4.00pm |
Australian Consulate General Shanghai |
|
Election Day ***please note change of polling location** |
9:00am to 4.00pm |
Australian Consulate General Compound 上海市长宁区万山路9号 |
Please note that all times are local to this polling place. Please note the polling location on election day will be different to the polling location prior to election day.
What to expect at the Australian Consulate General Shanghai and the Australian Consulate General Compound
- You do not need an appointment to vote.
- You must present a valid form of Australian photo ID in order to enter the consulate and to enter the consulate compound. You are not required to present ID to vote.
- No cameras or recording equipment are permitted.
Postal Voting
If you are overseas and are unable to vote in-person, you can visit the AEC website to apply for a postal vote.
Postal vote packs will be sent to you by international courier from Australia commencing three weeks before polling day. The latest date to request an overseas postal vote from the AEC is 6pm, Wednesday 30 April 2025. Please note this may be too late for your postal vote to reach you and you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. If you provided an email address or phone number when applying for a postal vote, you will receive an automatic notification when it is dispatched.
If you did not provide an email address or phone number and your postal vote does not arrive within 10 days from the date you submitted your application, call the AEC on +61 2 6160 2600.
You can mail your completed postal vote to
Australian Consulate-General
Level 22
CITIC Square
1168 Nanjing West Road
Jing’An District
Shanghai, China
or drop it off in person no later than 4:00pm Friday, 2 May 2025.
You can also return your postal vote directly to the AEC in Australia. The cost to return your postal vote by courier or mail to the Australian Consulate General Shanghai or to the AEC in Australia is your responsibility.
For your postal vote to be counted it must be completed before 6pm AWST time 3 May 2025, and received by the AEC in Australia by 6pm Friday 16 May 2025 AEST.
Further information
You must be enrolled to vote. You can enrol, update your details or check your details on the AEC website.
If you can't vote because you are overseas, you need to advise the AEC by completing an Overseas Notification Form.
Find additional information on the election and voting at these websites:
Visa Waiver Program for Australians – From 30 November 2024
- China has included Australia in its visa waiver program. From 30 November 2024, the visa waiver period will increase from 15 days to 30 days. If you hold an ordinary Australian passport, you can enter China without a visa for no more than 30 days for the purposes of business, tourism, visiting family and friends or transiting.
- Holders of official and diplomatic passports will still need to apply for a visa before travelling to China.
- You may be permitted to enter China if you're a foreign national holding a valid residence permit for work, personal matters or reunion.
- Go to Smartraveller.gov.au for more information about travelling to China.
Update regarding "Same Holder Letter" service
From 17 November 2023, the Australian Consulate will no longer issue a "Same Holder Letter", the service is replaced by the Australian
Consulate's issuance of a passport letter. To obtain this letter and stamp, please come in person between 0930 -1130 on a business day (service may be unavailable under exceptional circumstance).
Appointments for passport and notarial services
Passport appointments are available Monday to Friday. Each passport applicant requires a separate appointment. Families will require separate appointments for each adult/child applicant.
Appointment times are normally booked-out up to 4 weeks in advance. Allow a minimum of 6 weeks to receive your new passport. Please keep this in mind when making your travel plans.
Appointments are not required for passport collection or for emergency consular services. Passport can be collected between 0930 -1130 on a business day.
Notarial services appointments are available Tuesday to Thursday afternoons.
Please book your appointment as early as possible.
Applying for an Australian Passport
Shanghai Consulate specific passport information – including proof of address requirements for applicants/parents.
Passport appointments are available Monday to Friday, please make your booking at acgsh.setmore.com.
It will take more than six weeks from the day you successfully finalise your application until your passport is ready for collection. For more information, please click here.
Notarial Services
You must bring identification containing both your signature and photograph (ie your passport) so we can verify your identity and signature on any documents you sign.
Bring clear instructions from your lawyer detailing exactly which pages must be witnessed by the Consulate.
General notarial services information (including witness of signature, affidavit, certified copies, CNI, authentication).
Shanghai Consulate specific notarial information.
Notarial appointments are available Tuesday to Thursday afternoons and should be booked more than two weeks in advance using acgsh.setmore.com. The applicant needs to present in person to the Australian Consulate General Shanghai.
Alternative Shanghai notarial service providers can be found here.
Australian Visa and Citizenship Applications
Online Visa and Citizenship applications do not require certified copies.
For paper-based visa and citizenship applications which are submitted in China, you can have copies of your documents certified by a Chinese citizen who works in one of the occupations listed here.
Visa and Citizenship applications submitted outside Australia do not need statutory declarations to be witnessed at an Australian Embassy or Consulate. If your visa/citizenship application requires a witnessed declaration/form, please read the witnessing instructions on the declaration/form. The Department of Home Affairs (HA) can generally accept statements witnessed according to the legal practices of the country in which you make the statement.
All Australian Visa and Citizenship questions must be directed to the Department of Home Affairs. Online enquiries can be submitted here.
Travel Advice for China
Visit the Australian Government's Smartraveller website for up-to-date travel advice for China.
You can subscribe to one or more countries or to our official bulletins for information including voting, large sporting events, or widespread health or security issues. We encourage you to subscribe to this service as soon as you are thinking about holidaying, working, studying or living overseas.
Consulate Public Holidays
Year 2025
| Wednesday | 1 January 2025 | New Year's Day |
| Wednesday | 29 January 2025 | Chinese New Year Holiday |
| Thursday | 30 January 2025 | Chinese New Year Holiday |
| Friday | 31 January 2025 | Chinese New Year Holiday |
| Friday | 18 April 2025 | Good Friday |
| Monday | 21 April 2025 | Easter Monday |
| Thursday | 1 May 2025 | Labour Day |
| Monday | 2 June 2025 | Dragon Boat Festival |
| Wednesday | 1 October 2025 | National Day Holiday (Golden Week) |
| Thursday | 2 October 2025 | National Day Holiday (Golden Week) |
| Friday | 3 October 2025 | National Day Holiday (Golden Week) |
| Wednesday | 24 December 2025 | Christmas Eve |
| Thursday | 25 December 2025 | Christmas Day |
| Friday | 26 December 2025 | Boxing Day |
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