Adult Passport (first passport or not able to use the simplied renewal form) application process
Step 1 - Make an appointment to lodge your passport application
The Shanghai Passport Office operates an appointment system. We will not see you without an appointment.
Appointments are held at the Australian Consulate-General Shanghai:
Level 22, CITIC Square
1168 West Nanjing Road
Jing’An District, Shanghai
Appointment times can be 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.
Step 2 - Check your eligibility for an adult passport
Adults who are applying for an Australian passport should use the Application for an Australian Passport Overseas form, if:
- you are applying for a first ever Australian passport; OR
- you are applying for a first adult passport when your child passport was issued to you at 15 years or younger; OR
- you are replacing a passport that was reported lost or stolen; OR
- you are applying for your first passport after resumption of citizenship; OR
- you are applying to replace a limited validity passport, emergency passport, or other temporary travel document; OR
- you cannot answer the security questions for the renewal form.
Step 3 - Fill out your passport application form (Australian Passport Overseas Application)
You can obtain a passport application form online or in-person at the Consulate-General.
Please do not use whiteout on the declaration section. If you make a mistake, you can cross it out and initial next to the change. If you have signed incorrectly, please fill in a new form.
Get your form online
You can complete your passport application form online at Australian Passport Office (passports.gov.au). You can also use this link to confirm whether you are eligible to apply for your adult passport.
You will need VPN to access this website.
You cannot download blank forms.
After you have completed your form online, print it using the "fit to page" setting to ensure no sections are missing and sign and date the application form. Make sure there are no alterations to signatures or dates.
OR Get your form in-person
You can collect a paper copy of the passport application at the Australian Consulate-General in Shanghai.
You will need a guarantor and additional documents, so we suggest that you collect the passport application form before making an appointment to lodge your application.
Step 4 - Prove your Australian citizenship
You must provide either an original Australian Citizenship Certificate or an original full Australian Birth Certificate to prove Australian citizenship. Extracts, commemorative birth certificate or birth cards cannot be used.
If you were born in Australia after 20 August 1986, you must also provide one of the following four documents:
- Your Australian passport issued on/after 1/1/2000 that was valid for 2 years or more; or
- One parent’s full Australian birth certificate (parent born prior to 20/8/1986); or
- One parent’s Australian passport issued on/after 20/8/1986 that was valid for 2 years and was valid at the time of the applicant’s birth; or
- One parent’s Australian citizenship certificate, valid at the time of the applicant’s birth.
If you cannot provide the above documents, you must get a certificate of citizenship. Please refer to the Australian Citizenship section under Visas and Citizenship for further information.
If your Australian citizenship document does not show your sex or place and country of birth, you must provide your original birth certificate (not an extract, commemorative birth certificate or birth card) or, if you cannot present your original birth certificate, your foreign passport.
Translation of foreign documents
Any supporting documentation that is not in English will need an original full English language translation provided by a registered translation service.
Step 5 – Take three passport photos
Some photo shops may not have the most updated Australian passport photo specifications. Home-printed photos are usually not acceptable as there are strict requirements. Please carefully check the passport photo guidelines to avoid rejection.
The ‘crown’ of the head is where the top of your skull would be if it were visible. It is not the top of your hair or the start of your hairline. Picture yourself bald and measure from the top of your skull to the tip of your chin.
Your guarantor (see Step 6) must endorse one photo by signing on the back using a black pen and writing “This is a true photo of [applicant’s full name]”.
Do not use paper clips or staples to attach photos to the form as this may make them unusable.
Step 6 – Find a guarantor
As well as endorsing your photo, ensure Section 11 is completed by a guarantor who meets all of the following criteria:
- is an adult (18 years of age or over);
- has known the applicant for more than one year;
- holds a current Australian passport with at least 2 years validity remaining
We do prefer an Australian passport holder to be your guarantor, but non-Australian citizens who is employed in one of the following occupational groups is also acceptable:
- Judge
- Lawyer
- Police officer (with at least 5 years continuous service)
- Bank manager (of a branch)
- Accountant (member of either: the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia; Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants; National Institute of Accountants; or the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants)
- Teacher (employed full time and been teaching for more than five years at a school or tertiary institution)
- Dentist
- Doctor, nurse or midwife
- Psychologist
- Veterinary surgeon
Step 7 – Additional documents
You need specific documents to prove your identity.
You must provide the following combinations of original documents:
- One document from category A; AND
- One document from category B
- If neither of these documents shows your current address, you must also provide one document from category C that shows your current address.
Category A
All Category A documents should be current at the time of application.
- Current driving licence issued by an Australian/foreign government’s driving/traffic/motor vehicle licensing authority
- Foreign residency card
- Australian Proof of Age or Photo Card
Category B
All Category B documents must be current at the time of application, with the exception of the Australian passport.
- Health card issued by a government authority
- Credit card or bank account card with current signature on the back
- Foreign passport
- Previous Australian Passport (issued on or after 1 July 2000 with more than two years validity that has not been expired for over ten years)
Category C
All Category C documents must be no more than 12 months old at the time of application and show your current residential address.
- Utilities bills
- Bank or credit card statements
- Motor vehicle registration or insurance papers
- Property rates notice or property lease agreement
- Home insurance papers
You are required to provide an original copy of an address proof (under your name). This can be either a utility bill (electricity, water etc.), bank or credit card statement, insurance documents, temporary residential registration, Hukou book, Chinese ID or property lease agreement.
Step 8 – Lodge your application and pay the fee
Applications must be lodged in person at the Australian Consulate-General in Shanghai. You need to make an appointment.
Things to bring:
- The completed and signed Australian Passport Overseas Application form.
- Your most recent Australian passport (if you have one).
- Proof of citizenship (see Step 4).
- Original translation by a registered translation service, if applicable (see Step 4)
- Three passport photos (see Step 5).
- Additional documents (see Step 7).
- Payment can be made by Alipay, WeChat and most bank cards.
- Proof of your current address
Note: Passport Officers may request further documentation pertaining to your application at lodgement.
Collection
You will receive a generic email when your passport is ready for collection at the Consulate. You do not need an appointment to collect your passport. You should also ask the Chinese Entry and Exit Administration Bureau (EEAB) about visa requirements in your new passport.