Passport Services

• You must first create an online account on the APO website and follow the prompts to generate and print the form.
• You must use A4 size paper to print your application. You may need to adjust your printer settings (look for ‘Shrink to Fit’ or ‘Fit to Page’ settings) to ensure the top/bottom of the form is not cut off and the barcodes at the top of all pages prints correctly.
• Your must print the application form ONE-SIDED.
• For the 5-page application form check that the 12-digit form number at the top of the form is the same number and that all 5 pages are provided.

• Make sure all sections are signed before you lodge (including by the guarantor, parents and witnesses where required for child applications). Passport staff CANNOT witness signatures.
• Check there are no alterations to signatures or dates. We can't accept applications with whiteout or overwritten dates. If you make a mistake print and sign a new form.

• Check the Passport Photo Requirements and Camera Operator Guidelines as poor quality photos are the most common reason for application being rejected or delayed.
• We recommend that you also request an unedited (raw) digital image of your photo. In Switzerland most professional photographers do not use the acceptable printing process or photo paper quality required for Australian passports.
• DO NOT attach your photos to the application form which may damage them. We will attach the photos for you.
• Wearing glasses is no longer allowed in Australian passport photos.

All adult and child passport renewals which do not require an in-person appointment must be lodged by mail/post:

Eligibility:

Adult Passport Renewal, you must be 18 years or older and you will need a passport that:

• was issued when you were aged 16 or older
• was issued on or after 1 January 2006
• had, when it was issued, at least two years’ validity
• has your current name, date of birth, place of birth and gender, and
• has not been reported lost, stolen, or cancelled.

If you don’t meet the above criteria, you’ll need to book an appointment to lodge your application in-person (see step 6).

Replacement passport applications (i.e. due to minor damage or full visa pages) are not eligible for this service.  The application must be lodged in-person – Contact our office by email for information.

Child Passport Renewal applications can be lodged by mail/post provided your child is:

• aged up to 15 years old; and
• has held a previous passport.

If you can answer yes to the above, your child's application can be renewed by mail/post.

How to lodge the passport application by mail/post - Print the below checklist and follow the simple instructions:

• Adult Renewal (1-page application form) - ADULT MAILED-IN CHECKLIST.
• Child Renewal (5-page application form) - CHILD RENEWAL BY MAIL CHECKLIST.

The following passport applications MUST be lodged in-person:

• Adult first passport or replacing an old passport issued before 1 January 2006.
• Adult replacement passport due to full visa pages or minor damage – contact our office by email for information.
• Child first passport.
• Child renewal passport for children aged 16 & 17 years.
• Name, gender or other change in your passport (adult and child).
• Replace a seriously damaged, lost, stolen or emergency passport.

Who must attend the in-person appointment:

• All child first and/or emergency passport applications BOTH parents must lodge in-person, it does not matter whether the parent is an Australian citizen.
• Children aged 16 and 17 years MUST lodge in person, together with one parent. They will receive an adult 10-year valid passport (not optional).
• Children aged 0-15 years are not required to attend the appointment.

PRINT the correct CHECKLIST and carefully REVIEW the step-by-step INSTRUCTIONS to avoid common errors, including missing documents and signatures:

• Adult All Other In-person
• Adult Replacement due to full visa pages or minor damage – Contact our office by email for information.
• Replace a seriously damaged, lost, stolen or emergency passport - see 'Adult or Child All Other In-person' checklists.
• Child All Other In-person
• Name, gender or other change in your passport
• Concurrent passport – contact our office by email for information.

Other important information and requirements:

• Approved guarantors (referee) list when lodging an application in Switzerland - See relevant checklist for information.
• Original document located in Australia or another country? - See relevant checklist for information.
• B-11 General Declaration by passport applicant
• Citizenship
• Names and name changes
• Translation of foreign documents
• Parental responsibility and consent

The current waiting time for an appointment is 1-2 weeks. Please advise us if your travel is urgent.

Passport appointments in Geneva are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

To book an appointment send an email to: [email protected] (click this email link to auto-populate the below required information in your email).

In your email, you MUST include:

1. Subject line of your email: Last name, First Name – Passport Appointment.
2. Number of passports you are lodging at the same appointment (include the names, ages and most recent passport numbers).
3. Your contact phone number and email address.
4. Type of passport application (i.e., adult/child first, child aged 16/17 years, adult replacing an old passport issued before 01/01/2006, name/gender/other change, replace a passport due to full visa pages/damaged/lost or stolen/emergency passport).
5. First passport applications: Confirm you have received either the original Australian citizenship certificate or the confirmation email which mentions that citizenship was ‘Acquired’.
6. All child first and/or emergency passport applications: BOTH parents are required to attend the appointment. Provide the full names of both parents. Children aged 0-15 years are not required to attend. 
7. Children aged 16 & 17 years MUST attend the appointment. They will receive a 10-year valid passport, not optional.
8. Your preferred ‘days’ (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) and ‘times’ (morning/afternoon).
9. Where you will be arriving from.
10. If you require an urgent appointment - Provide specific details of your urgency (e.g., evidence of confirmed travel plans).

All adult and child passport renewals which do not require an in-person appointment must be lodged by mail/post (See step 4).

We provide Passport Services once a month in Bern and Zurich (places are limited) - the next passport appointments will take place in:

• BERN on Thursday, 7 November 2024 between 9:00am and 2:30pm
• ZURICH on Thursday, 5 December 2024 between 9:00am and 2:30pm
• BERN on Wednesday, 5 February 2025 between 9:00am and 2:30pm

We will only accept the following passport types that require an in-person appointment:

• Adult first or replacing an old passport issued before 1 January 2006.
• Adult replacement passport due to full visa pages or minor damage. Contact our office by email for information.
• Child first passport.
• Child renewal passport for children aged 16 & 17 years. They will receive an adult 10-year passport (not optional).
• Name, gender or other change in your passport.
• Replace a seriously damaged, lost, stolen or emergency passport.

We will not accept the following passport types which can be sent by mail/post:

• Adult renewal – excluding the passport types mentioned above.
• Child renewal – up to the age of 15 years.

To book an appointment send an email to: [email protected] (click this email link to auto-populate the below required information in your email).

In your email, you MUST include:

1. Subject line of your email: Last name, First Name – Passport Appointment in <Bern/Zurich>.
2. Number of passports you will lodge at the same appointment  (include the names, ages and most recent passport numbers for all applicants).
3. Type of passport application (see above accepted passport types).
4. Your contact phone number and email.
5. Full names of all persons attending the appointment: BOTH parents are required to attend the appointment for ALL child first and/or emergency passport applications.
6. Children aged 16/17 years must attend the appointment. They will receive a 10-year valid passport (not optional). Children aged 0-15 years are not required to attend.
7. Your preferred appointment location (Bern or Zurich) and time (between 9:00am to 2:30pm).
8. First passport applications: Confirm you have received either the original Australian citizenship certificate or the confirmation email which mentions that citizenship was ‘Acquired’.
9. Attached to your email you MUST send us a good quality PDF scan of the completed and signed application form and ALL the supporting documents listed on the correct checklist BEFORE we will book your appointment to ensure they are correct. Please provide a copy of both the front & back of all documents and certificates.

• You should allow a minimum of 6 weeks, although it may be faster, to receive your new passport.
• If you have urgent travel, please contact our office to discuss applying for an Emergency Passport (additional fee of AUD$ 250) to use while the new passport is being processed. The Emergency Passport application must be lodged in-person in Geneva (not Bern) and it can take up to 2 business days to process.
• Priority processing is not available overseas.

• DO NOT send us your current passport by mail.
• Your current passport will remain valid for use while the new passport is being processed. Check with the countries you plan to visit/transit and the airline concerning passport validity and entry requirements.
• When ready the new passport will be sent to you by registered mail. We will only send your passport to a Swiss address (home, friend, work) or you can collect it in Geneva, by appointment only ( you will be notified by email to make an appointment).

Please see the following websites for information on passport validity and entering and leaving Australia:

• Australian Border Force - Entering and leaving Australia – Crossing the border
• Australian Passport Office – Passport validity and foreign visas
• Smartraveller – Passport validity

Australians who hold dual or multiple nationalities should leave and enter Australia on their Australian passport. If you are an Australian dual national and have questions regarding entry and exit requirements for Australia please visit:

• Dual nationals leaving and returning to Australia. Which passport should you use? | Australian Passport Office
• Advice for dual nationals | Smartraveller
• Travel documents (abf.gov.au)
• Travelling as a dual citizen (homeaffairs.gov.au)

It is the responsibility of the passport holder to ensure their travel document is suitable for entry, transit, exit and for any ongoing travel including visa requirements and passport expiry dates.