Passport Services - Child Mail-in Applications (PC8)

Create an account on the Australian Passports Office website and follow the prompts to generate a form. As you fill in the form, it will generate a list of required supporting documents you will need to provide us.

Start your passport application here

You will need two biometric passport photos which are less than six months old, and must not have been digitally retouched.

Please review the photo requirements and camera operator guidelines, before using a photobooth or going to a photographer.

If you decide to go to a photographer, please discuss the requirements with them and request the unedited digital format of your picture along with the hard copies.

Do not attach the photos with paperclips, staples, tape or glue. Leave them loose and we will affix them to your form once we receive your application.

The most common reason for delays in applications is non-compliant photos. For this reason, we suggest that you check:

• the photos are printed on glossy photo paper, printed at the highest resolution.
• the camera being used has clean and well calibrated lenses. Photos which are even slightly blurry will be rejected
• the photos are not printed by an injket printer (dye sublimation is acceptable)
• the image is well lit so that there are no shadows from your ears/head/hair, and the lighting across your face is even. (You should avoid highlighter cosmetics that cause shine on the face.)
• glasses are not being worn in the photos
• the background is white or a very light grey. The photos will be rejected if the background is too dark or has shadows.

If you usually cover your head for religious reasons, then you can wear the covering in your passport photo. Religious head coverings have to be plain, without patterns (even small patterns), and be worn in a way that shows your face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead. The edges of your face on either side also have to be visible.

If you can’t meet these photo guidelines because of a medical condition, you’ll need to show us a medical certificate or fill in a declaration form that explains why.

See the Passport Office website for further guidance.

Read the guarantor requirements on our website and have your guarantor complete Section 11 of the application form.

Please do not use white-out or correction fluid. If you have made a mistake, please edit the form on the Australian Passports Office website and reprint the form.

The guarantor will also need to make the following statement on the back of one photo: “This is a true photo of [child’s full name]”, and then sign underneath.

Make sure:

• They are currently employed in one of the approved occupations OR they are an Australian passport holder
• They use Australian date format (DD/MM/YYYY)
• The guarantor statement is not smudged

Make sure the guarantor's section is completed before your interview. Embassy staff cannot be your guarantor.

Both parents will need to complete Sections 12 to 15 to provide parental consent.

Please make sure:

• All sections on the page are completed
• In particular, make sure the parents’ current names in Sections 13B and 14B have been completed – you can add this by hand if you did not include it in the electronic version of the form
• You must sign in front of an independent witness who is not related to you or the child and not living at your address – see the requirements listed at Section 15 at the bottom left-hand side of the page
• You use the Australian date format (DD/MM/YYYY)
• There are no alterations to your signature or date

One parent should sign and date the declaration at Section 17. Make sure:

• You use Australian date format (DD/MM/YYYY)
• There are no alterations to your signature or date

Children over 10 years old must sign the form at Section 18 using black pen and make sure:

• The signature is completely inside the box, and does not touch the box
• There are not alterations to the signature

Each parent must also provide a photocopy of one piece of government-issued photo ID (e.g. driver’s license or passport) as well as a proof of address.

Note: Parental consent may be provided on two separate pages if preferred by printing the page containing Sections 12 to 15 of the application twice. Parents may sign in front of different witnesses.

Parents living separately may send their consent and ID to the lodging office separately if preferred. They should include a note to indicate this arrangement.

Send us your application with all the below:

• completed and signed application form.
• two biometric passport photos, with one endorsed by the guarantor
• photocopy of both parent's photo ID showing their name, photo and signature, as well as a copy of proof of address for each parent, which can be a bank statement, utility bill or residence permit ('titre de sejour'). Photocopies should be good quality. Black and white or colour photocopies are acceptable These do not need to be certified.
• optionally, include a prepaid envelope for us to mail your passport back to you.
  We recommend one which has a tracking number. An envelope can also be provided for AUD8, or you can collect the passport in-person at the embassy.

You do not need to provide any other documentation, such as your birth certificate, your citizenship certificate, or your current passport.

When you’ve completed your application, send us your application by registered post to:
 Passport Office
 Australian Embassy
 4 rue Jean Rey
 75724 Paris Cedex 15

It is important that you:

• do NOT fold your application
• do NOT use staples, paper clips or anything else that may damage your photos.

The passport fee must be paid before the application can be processed. We only accept Visa and Mastercard payments. Once we receive your application, we will send you a payment form to process the payment.

You will know we are working on your application once you see the charges appear on your credit/debit card statement.

Please allow a minimum of 6 weeks to receive your new passport after payment has been processeed. This timeline may extend if there are errors in your application. Please factor in these timeframes before you make travel plans.

You can continue to use your current passport while your new one is being processed. Be aware that your current passport will automatically expire 21 days after your new passport arrives.

Once your passport arrives, we will contact you to collect it from the Embassy, or we will post it to you via your prepaid envelope, or we can post it via registered mail for AUD8.