Getting an Australian passport for your baby

The short version

A baby needs their own Australian passport to travel overseas. The Australian Passport Office states that children aged 0 to 15 may be issued a passport valid for up to 5 years, and the fee for a child passport is $213 as of 1 January 2026. You fill in the form online or on paper, then lodge it in person at a participating post office. The Passport Office says to allow at least 6 weeks.

Sort out consent and a guarantor before you go to the post office; they are the two steps that hold applications up.

Before you apply: birth certificate and citizenship

Register the birth with your state or territory registry first; our guide to registering a birth in Australia covers how. The Passport Office asks for your baby's full and original birth certificate showing the parents' names and the child's full name at birth, and it only accepts full certificates issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

For a baby born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986, the Passport Office asks for more than the baby's own birth certificate. You also show one document for a parent who was an Australian citizen when your baby was born:

• that parent's full Australian birth certificate, showing they were born in Australia before 20 August 1986
• that parent's Australian passport, issued before your baby was born and valid for at least 2 years when issued
• that parent's Australian citizenship certificate, showing citizenship acquired before your baby was born

If none of these fits, the Passport Office's citizenship page sets out a route through the grandparents. If both parents were Australian permanent residents when your baby was born, you first apply to the Department of Home Affairs for evidence of citizenship.

What documents do you need for a baby passport?

The Passport Office lists:

• your baby's full and original birth certificate
• documents proving your baby's Australian citizenship
• 2 passport photos that meet its guidelines
• documents proving any change of name for your child, you or the other parent
• any court orders about your child
• any additional forms needed to establish parental responsibility

Bring the originals when you lodge, together with your own photo identification showing your photo, signature and current address, such as a driver licence.

The guarantor

A guarantor confirms your baby's identity by signing section 11 of the form and the back of one photo, in black pen, with the words "This is a true photo of" followed by your child's full name. The Passport Office says the guarantor must be an adult Australian citizen who has known your child for more than 12 months, or since birth if the child is under one.

They must hold a current Australian passport with at least 2 years' validity, or have been on the electoral roll at their current address for at least 12 months. They cannot be related to you or your child by birth or marriage, have or be partnered with someone who has parental responsibility, live at the same address, or be an Australian Passport Officer or Australia Post employee.

Consent from everyone with parental responsibility

The simplest route is full parental consent: every person with parental responsibility completes sections 12 to 15 of the form. The Passport Office lists who can have parental responsibility, including each person named as a parent on the birth certificate and the husband of the child's mother if she was married to him at the birth or during the 44 weeks before it.

Each consent signature must be witnessed by someone over 18 who is not related to you or your child, does not have parental responsibility for your child and does not live with you; the witness can be the guarantor. The Passport Office warns that you cannot sign for another parent even with their agreement, and that the witness must watch the signature in person.

If you do not have full consent

If only one parent is listed on the birth certificate, add a B8 form. If you cannot get consent and have no Australian court order allowing a passport, a B9 form asks for assessment under special circumstances; the Passport Office says these go to a specialised team with no set timeframe and may not be approved.

Photo rules for babies

You need 2 identical photos, less than 6 months old, that are:

• 35 to 40 mm wide and 45 to 50 mm high, with the face 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown
• against a plain white or light grey background, with no shadows
• printed on heavy glossy paper of at least 200 gsm, not from an inkjet printer

For children under 3, the mouth may be open, but no one else can be visible, and the Passport Office's examples show a parent's hand in the photo as unacceptable. It recommends a professional photo provider, such as a post office or pharmacy, and advises against online photo services and apps because of the identity fraud risk.

How much does a baby passport cost in Australia?

How long does it take?

Allow at least 6 weeks from lodging, which covers up to 20 business days of processing plus the time to reach the Passport Office and post the passport back. In its figures as at August 2026, the Passport Office reported that above 97% of travel documents were available within 6 weeks.

Faster processing is only available if the application is complete and lodged with full parental consent or a relevant Australian court order:

• Fast Track: processed within 5 business days, up to 14 business days in total including lodgement and postage.
• Priority: processed within 2 business days, up to 11 business days in total.

You can also choose to collect the passport from your nearest passport office rather than wait for Registered Post.

Travelling before the passport arrives

A baby cannot travel overseas on a parent's passport (see can babies travel without a passport?), so book once you have the passport. If you need to travel urgently for compassionate or compelling reasons, the Passport Office asks you to call 131 232 for an appointment at your nearest passport office and bring evidence of the need.

Whether an airline will carry a newborn is a separate question: see when babies can fly and the travel with a baby checklist. Families with a New Zealand parent can compare the rules in our guide to a New Zealand passport for your baby.

Where to get help

The Australian Passport Office's website is the official source for forms, fees and the application status tracker. For everything else that falls due after a birth, use our new baby paperwork deadlines calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a baby passport in Australia?

A 5-year child passport costs $213 under the fees that apply from 1 January 2026. Fast Track processing adds $107 and Priority processing adds $308, and both need full parental consent. Applying from overseas adds a $92 surcharge for a child passport. Pay when you lodge the application at a participating post office.

How long does a baby passport take in Australia?

The Australian Passport Office says to allow at least 6 weeks from lodging. In its August 2026 figures, above 97% of travel documents were available within 6 weeks. Applications lodged without full parental consent go to a specialised team and have no set timeframe, so get every consent signed before you lodge.

Who can be a guarantor for a baby passport?

An adult Australian citizen who has known your child since birth if the baby is under one, and who holds a current Australian passport with at least 2 years' validity or has been on the electoral roll at their address for 12 months. They cannot be a relative, live with you or work for Australia Post.