What to organise before travelling
Passports
All Australians need a valid passport to travel overseas. This includes Australian citizens and dual citizens wanting to travel as an Australian. Some countries won’t let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country.
Applying for or renewing a passport
You can renew or apply for a passport on the Australian Passport Office website. It may take 6 weeks or more for you to receive your passport. Child applications and first time applicants may take longer. You should submit your application as early as possible and consider not booking your travel until you get your passport.
Find out more about how getting a passport works on the Australian Passport Office website.
Urgent applications
You may be able to pay a fee to have your application processed more quickly. Find out more about urgent applications on the Australian Passport Office website.
Emergency passports
If you have an urgent need for a new passport while outside of Australia you can apply for an emergency passport. Find out more about emergency passports on the Australian Passport Office website.
Foreign visas
You need a visa to enter many foreign countries and territories. The type of visa you need depends on the purpose of your travel. Find out more about types of visas and how to get a visa on the Smartraveller website.
If you breach your visa
You are breaking the law if you travel to a foreign country or territory on the wrong visa or breach your visa’s conditions. You may be fined, arrested or deported. Find out more about the consequences of breaching your visa on the Smartraveller website.
Travel insurance
Getting travel insurance is strongly advised to help cover the costs if something goes wrong when you’re travelling overseas. Most travel insurance policies cover:
- medical costs
- cancellations and changes to travel costs due to delays
- lost or stolen baggage and valuables.
You can find out more about travel insurance including how to choose the right travel insurance on the Smartraveller website.
Driver licence
You need a valid Australian driver licence if you plan to drive overseas. You may also need an international driving permit to drive in some countries. Find out about the benefits of international driving permits and how to get one on the Smartraveller website.
Documents to organise when travelling with children
In some situations you may need to provide extra documents for children travelling overseas.
If you’re travelling solo with your child
If you don’t have full custody of your child, you may be breaking the law by taking them outside of Australia. You need a court order or the consent of any person or institution with parental responsibility before your child can leave Australia.
Some countries may need you to prove your relationship to your child when you enter or leave, particularly if your last names don’t match.
Find out more about child custody on the Smartraveller website.
If a child is travelling without both parents
Many airlines require you to fill out a permission form for a child under 15 to travel outside of Australia on their own. Your child may need to show other documents when they arrive at their destination before they can enter. Find out more about children travelling without their parents on the Smartraveller website.
Foreign national Australian visa holders intending to return to Australia
If you’re a foreign national travelling overseas and hold an Australian visa, you should check your Australian visa’s expiry date and conditions before you travel. You need a valid visa to return to Australia.
You can use the Department of Home Affairs’ Visa Entitlement Verification Online system (VEVO) to check your visa details and conditions.