In January, the Henley Passport Index up to date its standings for 2023, inserting Australia inside the highest ten for the 18th consecutive yr.
But ever since worldwide borders reopened, the Australian Passport Office (APO) has seen unprecedented demand for the paperwork, inflicting wait instances to blow out.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has additionally launched a brand new R Series passport into circulation, which guarantees elevated safety features.
DFAT mentioned the introduction of the brand new passport collection wouldn’t improve wait instances.
Here’s every part we learn about Australian passport rankings – together with the international locations you possibly can journey to and not using a visa – in addition to wait instances, the brand new R collection passport, and when King Charles III will function on the doc.
How highly effective is an Australian passport?
According to the Henley Passport Index, Australia’s is the eighth-most highly effective passport on this planet, a place it shares with Canada, Greece and Malta.
The rankings are barely deceptive, as there are literally 22 passports rated greater than ours. The index teams international locations collectively in tiers when rating them, so, for instance, there are two second-best passports, three fourth-ranked ones, and 6 in seventh place.
The Henley Passport Index ranks nations with a easy factors system, the place a passport is given a single level for each nation it permits journey to with out requiring a visa or different authorities approval earlier than departing.
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What is essentially the most highly effective passport on this planet?
Coming in at primary within the Henley Passport Index is Japan, whose passport offers visa-free journey to 193 international locations.
The Asian nation has held the highest spot since 2018, and solely as soon as in 2016 has it been ranked outdoors the highest 5.
Singapore and South Korea are tied in second spot with 192 visa-free locations, and Spain and Germany have the third-most highly effective with 290.
At the underside of the checklist is Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, whose residents can solely journey to 27 international locations and not using a visa.
What international locations does an Australian passport provide you with visa-free journey to?
What are the toughest international locations to enter with an Australian passport?
There are 42 locations for which Australians require a visa earlier than departing.
The majority of them (23) are in Africa, though there are 9 Asian nations, together with common vacationer locations like Japan and Vietnam.
How lengthy are wait instances for passports?
DFAT is encouraging anybody who’s planning to journey within the subsequent six months – together with the upcoming summer season vacation interval – to use or renew their passport now.
A minimal of six weeks must be allowed, even in case you’re planning to make use of the precedence passport service.
How can I get a passport shortly?
You pays the precedence payment ($225) for quicker service however you will have to go to a passport workplace (or name to e-book an appointment) to use.
And you will have to supply “evidence of a compassionate or compelling need for immediate travel”, in accordance with DFAT.
“You should not book travel until you have a valid passport (your passport number will change when you renew it).”
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Why is there a brand new passport and the way is it totally different?
DFAT has launched Australia’s next-generation passport, the R Series, which started rolling out in September 2022 and now makes up all newly issued passports.
DFAT mentioned it is safer than the P Series, which has been Australia’s passport mannequin since 2014.
“In an Australian first, the R Series has a high-security photo page made of layered plastic, making the passport harder to forge and less susceptible to damage,” DFAT mentioned.
“The visa pages show 17 iconic Australian landscapes in spectacular true colour.”
The new passport is to “protect passport holders’ identity and personal information to the highest possible standards”.
It has extra safety features to forestall counterfeiting and establish theft.
Do I want to exchange my previous passport?
No, your passport will nonetheless be legitimate and extremely safe till it expires.
However you will need to examine the entry necessities of the nation you might be travelling to.
Many overseas governments require travellers to hold passports with at the very least six months’ validity past their deliberate keep.
Why is it known as the ‘R collection’?
It is the primary letter within the doc quantity (the passport quantity).
Does the R collection passport price extra?
No. The charges are the identical because the previous passport.
For a normal grownup passport with 10 years validity, it’s going to price $308.
Additional charges could apply for precedence processing, abroad surcharges and different doc identification providers.
Will the R collection passport point out King Charles III?
DFAT mentioned it will not initially reference the brand new king on the governor-general’s web page.
“There are long lead times for making blank passports, and pages for more than one million R Series had already been printed before the death of Her Majesty the Queen,” DFAT mentioned.
“We will exhaust existing stock before issuing passports with revised text that reflects the accession of His Majesty King Charles III.”
