Guarantors, referees and witnesses

You need a guarantor if you're:

• completing a paper adult or child application form
• completing a child passport application form (both paper and online).

Your guarantor must use a black pen to:

• sign section 11 of the application form
• sign the back of one passport photo
• write the following words on the back of the photo: 'This is a true photo of [applicant's full name]'.

Your guarantor must also be willing to confirm the applicant's identity if we contact them.

If you're completing an adult passport application form online, through our application portal, you need a referee. A referee doesn't need to sign anything, but they must be willing to confirm your identity if we contact them.

If you’re giving consent for a child passport application in Australia, you must get someone to witness your signature.

Each person with parental responsibility for the child must sign the consent section of the application form in front of a witness.

Who can witness your signature

Your witness must be over 18 and must not be:

• related to the child by birth or marriage
• in a de facto or registered relationship with anyone who has parental responsibility for the child
• living at the same address as the child or anyone with parental responsibility for the child.

That person does not need to be an Australian citizen. They can also:

• act as a witness for more than one person giving consent
• be the child's guarantor.

Your guarantor or referee must be an adult Australian citizen who has known you or your child for more than 12 months. If the child is under one year old, the guarantor must have known the child since birth.

They must also have a current Australian passport with at least 2 years' validity, or be listed on the Australian electoral roll at their current address for at least 12 months.

Your guarantor or referee must not be:

• related to you by birth or marriage
• in a de facto or registered relationship with you
• living at the same address as you
• an Australian Passport Officer (including at overseas posts)
• an Australia Post employee.

If you’re applying for a child passport, their guarantor must not be:

• related to the child by birth or marriage
• anyone who has parental responsibility for the child
• related to anyone who has parental responsibility for the child
• in a de facto or registered relationship with anyone who has parental responsibility
• living at the same address as the child or a person with parental responsibility
• an Australian Passport Officer (including at overseas posts)
• an Australia Post employee.

You can only use a guarantor who lives outside Australia if you're applying for the child's passport from outside Australia. They must either be an Australian citizen with a current Australian passport, or work in an approved occupational group. Check with the Australian embassy or consulate(Opens in a new tab/window) where you'll be lodging your application. 

Your application must include the details of your guarantor or referee's:

• full name
• date of birth
• daytime phone number
• Australian passport details, or their address as it appears on the electoral roll.  

If you're applying outside Australia and your guarantor lives outside Australia, you must also provide the details of their occupation.