If you're giving parental consent for a child passport, you need to sign the consent section in front of a witness.
If you’re completing a paper application form, you need a guarantor. The guarantor must sign section 11 of your application form and the back of one passport photo. They must use a black pen and write, 'This is a true photo of [your full name]'.
If you’re completing the online form in our application portal(Opens in a new tab/window), 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.
Check your guarantor or referee meets requirements
Your guarantor or referee must be an adult Australian citizen who has known you for more than 12 months, or since birth for children under one year of age.
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 or referee 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.
If you’re applying outside Australia and your guarantor is from overseas, they must be from an approved occupational group. Check with the Australian embassy or consulate(Opens in a new tab/window) where you'll be lodging your application.
Provide details of your guarantor or referee
Your application must include the details of your guarantor or referee, including their:
full name
date of birth
daytime phone number
Australian passport details or their address as it appears on the electoral roll.
If your guarantor is from overseas, you must also provide their professional details.
If you’re providing consent for a child passport application in Australia, you'll need someone to witness your consent.
Each person with parental responsibility for the child must provide their consent in writing by signing the consent page of the application form. That signed consent must be witnessed by someone aged over 18 who is not:
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 them.
That person does not need to be an Australian citizen. They may (but do not need to):
act as a witness for more than one person giving consent
be the child's guarantor.
Need help?
If you need help or advice with any part of the process, contact us.
