News

The Australian Government has taken rapid action to protect victims from identify fraud following the Optus cyberattack in September.

Optus has advised the Australian Passport Office (APO) that over 100,000 Australian passport numbers were compromised as a result of this cyberattack. Optus is contacting impacted customers directly.

If Optus has advised you that your passport number was compromised through this incident, you don’t need to replace your Australian passport.

Your passport is still safe to use for international travel. The passport numbers cannot be used to obtain a new passport. Robust controls are used to protect passports from identity takeover, including sophisticated facial recognition technology.

The Government has taken action to ensure Australian passports compromised as part of the Optus breach won’t verify through the Document Verification System (DVS). This will safeguard customers' personal identity information online.

Government departments, and financial organisations like banks, use the DVS to check identity documents online. They ensure they are valid before they grant access to health and welfare payments or financial services, such as home loans.

This measure complements the Government’s amendments to the Telecommunications Regulations, which enable telecommunications companies to temporarily share approved government identifier information with regulated financial service entities.

Once a customer's Australian passport has been blocked through the DVS, they can still take their passport physically with them to an institution or establishment as proof of identity.

More information:

• Contact Optus customer service directly on 133 937, or go to their Passport Information webpage
• Go to our Frequently Asked Questions on the Optus data breach and passport information
• See the Australian Cyber Security Centre's Optus data breach alert.

If you’re thinking of travelling overseas during the summer break, plan ahead. 

Like many countries, Australia is experiencing unprecedented demand for passports. 

If you need a new passport, you should lodge your application now. Where possible, don’t book flights without a valid passport. 

If you can’t wait at least six weeks for your passport, you can use our priority passport processing service.  

If you’ve already booked your trip and need a passport, please call 131 232 to let us know your travel dates. 

For more information on how we prioritise passport applications go to our Frequently Asked Questions page. 

Like many countries, we’re experiencing unprecedented demand for passports. We prioritise applications for customers who are travelling in the next 3 days. Call us on 131 232 and let us know your travel dates.  

We recommend you allow a minimum of six weeks to get your new passport.  Where possible, don’t book flights without a valid passport. If you can’t wait at least six weeks for your passport, you can use our priority passport processing service. For more information, visit our urgent applications page. 

For more information on how we prioritise applications, go to our Frequently Asked Questions page. 

The production and issuance of Australian passports will be unaffected by the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

All current Australian passports remain valid.

Australian passports will change in the future to reflect the accession of His Majesty King Charles III.

Customers are currently unable to track the delivery of their passport.

We’re working to fix this issue as soon as possible and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

This issue doesn’t impact the delivery of passports, only the tracking service.

You’ll still receive an email from us confirming your passport is being delivered by Australia Post, via registered mail.  If you haven’t included an email address in your application, you’ll be sent an SMS message instead.

While delivery times vary, typically it takes between 2-6 business days for your passport to arrive.  For more information, go to Australia Post’s website.

You’ll be asked to sign for your passport on delivery.  If you’re not home, a card will be left with instructions on where to collect your passport, usually the nearest Australia Post outlet.

If you’ve received a message that your passport is being delivered, but you’re concerned that it won’t arrive in time for you to travel, please call us on 131 232.