Passports
Information about Australian passports, including passport applications, supporting documents and photograph requirements, is available on the Australian Passport Office website.
Lodgement by mail
As of 1 January 2023, eligible passport renewal applications (child and adult) can be lodged by mail. Eligibility criteria are listed below.
Adult Applicants
To be eligible for streamlined renewal by mail, you must be 18 years and over and have a passport that:
- was issued when you were aged 16 or older
- was issued on or after 1 January 2006
- had, when it was issued, at least two years’ validity
- has your current name, date of birth, place of birth and gender, and
- has not been reported lost, stolen, or cancelled.
If you can answer yes to all the above, complete your passport renewal application (PC7) online and return it to us by courier. For more information, please visit this link.
If you answer no to any of the above, you must lodge a full application in person by appointment.
Child Applicants
Child passport applications (PC8) can be mailed-in, provided the applicant is:
- aged up to 15 years old, and
- has held a previous passport
If you can answer yes to the above, follow the instructions in this guide and review this checklist prior to sending your application.
For first-time child applications and applicants aged 16 or 17, the application must be lodged in person by appointment only. Only applicants aged 16/17 are required to attend the appointment with the lodging person(s). Please visit How to get a child passport | Australian Passport Office (passports.gov.au).
Passport appointments can be booked here:
Emergency Passports
If you need to travel urgently but are not in possession of your passport, you may be eligible to apply for an Emergency Passport. Please contact the Embassy for further advice. Please note that emergency passports are not accepted for entry into Kuwait.
Processing Times
You should allow a minimum of 6 weeks to receive a passport from the date your complete application is received. To minimise processing time, make sure your application includes everything we need. Priority processing is not available in Kuwait.
We encourage Australians living overseas to regularly check their passport and plan its replacement well ahead of the expiry date. If you intend to travel, ensure you have sufficient time to replace passports and visas where needed. Some countries require that passports have at least six months’ validity to permit entry or obtain a visa.
Important Note: For Australians residing in Kuwait, please note that your passport must be valid for a minimum of one year for the issuance and renewal of residency permits. Please ensure your passport validity is in line with the validity of your residency in Kuwait to avoid any legal issues that may arise from not having a valid residency permit in Kuwait.
Passport Collection
Passports can be collected from Sunday to Thursday between 01:00pm and 03:00pm (excluding Embassy public holidays) by booking an appointment. You will need to bring your previous passport with you. Please contact the Embassy if you are unable to collect your passport during this timeframe. If you cannot collect your/your child’s passport yourself, you can issue a signed letter of authority to a representative.
Passport collection appointments can be booked here:
Passport Fees
Passport fees increase every year based on the Consumer Price Index.
Passport applications lodged overseas incur an additional overseas application fee (overseas surcharge). Passport fees can be found here. Note that you must pay in the local currency (KWD) at the nominated exchange rate (subject to variations) at the time of lodgement.
Passport fees as of 1 October 2024:
Type |
Validity |
Passport Fee AUD |
Overseas Surcharge AUD |
Passport Fee KWD |
Overseas Surcharge KWD |
Total KWD |
Adult (18 and over) |
10 years |
398 |
177 |
81 |
36 |
117 |
Senior (75 and over) |
5 years |
201 |
178 |
41 |
36 |
77 |
Child (Under 16) |
5 years |
201 |
87 |
41 |
18 |
59 |
Child (16-17) |
10 years |
398 |
87 |
81 |
18 |
99 |
Replacement Passport *For applicants who have full visa pages and more than two years’ validity remaining |
Expiry date of current passport |
250 |
- |
51 |
- |
51 |
Emergency Passport |
Limited |
250 |
- |
51 |
- |
51 |