Can I Apply for an Australian Visa with an Expired Passport?

One of the most fundamental requirements for travelling to or remaining in Australia is proving your identity under Public Interest Criterion (PIC) 4021; this means holding a valid passport. To apply for a standard Australian visa, you need a valid travel document. However, if your passport expires before you apply, during processing, or after your visa is granted, it changes how you handle the situation.

1. Applying with an Expired Passport

For standard visa pathways, such as Employer-Sponsored, Partner, Student, or Skilled visas, you cannot lodge a valid application with an expired passport.

When you lodge an application through ImmiAccount, the system requires you to input your current passport details, including the issue and expiry dates. If your passport has expired, the system will flag it, and the application will be deemed invalid. If an application is invalid, it is treated as though it was never lodged, meaning you will not be granted a Bridging Visa to stay in Australia.

The only notable exceptions exist within the humanitarian and refugee visa streams, or for stateless individuals, where the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) acknowledges that the applicant may genuinely be unable to obtain a valid passport from their home country.

2. What If My Passport Expires While My Visa is Processing?

Because Australian visa processing can take months or even years, it is common for an applicant’s passport to expire while they wait for a decision. This will not ruin your application, but you have a legal obligation to keep the Department updated. You must:

Apply to your home country's embassy or consulate for a new passport as soon as possible.
Once the new passport is issued, update DoHA immediately.
You can do this electronically via your ImmiAccount using the "Update details" function, or by completing the Department's web form.

If you fail to provide your new passport details, your visa may be granted to your old, expired passport, which will cause significant issues if you attempt to travel.

3. What If My Current Visa is Expiring, but My Passport is Expired?

If your current Australian visa is about to expire, but you cannot lodge a new visa application because your passport has expired, you risk becoming an unlawful non-citizen.

Overstaying your visa can lead to multiple visa issues such as visa bans and detention. In this scenario, you must immediately contact your embassy to obtain an emergency passport or travel document, and at the same time, you must seek urgent legal advice to explore your options for remaining lawful in Australia from an experienced immigration lawyer while you wait for your new passport. Read: When to Engage an Immigration Lawyer: Benefits, Timing, and What to Expect

4. What If I Get a New Passport After My Visa is Granted?

Your visa is digitally linked to the passport you used when the visa was granted. If you renew your passport after your visa is granted, your valid visa is still attached to the old, expired passport in the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system. You cannot simply travel with both passports. You must update your passport details, so the Department can link your active visa to your new passport. If you fail to do this, airline staff will not be able to see your visa at check-in, and you will be denied boarding.

5. What if I Cannot Renew My Passport at the Home Country's Embassy?

In some complex situations, an applicant cannot obtain or renew a passport due to their specific circumstances. This often applies to individuals fleeing persecution from their home country, stateless persons, or nationals of countries experiencing severe political collapse without functioning consular services in Australia. If it is impossible or unsafe to renew your passport, the DoHA may accept alternative official travel documents, such as an ImmiCard and others.

For standard visa subclasses, you may need to formally request that the Department waive the strict passport requirement. To succeed, you must provide compelling evidence proving your identity through other means and demonstrating that your inability to secure a passport is entirely beyond your control. We highly recommend engaging an experienced immigration lawyer to help you with this waiver.

Read our clients’ testimonials on Agape Henry Crux and Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law, Jason Ling.

How Can Agape Henry Crux Help

At Agape Henry Crux, our specialised Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law - Jason Ling or Angela De Silva have extensive experience dealing with complex visa matters. We can help you navigate these complicated circumstances and build the strongest possible case to maximise your chances of remaining in Australia. If you are unsure or in doubt, consider arranging a consultation with us for tailored professional advice and guidance on your next step. You can book a consultation by calling 02-8310 5230 or emailing info@ahclawyers.com.

We speak fluent English and Mandarin. If this isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.

Our founder and principal lawyer, Jason Ling, is recognised in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia™ and the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia™. Agape Henry Crux is named as Best Immigration Law Firm 2025 - Sydney by APAC Insider Awards and in the 2027 edition of The Best Law Firms™ - Australia.

This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances, please contact our office.

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