How to Call the Australian Passport Office From Abroad
9/5/2026
Quick answer: For general passport information from overseas, call the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's switchboard at +61 2 6261 1111 and ask to be transferred. The domestic appointment line, 131 232, doesn't work from outside Australia. If your passport is genuinely lost or stolen while you're abroad, don't start with either number, contact your nearest Australian embassy or consulate, or the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre at +61 2 6261 3305.
Two very different situations
Most people land on this page for one of two reasons, and they need different things. If you're renewing a passport from overseas, checking an application, or have a general question, the DFAT switchboard can route you to the right passport team. If your passport has actually been lost or stolen while you're abroad, calling Canberra isn't the fastest path, that's what the consular network exists for.
The verified numbers
| Purpose | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General enquiries, from overseas | +61 2 6261 1111 | DFAT's Canberra switchboard, ask to be transferred to passport services |
| Domestic appointment line | 131 232 | A "13" number, doesn't work from outside Australia |
| 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre, from overseas | +61 2 6261 3305 | For lost/stolen passports and genuine emergencies while abroad |
Source: DFAT's official contact page and Smartraveller's passport services guidance.
If your passport is lost or stolen while you're abroad
Don't start with a phone call to Canberra. The process is:
- Contact your nearest Australian embassy or consulate, they handle emergency travel documents locally and know the specific requirements for the country you're in.
- Call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre, +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas, if you can't reach the embassy directly or need help outside its opening hours.
- Report the loss or theft, since a lost or stolen passport needs to be cancelled as part of getting a replacement or emergency document.
What to have ready before you call for a general enquiry
- Your passport application reference number, if you've already applied
- Your date of birth and current address
- Details of the specific issue: processing time, a renewal question, or a name change
Best time to call
The DFAT switchboard runs standard Australian business hours; the Consular Emergency Centre runs 24/7 for genuine emergencies.
- UK: Australia is 9 to 11 hours ahead, depending on daylight saving.
- US East Coast: Australia is 14 to 16 hours ahead.
- UAE/Gulf: Australia is 6 to 8 hours ahead.
- Singapore/Hong Kong: Australia is 2 to 3 hours ahead.
The cheaper way to actually make the call
For a general enquiry, expect some hold time on top of the standard international rate. With DialVia, you call the real number over Wi-Fi from your browser instead:
- Open DialVia and sign up (about 30 seconds)
- Select Australia as the destination
- Enter the number: 2 6261 1111
- Hit call
Frequently asked questions
What's the Australian Passport Office's number for calling from abroad? There's no dedicated passport-only overseas line, call DFAT's switchboard, +61 2 6261 1111, and ask to be transferred.
Does 131 232 work from overseas? No, it's a domestic-only "13" number, the same format Australian banks use for their everyday lines.
Should I call DFAT if my passport was stolen abroad? No, contact your nearest Australian embassy or consulate first, or the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre at +61 2 6261 3305 if you can't reach them.
Is the Consular Emergency Centre only for passports? No, it handles a range of genuine emergencies affecting Australians abroad, not just lost or stolen passports.
Need another Australian government office's number? See the full guide to calling Australian government offices from abroad, covering the ATO and Centrelink too.
👉 Try DialVia to call from your browser in 30 seconds. Didn't connect? You don't pay. Or return to the DialVia homepage to learn more.