Yes, you can get an Australian passport in about a week or even faster (2-5 business days) if you pay extra for Priority (2-day) or Fast Track (5-day) processing, provided your application is complete and you meet eligibility, with collection often available to skip postal delays. Standard processing takes much longer (around 6 weeks), so urgent travel requires using these express services or applying for an Emergency Passport for truly immediate needs.
Priority service (2-day processing)
Our Priority service costs $308 in addition to the standard passport application fee. Your passport will be processed in 2 business days after we receive your completed application, including all supporting documentation.
Dispatch and Delivery: Once the verification is complete, your passport will be dispatched. You can track the progress of your application online using your application reference number. Delivery Time: The Tatkal passport is delivered faster, and in most cases, you will receive it within a week of the application date.
1 week fast track
The earliest you can get an appointment is the next day after you apply. Your new passport will be delivered to you by courier 1 week after your appointment. You can use this service to: renew a passport.
The earliest appointment you can get is on the day after you apply. Your new passport will be delivered to your home address within a week of your appointment. The 1 week fast track service costs £166.50 for an adult passport, or £135.50 for a child.
Report lost passport immediately using Form DS-64 to cancel it; you cannot later travel with it. If travel is within 72 hours, get an urgent appointment at a passport agency or U.S. embassy. If replacement isn't possible, change or cancel flights, contact airline for refunds or credits, check travel insurance.
Enter your postcode to find your nearest Passport Customer Service Centre. You must book an appointment for an urgent passport application before you call or visit a centre. Use the normal service if you do not need a passport urgently.
An emergency passport is valid for one year or less, and is for U.S. citizens who must return to the United States as soon as possible from a foreign country.
Fast-track passport fees vary significantly by country, with Australia offering a 5-day service for an extra ~$107 AUD and a 2-day priority for ~$308 AUD (as of early 2026), while the UK has options like a 1-week Fast Track for around £166.50 (plus application fee). These fees are in addition to standard passport costs and are for expedited processing, not the base passport fee itself, with specific costs and timelines depending on your location and service level.
It will take about 7-21 working days to process the application and issue the passport. The tourist passport is valid for 10 years. Note: Passports must be valid for at least 30 days after the intended departure date.
Processing Times
For urgent Australian passports, you pay the standard fee plus an extra fee for faster processing: Priority (2-day) costs an extra $308, while Fast Track (5-day) costs an extra $107, with these times starting after receiving your complete application. An Emergency Passport (limited validity) costs around $265 (check embassy for exact current rate).
You'll usually get your passport within 3 weeks.
How long will it take to get a Tatkaal Passport? After successful application form submission, with final status as "Granted", you can expect your Passport to be dispatched on third working day excluding the date of submission of application - without waiting for the Police Verification Report.
South African citizens who have to travel urgently for reasons of death, sickness or other emergency /urgent matter e.g. loss or theft of passport while overseas, are entitled to an emergency travel certificate, which is valid only for a single journey e.g. to return to the Republic of South Africa.
Emergency passports are usually issued with seven months validity. This allows one month of travel and six months for visa or entry purposes. In exceptional circumstances, it may be issued for up to 12 months.
Urgent passport
There are 2 options for faster processing: Priority (2-day processing) service: we process your application within 2 business days of receiving it. Fast Track (5-day processing) service: we process your application within 5 business days of receiving it.
Expedited. Choose this service if you are traveling in less than 6 weeks from the date you submit your application. Expedited service takes 2-3 weeks and does not include mailing times. Mailing times may add 2 weeks on to the total time to get your passport.
Unfortunately, while a simple renewal can be done in a day, a lost passport cannot be replaced using the Passport Office's one-day Premium Service.
You may need to reschedule your trip if your passport doesn't arrive in time. Contact your airline or travel provider to learn about your options and any potential fees for changes.
If you lose your passport, immediately report it to your government's passport agency (online or by phone) to get it cancelled and prevent misuse, then contact your nearest embassy or consulate if abroad to apply for an emergency or replacement passport, and file a police report if stolen, keeping a copy for your records.
The absolute fastest way to get a passport is often a 2-day priority service, available in countries like Australia for an extra fee, after they receive your complete application and documents. For even more urgent situations, potentially within 24 hours in some cases, some countries offer passport agencies/RAPID locations for immediate pickup or processing, often requiring proof of immediate international travel (within days or weeks), though this varies by country and eligibility criteria, with U.S. citizens needing life-or-death emergencies for the fastest options.
Pose and Expression
Use a neutral facial expression or natural smile. Avoid showing teeth. Look directly at the camera with your eyes open. Make sure that your eyes are not obstructed or covered by your hair.
The US State Department advises you to take your picture in “clothing normally worn on a daily basis” in darker colors and without patterns. Plain t-shirts and collar shirts are appropriate, but uniforms and certain accessories (e.g., a hat) aren't allowed.