11.

7
Solving travel
problems: passports
Documentation
Australian passports replaced British passports for
Australian citizens in 1949. On average, one Australian
passport is issued every 27.5 seconds. They are issued only
to Australian citizens. An adults passport is valid for ten
years and a childs is valid for five years. Both parents must
sign a childs passport application. Passport application
forms are available from Australia Post offices.
It generally takes ten working days for a passport
to be approved. However, at busy times, such as
Christmas, it may take longer. People must also allow
time for postage.
A visa is a stamp in a passport that provides
permission to enter a particular country. It does
A valid passport
not guarantee entry though. Visas can be applied
is necessary to travel between
for at a nations embassy or consular office and, for
countries.
many countries, should be obtained prior to leaving
Australia.
When applying for a replacement passport, you
There are many different types of visa available,
will need to:
but generally they stipulate that a person may stay
s complete a new passport application form
in the country for a set period of time; for example,
s provide details of the lost/stolen passport
14 days. Failure to depart the country by the due
s attend an interview
date may result in a fine and deportation.
s pay the current application fee
Some countries ask visitors to present return
s pay the appropriate lost/stolen passport fee.
tickets and evidence of sufficient money to cover
If you are outside Australia and your passport is
their intended stay. Other countries have compulsory
lost or stolen, you must immediately report the loss
currency exchange regulations on entry and some
online or to the nearest Australian diplomatic or
refuse entry to visitors who do not comply with
consular mission. In certain circumstances, such as
requirements regarding general appearance and
short-term travel overseas, you may be issued with a
clothing.
limited validity passport if you are unable to meet all
the requirements for a fully valid passport.

Lost or stolen passports

Australian passports are a prime target for theft.

They can be sold for a considerable sum of money
or used for other illegal purposes. At all times, you
must ensure the security of your passport. It is a
good idea to use the hotel safe deposit boxes for
valuables such as passports and return air tickets. If
your passport is lost or stolen, it can cause a great
deal of inconvenience.
If you are in Australia, you must report the loss
with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as
soon as possible either by phone or online.

258

New Concepts in Commerce

Comfact
In 1950, 30 000 Australian passports were issued to
travellers. By 2000, this number had risen to nearly
1 450 000. Passport production accounted for 37 tonnes
of paper, 95 500 metres of thread, 69 000 metres of gold
foil and 1100 litres of glue. From 2005, a new Australian
ePassport was introduced. It uses sophisticated digital
technology, including photographs of travellers faces
stored on microchips.

Casestudy
A cautionary travel tale
Marlee had finally arrived in Turkey. She was exhausted
after her 20-hour flight from Sydney, but she figured a
shower and a change of clothes at the backpacker hostel
would soon refresh her. The next day she would leave to
meet up with her friends at Gallipoli to commemorate Anzac
Day. It was something she had always wanted to do after her
grandmother had told her about her great-great grandfather
who had been one of the original Anzacs. But, first, she
wanted to explore Istanbul while there was still daylight.

Activities
Understand
1 Complete the following sentences using the words from
the list below.
Department
deposit
visa

adults
Post
inconvenience

1949
tickets
consular

(a) Australian passports have been in use since

.
(b) An
passport is valid for ten years and a
childs is valid for five years.
(c) Passport application forms are available from
Australia
offices.
(d) A
is generally a stamp in a passport that
provides permission to enter a particular country.

Unsure of the local customs, she didnt want to be out after

dark by herself. After checking in and freshening up, she
tucked her backpack under her bunk and closed the door.
There was no-one else sharing the room, it seemed, so she
hoped for a good nights sleep. After three hours marvelling
at the architecture of Istanbul, especially the Blue Mosque,
she returned to her hostel and her room. Retrieving her
backpack from under the bunk, she searched the inside
zipper compartment for her travel documents to check
her arrangements for the next day. To her horror, all her
documents, including her passport, were missing. She sat on
the bunk in a cold sweat. What should she do now?

(e) Some countries ask visitors to present return

and evidence of sufficient money to
cover their intended stay.
boxes should be used
(f) Hotel safe
for valuables such as passports and return air
tickets.
(g) If you have lost your passport and you are in
of
Australia, you should contact the
Foreign Affairs and Trade.
(h) If you have lost your passport and you are outside
Australia, you must report it online or to the nearest
mission.
diplomatic or
(i) If your passport is lost or stolen, it will cause a great
.
deal of
Think
2 Read the case study above and, in small groups, discuss
what Marlee should do next. What steps should she have
taken to avoid this happening?

Chapter 11 Travel

259