The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will introduce an update to the current in-person process, with one or more organisations authorised to provide online applications for passport applications and renewals- gold!!!!!

This could potentially swap queues for clicks when it launches in the middle of 2017.

However, despite the new update, passport applicants will still need to go in person to have their identity verified, with a network of authorised travel agents mooted as one possible option for photographs and ID checks.

This means The Australian Post will lose its exclusive agency rights to provide services for ‘application lodgements’ on behalf of the Australian Passport Office at the end of June 2017.

DFAT expects to be handling an estimated three million passport applications per year by 2019, compared to 1.8 million in 2014-15.

Also Read: The government continues to introduce the passport-free travel between Australia and New Zealand through the adoption of a digital ‘cloud passport’. 

Also read: Tired of waiting for visa approvals? Here’s how to get a second passport!