Queensland state office  

About us

Our office can:

• Issue passports
• Provide speakers to business, community or school groups on foreign or trade policy issues
• Arrange consultations for business or community groups with Australian trade negotiators
• Provide information on the international trade environment to exporters including publications
• Authentications and Apostilles against official signatures on documents
• Assist members of the public to access the consular services provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Assist members of the public with information about travelling overseas

Speakers

The Queensland State Office aims to raise awareness and understanding in Queensland of Australia's foreign policy, trade policy, and other portfolio issues. Please telephone (07) 3405 4799 if you would like someone from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to speak to your organisation.

In recent months, for example, the State Director and Deputy State Director have been guest speakers on current issues to industry and export forums, a senior secondary economics teachers' meeting, international relations tertiary students and community groups such as Rotary International. Topics have included:

• Foreign and trade policy issues
• Free trade agreements, trade negotiations and outcomes
• Long-term benefits that trade brings to Queensland
• Assistance to Australians travelling overseas (the ‘consular' role)
• Working in the Department, and recruitment of graduate trainees

For more information about the practical aspects of exporting see Austrade

Consultations

Working towards lower barriers for Australian exporters is an important objective for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Department's ability to advance the interests of Australian exporters depends in large part on the information provided to it by the business community. If you are facing barriers in getting your exports onto foreign markets, please advise this office by contacting our State Director or Deputy State Director on (07) 3405 4799 or fax (07) 3405 4782.

The Queensland State Office runs seminars and consultations in Brisbane and regional areas on trade issues, including developments in negotiations in the World Trade Organisation and in negotiations towards bilateral free trade agreements with other countries. If you would like to be notified of future events, or would like to participate in government-business consultations on specific trade negotiations, please register your contact details and particular areas of interest by requesting a Database Registration Form by email: dfatbris@dfat.gov.au

Information on the international trade environment

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade can help you access information about the global, regional or country environment into which you are seeking to export your goods and services.

A considerable amount of material is available direct from our country information.

Publications

An extensive range of publications on Australia, Australian foreign and trade policies and the economic and political climate in other countries:

Publications

Authentications and Apostilles

Overseas governments sometimes need proof that Australian documents are genuine before they will accept them. Please confirm requirements with the Embassy or Consulate of the country you are submitting the documents to. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will certify that official signatures, stamps or seals on a document are genuine by checking them against a specimen held on file, and stamping the document with an Authentication or Apostille.

In most cases, documents can be processed in 24 hours (available the next working day). There may be a delay if we do not have a specimen signature on file of the person who has signed your document (this means we will need to verify their signature), or at peak times (such as during university graduation periods).

Cost for Authentications and Apostilles

The cost for an authentication of a document is $20 AUD per page, or $40 AUD for multiple pages or bindings.

The cost for an Apostille is $60 AUD per page, of $80 AUD for multiple pages or bindings.

Please see the frequently asked questions page if you are unsure of which type of stamp you require.

Document lodgement

Documents can be lodged in person or sent via post.

Our counter hours are 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Monday to Friday. No appointment is required.

If posting your documents, payment can be made via the below methods:

• bank cheque or money order made payable to the "Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade"
• via credit card authorisation form available at the below link, or by requesting the form via email, dfatbris@dfat.gov.au. We can only take payment by Visa or MasterCard.

Document Legalisation request and Credit Card Authorisation [PDF 219 KB]

If mailing your document please post it, together with payment, to:

Consular Section
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
GPO Box 879
Brisbane Qld 4001

The cost of returning your document by ordinary post is included in the fee. Please indicate how you would like your document/s returned on the Document Legalisation request form. If you would like your document returned via registered mail, please include a stamped, self-addressed registered envelope.

Overseas postage

If you are overseas and wish your document to be returned by Express Courier International (ECI) (Australia Post) please include extra payment of:

• AU$33.25 — Asia/Pacific
• AU$37.00 — USA/Canada/Middle East
• AU$39.45 — Rest of the World.

We can also post documents via regular unregistered Airmail at no extra cost. We do not take any responsibility for documents once they have been posted.

All payment must be in Australian dollars

Employment

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade recruits both graduates and non-graduates for a range of positions. The Department offers a varied and challenging career advancing Australia's international political, economic, consular and security interests.

The Queensland State Office does not recruit employees directly, and there are no opportunities for work experience within the office.

Australian Passport Office — Brisbane

You can lodge your application for an Australian Passport at an Australia Post outlet.

In certain circumstances you may lodge at our Passport Office.

Lodgement is by appointment only.

Please phone the Australian Passport Information Service on 131 232 for enquires regarding your application and to schedule your appointment.

The Passport Office is located on the 4th floor, 295 Ann Street, Brisbane. The office counter business hours are 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday to Friday. Passport application forms can be obtained from most Australia Post outlets, downloaded from our passports website or from the Australian Passport Office - Brisbane.

For information, contact the Australian Passport Information Service by telephone on 131 232. If you have an enquiry that cannot be answered using the hotline or website, you can also email the Australian Passport Office: passports.australia@dfat.gov.au.

Brisbane visitors program

For further information please contact:

Geoff Kelly
Queensland State Office
Phone: (07) 3405 4775
Email: dfatbris@dfat.gov.au

Queensland State Director, Mr John Michell

Mr Michell is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He took up the position of Director of the DFAT Queensland office on 2 November 2009. Over the period August 2007-October 2009, Mr Michell held the equivalent position as DFAT Director in South Australia.

From May 2004 to June 2007 Mr Michell was Australia’s High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, with non-resident accreditation to thirteen other Caribbean countries.

Mr Michell has also served abroad as Deputy Head of Mission in Dili, East Timor (2001-03). He was Deputy High Commissioner in Honiara, Solomon Islands, from 1995-98 and has completed assignments as Chief Negotiator for the Australian-led Peace Monitoring Group on Bougainville (September-December 1999) and political adviser to the Solomon Islands Ceasefire/Peace Monitoring Council (August-December 2000).

In Canberra, Mr Michell's placements have included Director Australian-Indonesia Institute, Deputy Director Papua New Guinea Section, and Executive Officer East Asia Branch.

Mr Michell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours in International Relations from Deakin University.