Delegations & Authorisations

Legal basis

The Australian Passports Act 2005, Section 6, defines various officers who may be authorised by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make decisions and perform functions under the Act. The full schedule of Ministerial Delegations can be found in the Australian Passports Act 2005 – Authorisations and Delegations.

Who can be an Authorised Officer

An Authorised Officer means an officer authorised by the Minister for Foreign Affairs under the Australian Passports Act 2005, Sections 7 and 9, to approve the issue of passports and travel documents.

Authorised Officers: Australia

In Australia, the Minister has delegated as Authorised Officers the following positions:

• Executive Director, Australian Passport Office,


• Assistant Secretary, Passport Client Services Branch,


• Assistant Secretary, Passport Business Improvement and Integrity Branch,


• Assistant Secretary, Domestic Legal Branch,


• Director, Passport Workload Management Section,


• Director, Passport Fraud Section,


• Director, Passport Policy and Operations Section,


• Australian Regional Passport Director at EL2


• Officers at EL1 or APS 6 level, Passport Client Services Branch,


• Manager, State or Territory Passport Office,


• Officers at EL1 or APS6 level, State or Territory Passport Office,


• Eligibility officer in a State or Territory Passport Office, or in a Regional Eligibility Centre,


• DFAT Consular Emergency Centre Officer,

Authorised Officers: Overseas

Overseas, the Minister has delegated as Authorised Officers the following positions:

• All accredited Diplomatic and Consular Officers;


• Director and Deputy Directors, ACIO, Taipei;


• Accredited Honorary Consul, Australian Consulate, Vancouver, Canada;


• Other accredited Honorary Consuls (for Provisional Travel Documents only);


• Director, Consular/Passports Section, Australian Embassy, Washington;


• Manager, Passport Production Centre, Australian Embassy, Washington;


• Manager – Passports, Australian High Commission, London.


• Locally Engaged Staff members of Australian Diplomatic or Consular Missions who are Australian Citizens, hold confidential level security clearances and are authorised by the Assistant Secretary Passport Client Services Branch (AS PCB).


• DFAT Officer posted on a short-term mission or a short term-assignment.

Note: *Posts seeking to have an LES staff member approved to perform the function of authorising officer should seek approval from AS PCB via cable.*

Note: **Approved Canadian Consular Officers at Canadian Responsible missions may issue Provisional Travel Documents (PTD) when given specific approval do to so by the Authorised Officer at their Australian supervising mission.**