Lost/stolen fee refund

Outside of applicants control

Outside of applicants control: lost/stolen fee refund

The lost/stolen fee may be refunded under the Australian Passports Determination Section 8.3(4) where:

• the refund application is made within three months after issue of the replacement travel document to which the fee relates; and


• the applicant can prove they could not reasonably be regarded as having caused or contributed to the loss or theft which is determined by whether the loss or theft was outside their control and not in any way a result of their carelessness; and


• the circumstances of the loss or theft are not covered by an insurance policy (irrespective of whether the insurance actually pays the claim).

Where a refund is approved the amount of the refund will be equal to the additional lost and stolen fee paid on the travel document for which the fee is paid.

Recovered passports

The lost/stolen fee may be refunded under the Australian Passports Determination, Section 8.3(5) where:

• an applicant, having reported a travel document as lost or stolen and having paid an additional fee for a replacement document, recovers the lost/stolen travel document and makes it available to a Passport Office or an Australian diplomatic mission or consulate for physical cancellation within 3 months of the travel document having been recorded by the APO as lost or stolen; and


• the applicant applies for a refund within 3 months after the lost/stolen travel document was recorded by the APO as lost/stolen.

Where a refund is approved the amount will be a one-off payment equivalent to the basic lost or stolen travel document fee. Any such payment does not affect the summing of lost and stolen travel documents over any subsequent periods for that individual.

The aim is to encourage the return of these travel documents so they can be physically cancelled and in so doing avoid the possibility of being used for illegal purposes.

Extenuating circumstances

The lost/stolen fee may be refunded under the Australian Passports Determination, Section 8.3(6) where:

• The APO has erred in interpreting the Passport Legislation, leading to an incorrect decision to refuse the refund.


• A natural disaster occurs and it is recommended to the Minister that travel documents are replaced gratis, but an application was lodged and a lost/stolen fee had been paid, prior to the Minister agreeing to waive passport fees.


• An authorised authority seizes a travel document that is no longer valid for travel (e.g. seriously damaged) and the travel document is lost by the authority.

Fee refund request

Fee refund request – lost/stolen

All claims for a refund of a lost/stolen fee must be in writing to the Manager, Australian Passports Office in the capital city of the applicant’s state or territory of residence. If overseas, the claim for refund must be in writing to the Consul at the Australian mission where the application was lodged. The claim may be made in a letter or on a B11 General Declaration form.

The applicant must submit their claim for refund in writing and provide the following details:

• Full name;


• Passport number;


• Date and place of lodgement of the application;


• Compassionate circumstances supporting the claim for refund;


• Confirmation that the applicant cannot claim reimbursement of the additional lost/stolen fee from a personal, household, or other insurance policy;


• If the passport was reported stolen, the original police report explaining the circumstances; and


• Address where a refund, if granted, is to be sent.