_edited.png)
New Passport, Same Australian Visa? Update These Details Before Flying
Renewing your passport does not automatically update the passport number attached to your Australian immigration records. Before travelling, check that the new document is linked correctly and that you still have the right to return.
For most relevant visa holders and applicants, Home Affairs directs people to update their passport details through ImmiAccount. There is an important exception for Electronic Travel Authority subclass 601 holders.
Update the passport through the correct channel
In ImmiAccount, open the relevant application, go to its details and select “Update details”, then “Change of passport details”. Choose the applicant, enter the new information and reason for the change, and submit.
Check every digit carefully. Passport numbers can contain letters and numbers that look similar. Use the document itself, not a number copied from an old email.
Know when the web form applies
The Department provides a New Passport Details web form for circumstances where ImmiAccount cannot handle the change, including some applications that cannot be imported or are not visible, specified travel documents and certain changes to personal details.
Follow the link and instructions on the official passport-update page. Do not rely on an old paper Form 929 downloaded from an unrelated website.
ETA 601 holders need a different approach
Home Affairs expressly states that an existing ETA cannot be transferred to a new passport. If you hold an ETA and obtain a new passport, apply for a new ETA using that passport.
This is why “my visa is still valid” is not a sufficient travel check by itself. The visa type and the passport association both matter.
Allow time before departure
Home Affairs publishes processing guidance on its passport-update page. Check it when making the update and allow a margin for follow-up rather than leaving the change until check-in.
Save confirmation of the submission and a copy of the details entered. If the change has not appeared after the published timeframe, follow the Department’s contact guidance and identify your existing submission clearly.
Keep the family’s records separate
For a family travelling together, verify each person’s new passport details and visa position. Do not assume updating the main applicant changes every family member’s passport record.
A simple travel checklist can record each person’s name, passport expiry, current visa and any return-related deadline. Keep that checklist private: it contains sensitive identity information.
A passport update does not extend a visa
Treat passport linkage and travel permission as separate checks. Review the current visa, permitted stay and any travel facility relevant to your circumstances.
If you hold a bridging visa, get advice about travel before departing. If you are a permanent resident, check the travel facility rather than assuming a new passport resolves a return issue. The linked guides explain those separate topics.
What if my name changed as well?
Identify the name change when following the Department’s process and check what supporting evidence is requested. Retain the document connecting the old and new names.
Also compare your ticket, passport and immigration records. Airline requirements are separate, so resolve discrepancies with the relevant airline before travelling.
Should I carry the old passport?
Keep it available where appropriate and follow travel-provider instructions, but do not treat possession of both passports as a substitute for a required immigration update. The aim is to have accurate records before departure, not to explain an avoidable mismatch at the airport.
Official sources
Related guides
Find professional assistance
General information only, not legal or migration advice. Requirements can change; check current official guidance and obtain advice about your individual circumstances.
