I already have one package at the post office and a second one coming by courier tomorrow. Can't be there to pick up either but I hope the statutory declaration works with both or else I have a plane flight down south coming up just to sign on the dotted line...

Might do.
As Pen says it can depend on who is doing the delivering. If they have to pick up from the Post Office it can also depend on their helpfulness - I'm no lover of Aus Post but my local post office these days is great, they let someone from work pick up an item (that needed ID) for me once by talking to me on the phone when I couldn't get in to pick something up myself. Admittedly I do use the place a lot, but they still didn't have to go out of their way for me.

Actually courier A didn't end up leaving the package at the PO, so as a result we had two different DHL couriers over today (corporate efficiency, eh?). Neither required anything docs and both packages are now in safe hands awaiting my arrival.

Hi all! I hope you don't mind me jumping in on the conversation 😊.
I'm due to fly out to Adelaide in November 2016 and my passport is valid until December 2018. After reading all your posts I'm wondering, is it worth renewing my passport before I leave at the end of the year, to give me that peace of mind and save a lot of hassle, or have you all found the process applying from Australia pretty easy going and think it would be worth just leaving until nearer the expiry?

Thanks for you help 😊

I thought you couldn't renew a passport unless there was 9 months or less life left in it (ignoring the lost/stolen ones). Fairly sure you can't renew one that has 2 years left. Maybe things have changed.

That was one thing I hadn't looked in too. Night shift brain, sorry! If that's the case then that makes my decision a whole lot easier and one less thing to worry about. Thank you!

What forms of ID will I have to send along with my Birth Certificate and Passport Photos as I haven't had a Passport since the 70's and how long does it normally take for a re-entry Visa to come through. Thanks

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports will have lists of the documents required.

Not sure what you mean about a re-entry visa? If you are British you do not need a visa to enter the UK.

I've been living in Australia for the past 50 Years but haven't been naturalised so require a re-entry Permit to return to Australia.

Ah, right,y ou need a Resident Return Visa - see here http://www.border.gov.au/FormsAndDoc...ments/1085.pdf - totally separate from your passport application as the RRV comes from DIBP (Australian Immigration)

Just received my new UK passport - about 2 weeks after posting the application. So pretty quick

The new online application process is pretty straightforward and painless

Do I recall correctly that previously we had to get our photos countersigned each time?

Right now the passport process is smooth as silk. Type in some info online, print, sign, throw in two photos, and off it goes.

P.S. Keep in mind that up to 9 months of the validity of the current passport can be transferred over to the new one, so there's no reason to wait until the last moment to renew in order to make those passports last as long as possible.

Does anyone know whether child passports also get this extension?

Not sure what you mean by extension.

AFAIK they do.