xzibit

After being back in the UK for xmas, and packing up the remainder of my things (and collecting the fiance ) I am leaving back for oz at the end of Feb.

I've just noticed that my passport expires in October this year. Would it be much less hassle to renew it here before I leave, or renew it in 8/9 months time from Australia??

Also, my fiance is coming out with me, she will be entering on a WHV, and as long as she likes living and working in Australia, we plan to make it permanent and apply for a defacto for her. Again, I take it me having a new passport won't have any effect on this as it's not the original passport I applied for the visa with.

Thanks in advance to Pollyanna. (as I know she'll be the one to answer )

Pollyana

Not sure I should after toasting a FA Cup victory with a lot of champagne but here goes.......

Its cheaper and easier to renew in the UK - have a look at the sticky thread at the top of this forum, and you'll see that it has to go through Aus Post, to NZ, costs a lot more and takes about 6 weeks. As you have time to do it in the UK, I would go for it. I am going to renew my UK one while I'm there on holiday in April for the same reasons.

You visa is PR and has been validated so it doesn't matter that its in a different passport. Take both with you when you travel, and don't cut it too fine at check-in in case they want to check it with DIAC but it won't be a big issue.
When you get to Aus you can go to a DIAC office with both passports and they will but a label in your new passport for you

Hope that helps!!

louie

Also they add up to 9 months validity from the old passport to the new one (so if yours runs out in 8.5 months time, the new one will be valid for 10 years plus 8.5 months) so you don't actually lose out by applying now. Definitely best to do it in the UK.