International travel: Australians urged to renew passports as flight bookings grow

With an international border reopening on the horizon, 750,000 Australians have been warned they must do one key thing to their passports if they want to take off.

Hundreds of thousands of Australians are being urged to renew their passports as international travel bookings take off.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade data shows that there are 13.3 million travel documents in circulation, and 750,000 of them are due to expire before the end of March, 2022.

Some countries, such as China, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, will not let visitors enter on a passport that expires in less than six months.

More flexible rules apply to the top international destinations Australians are booking flights to, which include Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown in New Zealand; Los Angeles in the US; and London in the UK, according to online travel agent Expedia.

Holidaymakers arriving in these countries must carry an Australian passport that is valid at the time they enter and leave.

Hundreds of thousands of Australians are being urged to renew their passports as international travel bookings take off. Picture: Supplied

DFAT has received more than 165,000 passport applications since July 1, a rise of at least 45,000 when compared with the same period last year.

It typically takes about three weeks to receive a passport once an application is submitted. While there are currently no processing delays, there is expected to be high demand for travel documents when international travel restrictions start to ease.

“Along with your passport, travellers may be required to have proof of [Covid-19] vaccination to enter permitted destinations or be eligible to fly,” an Expedia spokesperson said.

“The Australian government is planning to roll out a digital vaccine passport, called the Digital Passport Declaration (DPD), Expedia advises travellers to stay up to date with these requirements before booking or travelling.

“Don’t forget to double check the expiry date on your passport. As a reminder, some countries may require a passport to have at least six months validity.”

Around two thirds of Australians are putting away money for a holiday in 2022, with mid- to-long haul flights the most popular option, according to a new Skyscanner survey of 1000 locals.

More than half of the respondents said they planned to book a family holiday.

Skyscanner’s travel expert Brendan Walsh said Australians may see some flight price rises as restrictions ease and demand returns.

“However we expect airlines will likely continue to offer good value in order to meet this demand and more incentives such as flash sales,” Mr Walsh said.

The federal government’s national reopening plan notes international borders will reopen once 80 per cent of adults aged 16 and over have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Current jab rates suggest that this could occur by Christmas.

Australians have been told once this occurs they will be able to travel freely, but will still have to be mindful of any restrictions enforced by the countries they wish to travel to.

More “travel bubbles” could also be on the cards, with the federal government in negotiations with several countries.

Vaccine passports will be key to a reopening of international travel, with a system expected to be in place within weeks. It will allow Australians to upload proof of vaccination via MyGov to a QR code linked to their passport.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said that home quarantine will also be vital part of the restart, with trials currently underway in several states.