Passport

Procedure for application/renewal of passport:

1. Submit the following documents as e-copies to rbecanberra@mfa.gov.bt.:
   1. For applicants above the age of 15 years:
      1. 1. Duly filled Passport Application Form for Bhutanese Living in Australia and New Zealand;
         2. Copy of Valid Citizenship Identity Card; 
         3. Copy of a valid Online Security Clearance Certificate. You can apply/track your security clearance at https://scs.rbp.gov.bt/;
         4. Digital photo of the applicant with a CLEAR face (Forehead shown, no hair over eyebrows). DON’T scan or re-photograph a photo. It should be in national dress with an adequate edge towards the chest; and
         5. Copy of the current/expired passport. 
         6. In case of lost passport, the application must be accompanied by a police report along with the incident number. This should be from the nearest police station in Australia/New Zealand where the passport was lost.
         7. In case of damaged passport, the current passport must be submitted to the Embassy via post or in person for cancellation.  The application process will begin only upon the receipt of the original passport by the Embassy. 
   2. For applicants below the age of 15 years:
      1. 1. Duly filled Passport Application Form for Bhutanese Living in Australia and New Zealand signed by both parents/legal guardian with the child’s name mentioned or signed in the applicant box;
         2. Copy of Valid Citizenship Identity Card of both parents; 
         3. Digital photo of the applicant with a CLEAR face (Forehead shown, no hair over eyebrows). DON’T scan or re-photograph a photo. It should be in national dress (with the exception of applicants below 3 years) with an adequate edge towards the chest, and 
         4. Copy of the current/expired passport, if applicable.
         5. In case of lost passport, the application must be accompanied by a police report along with the incident number. This should be from the nearest police station in Australia/New Zealand where the passport was lost.
         6. In case of damaged passport, the current passport must be submitted to the Embassy via post or in person for cancellation.  The application process will begin only upon the receipt of the original passport by the Embassy. 
         7. In case of application of passport for a new born baby, he/she must be first registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs in Bhutan and assigned a citizenship number. The process for birth registration is available at https://dcrc.moha.gov.bt/index.php/birth-registration/
2. Applicant’s current passport must be valid for 6 months or less to be issued a new passport (With the exception of lost and damaged cases).  However, you may start the renewal process once the validity is less than 7 months to gather the documents and account for processing time.
3. Documents must be submitted electronically to rbecanberra@mfa.gov.bt. Please note that the turn-around-time for processing will be 21 working days upon the submission of all required documents and payment of fees by the applicant.
4. Once documents are verified and the application is accepted for further processing,  the contact number in Bhutan provided by the applicant in the application form will receive an SMS for payment. The applicant must inform the holder of the Bhutanese phone number beforehand to ensure timely payment. 
5. In the event document(s) do not meet the requirements, the application may be rejected with the reasons provided via SMS to the Bhutanese phone number provided in the form.  Applicants will need to accordingly submit revised document(s) to the Embassy using the same email thread and a new application will be lodged. Kindly note that the Embassy does not have access to the SMS sent to Bhutanese phone number and applicants should check with their contact in Bhutan.
6. Details of fees are as follows:
   • Nu. 1,000/- for adults;
   • Nu. 800/- for minors;
   • In case of lost or damaged passport, additional fine of Nu. 5,000/- will apply.
7. Once the passport is ready, the Embassy will notify the applicant via email. (Please ignore the autogenerated message received by the phone number in Bhutan notifying on the printing of passport and requesting collection from Passport Office.)
8. Passport can be picked up from the Embassy or will be posted to a preferred address in Australia and New Zealand at the applicant’s expenses.
9. In view of the large volume of applications processed by the Embassy, it will be the applicant’s responsibility to check the status of your application and follow-up with the Embassy if there is significant delay in your application. The Embassy will not be liable for delays caused due to non-payment of fees or/and non-submission of the required document(s) and information by the applicant.