October 2018 / Newsletter #47

Honorary Consul's conference

Last month the Honorary Consul conference was held in Sydney.

This annual gathering brings the Netherlands Embassy, Consulate General and five Honorary Consuls together to exchange ideas that promote bilateral relations between the Netherlands and Australia. Besides providing assistance during consular emergencies, our Honorary Consuls in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart are committed to trade development between the Netherlands and Australia.

The insights exchanged on trade development and consular assistance are an essential part in bringing the two countries even closer together!

Did you know there is a new paspoorttool?

Do I need to bring a birth certificate to my passport renewal? Or my marriage certificate? Does the father of my child needs to come to the passport application?

Who hasn't seen the Facebook discussions about what (not) to bring to your passport application? One question regularly leads to a long trail of different answers! To ensure that you bring all the required documents to your appointment, a new 'paspoorttool' was developed to answer the question: 'what documents to bring to your passport application ?’

This new passport tool gives an overview of the documents you must submit. By asking several questions the passport tool will guide you to a personal check list of the documents you need to bring to your appointment.

You can find the English version of this tool by clicking on the button below. This site will also lead you to the link of our on line appointment system,  the application form and it provides information about the correct passport photos.

Please keep in mind that applications are by appointment only!

Did you know you can avoid waiting times at the front-desk of the Consulate General when you finalise your passport application?

1.       Before you come to our front-desk, make sure you bring the correct photograph to avoid any delays in the application process.

We have listed recommended photographers close to our office who can do the job properly at our website.

For early birds, please keep in mind that only Bell’s pharmacy starts at eight o’clock.

2.       Bring photocopies of all the required documents.

Did you know that as per 1 September 2018 payments can be done by card only?

From September 1st onward, the Consulate General will no longer accept cash payments for consular services.

You still have a question?

Then call  02 9387 6644. You will be directed to our 24/7 BZ Contact Centre in The Hague where our colleagues can help you further. If you prefer to write an email please click the following link: https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/contact/contact-form . Our colleagues in The Hague will try to answer your question within 48 hours.

Please note that the Consulate General will be closed on Thursday 15 November.

Travelling? Check your passport!

Frequently, consular staff in Bondi Junction is confronted with disappointed travellers being refused by airlines on their way to their travel destination (e.g. Bali) because their passport is no longer valid for 6 months after leaving the country of destination. Please be aware airlines are quite strict about this rule because they will be fined and are responsible (read: have to pay) for your return home if the country of destination refuses you entry.

A destination as Bali does not accept hand written emergency passports which means that a traveller has to apply for a new regular passport. This might take up to 2 weeks. To make sure you can enjoy your holiday, always check the validity of your passport before booking!

Can't make it to your appointment? Please cancel!

Applications for passports are by appointment only. Book an appointment using our appointment website. 

If, for any reason, you are not able to make the appointment, please cancel the appointment. At the moment we are experiencing a waiting list for appointments. Other applicants would really appreciate it if you would cancel your appointment to shorten the waiting list.

Bring a complete application to shorten processing time

Almost 80% of the passport applications is incomplete which causes delay in the processing of the application. Top 3 of missing items: a copy of the Dutch passport, proof of legal residence in Australia, correct passport pictures.

On the Dutch website you can use the new passport tool to get a check list of all documents you need to bring to your appointment. A passport tool for the English website is in development.

Applicants with only Dutch citizenship can obtain proof of legal residence at https://www.border.gov.au/Busi/Visa. Applicants that also have Australian citizenship can bring the original and a copy of their Australian passport.

All foreign documents must be legalised/authenticated by the appropriate authorities. Australian documents (e.g. birth certificates, marriage certificates) must be authenticated by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs with a so called ‘apostille stamp’. Apostille stamps are obtainable from the Australian Passport Office, authentication section in your state’s capital.

Passport photos

Bring correct passport photos. In general, passport photos used for Australian passports are too big to use for your application for a Dutch passport. Please check the website for the requirement.