Sunday 25 September 2022 08:32 AM Australian passports 'taking six months' to be renewed in huge backlog trends now
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Passport wait times are causing massive headaches for Aussies wanting to travel overseas for the upcoming school holidays.
Delays have been at an all-time high since international borders reopened, with some citizens waiting more than three months, and some claim up to six months, to get their first passport or have their passport renewed.
The Australian Passport Office has worked overtime to try and keep up with the 'unprecedented demand'.
Australians wanting to travel overseas are waiting more than three months to receive their passport due to 'unprecedented demand' (pictured, passengers queueing at Sydney airport)
The APO receives more than 15,000 applications a day and is experiencing around six weeks of work in the processing queue, reports The Guardian.
More than 160,000 applications have been lodged in September alone.
Delays have been longer for adults and children applying for their first passport due to extra security checks and the supporting documents that need to be verified.
Australia Post has a $225 priority service for a passport to be priority processed in two days, but those who can't afford the priority fee have expressed concern they'll be pushed further down the queue if they don't pay it.
Some tried to contact the
