Australian 'frequent traveller' passports axed from December 1
Australian 'frequent traveller' passports axed from December 1
Whilst we may travel on the Gen. Dec. while on duty, the extra pages often come in handy.
https://www.ausbt.com.au/australian-...rom-december-1
https://www.ausbt.com.au/australian-...rom-december-1
The government will phase out the 66-page Frequent Traveller passport from next month, despite its popularity with country-hopping business travellers.
The Frequent Traveller passport version has 66 usable pages for immigration stamps and visas, compared to 34 such pages on a Standard passport, and also costs $382 compared to $254 for its smaller sibling.
But as of December 1 2017, you'll have to settle for the skinnier version.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that "the Australian Passport Office will be phasing out the Frequent Traveller Passport."
DFAT has previously said that frequent flyers would to be able to purchase a new replacement passport – with the same number and expiry date as their original one – if those 34 pages pages fill up while the passport is still valid.
"This option will be accessed through a streamlined online application and will be cheaper than a new passport," the spokesman said.
"The cost per visa page for an ordinary passport plus a replacement passport will be comparable to that of a frequent traveller passport. The replacement passport option will be made available before Frequent Traveller passports are phased out."
However, if your original passport includes travel visas for selected countries you'll also need to pack that passport for each trip.
It's understood that demand for frequent traveller passports has been decreasing as many countries move away from physical visa labels and stamps, with the supersized passports said to represent less than 1 per cent of passports issued in recent years.
The Frequent Traveller passport version has 66 usable pages for immigration stamps and visas, compared to 34 such pages on a Standard passport, and also costs $382 compared to $254 for its smaller sibling.
But as of December 1 2017, you'll have to settle for the skinnier version.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that "the Australian Passport Office will be phasing out the Frequent Traveller Passport."
DFAT has previously said that frequent flyers would to be able to purchase a new replacement passport – with the same number and expiry date as their original one – if those 34 pages pages fill up while the passport is still valid.
"This option will be accessed through a streamlined online application and will be cheaper than a new passport," the spokesman said.
"The cost per visa page for an ordinary passport plus a replacement passport will be comparable to that of a frequent traveller passport. The replacement passport option will be made available before Frequent Traveller passports are phased out."
However, if your original passport includes travel visas for selected countries you'll also need to pack that passport for each trip.
It's understood that demand for frequent traveller passports has been decreasing as many countries move away from physical visa labels and stamps, with the supersized passports said to represent less than 1 per cent of passports issued in recent years.
Just as I was about to renew my passport as well, dammit!
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It's very annoying. Some countries have done away with stamps, but plenty haven't.
I end up with 4 full page Vietnamese visas in my passport per year. Won't take long to fill the skinny one up!
I end up with 4 full page Vietnamese visas in my passport per year. Won't take long to fill the skinny one up!
Yeah, China is the same. Full page visa and a stamp for each entry/departure. Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore have stopped stamping Australian passports so that frees up some capacity in the passport for continued longevity.
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Try Bonriki/Cassidy for a four hour airport inspection. Both airports are in the same country (Kiribati) but under the current arrangements it takes 8, yes 8 visa stamps - at least one and a half pages, even if the Immigration folk have steady hands.
Tarawa/Nadi/Cassidy/Nadi/Tarawa.
Working on a better connectivity but thankfully I renewed my frequent traveler passport in early September.
MJG
Tarawa/Nadi/Cassidy/Nadi/Tarawa.
Working on a better connectivity but thankfully I renewed my frequent traveler passport in early September.
MJG
