Well you can now download the forms from the internet & follow all the instructions.

Only problem is that they are incorrect.

The form said that outside Australia you can apply in person or by mail. If you apply by mail you attach a Thai bank cheque for the equivalent of $150 AUD. I did all this and sent it off. Some days later I got a telephone call, saying that the rules had changed and that I had to apply in person with cash not a bank cheque. I pointed out that it would cost me 5,000 B and a night in Bangkok to do this but they were unimpressed. So off I went to fortress OZ in South Sathorn Road, where I was sent off to get new photos - the previous ones (as described on the official application form) no longer being good enough. I brought up the false information with the consul-person, who remembered my call, and said "Well, we've been through that". I said No we haven't. The consul people are surrounded by security doors, bulletproof glass of course, no doubt to protect them from enraged Australian citizens.

Anyway smart-arse said next time it may be harder, it may involve DNA or fingerprint samples. And here, dear reader, I forgot the first principle of dealing with bureaucrats who can make decisions about your life. I invited him to bend over and I would give him a sperm sample.

Naturally this ensured that the receipt/ passport something computer was "down for the day" and I would have to come back the next day.

Just for information and Good Luck.

you can blame the trade in forged/stolen Australian passports and bunch of hijackers back in 2001.

Aussie passports are like gold in helping to get illegal immigrants into 3rd countries (other than Australia).

The WTC disaster in 2001 led to the Homeland Security Act in the US. From now on, if you wish to enter visa free into the US, you will require a biometric passport.

Its the way the world is heading for good or for worse.

If you look inside your new passport hard enough you can make out the words to waltzing matilda.

Expensive things aren't they? I got a new one recently, 65 pages or something cost me near on 300 Aus.

Is Bangkok one of the regional centers for issuing the new passports?

I had to renew mine just after the new passports came into being. I was in the Middle East and my application was processed in London. My previous one had been issued here in the Middle East. I had a passport issued in Bangkok eons ago and that was no hassle at all.

This new procedure was the easiest and quickest passport renewal I’ve experienced. My new passport was in my hands in 7 days.

Don’t you just love the double photos?

NL

Only three diplomatic posts now have the technology to produce the new passports: Canberra, London and Washington.

Applications will always be sent to the nearest post.

I do like the double photo thingy, not sure about the poo-brown colour of the passport pages though.

Thanks, the embassy phoned the guy who signed my photos this time. The embassy girls eyes were good, she asked him if I really looked as bad in real life as my photos showed. I was standing next to him when she called. Cheeky bugger agreed with her comments.

This new system is definately faster than previous, my daughter got hers renewed in Oz recently. It took 3 working days without paying for express service.