Queensland State Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Our office can:
- Issue passports
- Provide speakers to business, community or school groups on foreign or trade policy issues
- Arrange consultations for business or community groups with Australian trade negotiators
- Provide information on the international trade environment to exporters including publications
- Certify official signatures on documents
- Assist members of the public to access the consular services provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Assist members of the public with information about travelling overseas
Passports
All applicants for an Australian passport need to be interviewed at either an Australia Post outlet or an Australian Passport Office. From 2 May 2006, the Australian Passport Office - Brisbane has a new appointments system. Only applicants who meet a predefined category will be permitted to lodge at the Passport Office. To find out if you qualify and to make an appointment to lodge your application through the Passport Office, you must phone 131 232. The Passport Office is located on the 4th floor, 295 Ann Street, Brisbane. The office counter business hours are 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday to Friday. Passport application forms can be obtained from most Australia Post outlets, downloaded from our passports website or from the Australian Passport Office - Brisbane.
For information, contact the Australian Passport Information Service by telephone on 131 232. If you have an enquiry that cannot be answered using the hotline or website, you can also email the Brisbane Office direct.
Speakers
The Queensland State Office aims to raise awareness and understanding in Queensland of Australia's foreign policy, trade policy, and other portfolio issues. Please telephone (07) 3405 4799 if you would like someone from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to speak to your organisation.
In recent months, for example, the State Director and Deputy State Director have been guest speakers on current issues to industry and export forums, a senior secondary economics teachers' meeting, international relations tertiary students and community groups such as Rotary International. Topics have included:
- Foreign and trade policy issues
- Trade negotiations and outcomes including free trade agreements
- Long-term benefits that trade brings to Queensland
- Assistance to Australians travelling overseas (the ‘consular' role)
- Working in the Department, and recruitment of graduate trainees
For more information about the practical aspects of exporting see Austrade
Consultations
Working towards lower barriers for Australian exporters is an important objective for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Department's ability to advance the interests of Australian exporters depends in large part on the information provided to it by the business community. If you are facing barriers in getting your exports onto foreign markets, please advise this office by contacting our State Director or Deputy State Director on (07) 3405 4799 or fax (07) 3405 4782.
The Queensland State Office runs seminars and consultations in Brisbane and regional areas on trade issues, including developments in negotiations in the World Trade Organisation and in negotiations towards bilateral free trade agreements with other countries. If you would like to be notified of future events, or would like to participate in government-business consultations on specific trade negotiations, please register your contact details and particular areas of interest by requesting a Database Registration Form by e-mail
Information on the International Trade Environment
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade can help you access information about the global, regional or country environment into which you are seeking to export your goods and services.
A considerable amount of material is available direct from our country information.
Publications
An extensive range of publications on Australia, Australian foreign and trade policies and the economic and political climate in other countries can be downloaded or ordered online.
Authentications and Apostilles
Overseas governments sometimes need proof that Australian documents are genuine before they will accept them. Please confirm requirements with the Embassy or Consulate of the country you are submitting the documents to. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will certify that official signatures, stamps or seals on a document are genuine by checking them against a specimen held on file, and stamping the document with an Authentication or Apostille.
In most cases, documents can be processed in 24 hours (available the next working day). There may be a delay if we do not have a specimen signature on file of the person who has signed your document (this means we will need to verify their signature).
Documents can be lodged in person or sent via post.
Our counter hours are 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Monday to Friday. No
appointment is required. You can post your document to us with a
bank cheque
or money order made payable to the “Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade” or request
a credit card authorisation form by e-mail (we take Visa & MasterCard).
If mailing your document please post it, together with payment, to:
Consular Section
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
GPO Box 879
Brisbane Qld 4001
The cost of returning your document by ordinary post is included in the fee. Please include a self-addressed Registered or Express Post envelope if you wish your document to be returned to you via either of these methods.
If you are overseas and wish your document to be returned by Express Courier International (ECI) (Australia Post) please include extra payment of:
- AU$33.25 - Asia/Pacific
- AU$37.00 - USA/Canada/Middle East
- AU$39.45 - Rest of the World.
Please note all payment must be in Australian dollars
If you have an enquiry that cannot be answered using the website, you can also email the Brisbane Office direct.
Employment
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade recruits both graduates and non-graduates for a range of positions. The Department offers a varied and challenging career advancing Australia's international political, economic, consular and security interests.
The Queensland State Office does not recruit employees directly, and there are no opportunities for work experience within the office.