A recent cyber attack has led to a data breach of Optus customers around Australia. International students who signed up for a new phone number with Optus, and inadvertently used international identification such as their passport, have been left confused about what the policy is to replace foreign passports.
It is also unclear whether customers should do so or not with data being breached, and who will cover the cost. According to the Australian Passport Office, Optus will cover the cost of replacing Australian passports, but international students with foreign IDs remain uninformed. While Optus gets around to providing further clarity to its international customers residing in Australia, we thought it would be useful to inform international students how to replace their passports, or if the information is at risk.
Report to a police station (if lost or stolen)
If you think your passport has been stolen, it’s highly advised to approach the police and report it to them as soon as possible. You will also be filling in a stolen property form so they can have your information in their records; this will be highly useful in case your passport is found and handed to the police. Get this done before you figure out the next steps on how to replace your lost passport in Australia.
Notify higher authorities
It’s also recommended that you notify the Australian Government about your lost or stolen passport. As per the Australian Passport Office, foreign passport holders will need to contact the diplomatic or consular mission of the country that issued the passport.
Check you have all the required documentation
It’s extra helpful to have a scanned copy of your passport; however, most likely it won’t be accepted as a form of identification instead of the original hard copy. As an international student, you may need other documentation to keep with you as ID proof; so be sure you have a valid driving license in the interim or a Proof of Age Card.
It’s also important that you check what documents you need to apply for a new passport. You will be able to find this information on the website of your local consular authority or by calling them directly and letting them know of your passport status. Usually, you need to fill out a form (either physical copy or online) and provide your photo, ID proof, valid Australian visa, and maybe even a reference letter for your lost/stolen passport.
Check passport processing times and costs
The Optus data breach has added extra pressure to the already delayed processing times. If you urgently need your passport, you may need to pay for express processing. Check how long replacement passports take before deciding to pay for express service, to see if it suits your timeline.
If you are wondering how much a passport replacement costs and how much an express replacement costs, checking online is the best option. You may also need to pick up the passport from the consulate; so it’s worth knowing where it is located. Alternatively, you can pay for postage so the passport is sent to you.
Check where the nearest embassy or consulate of your country is
Depending on where you are located and your citizenship, there may or may not be a local consulate of your country in the city you are in. Here’s a list of some of the embassies and consulates in Australia:
- Canberra (embassy)
- Melbourne
- Sydney
- Perth
- Brisbane (appointment only)
- Sydney
- Canberra (embassy)
- Melbourne
- Perth
- Brisbane
- Adelaide
- Sydney
- Canberra
- Melbourne
- Perth
- Canberra (embassy)
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Darwin (appointment only)
- Brisbane
- Adelaide
- Hobart
- Perth
- Sydney
- Canberra (embassy)
- Melbourne
- Tasmania
- Adelaide
- Brisbane
- Darwin
- Canberra (embassy)
- Sydney
- Perth
- Darwin
- Canberra (embassy)
- Melbourne
- Sydney
- Perth
- Adelaide
- Canberra (embassy)
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Brisbane
- Tasmania
- Canberra (embassy)
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Perth
- Darwin
What does the Optus data breach mean for international students and what can you do about it?
If your data has been breached, you can raise a complaint to Optus. Many customers’ ID details (such as their passports and driving license) are believed to have been stolen due to the cyberattack. As a result, it is likely that information that is linked to these IDs is also at risk. Although Optus has still not commented, it is worth reaching out to them to ask if they will help reimburse the costs of passport replacement once you have notified your local consulate office in Australia.
