Consular Assistance

The Australian Federal Election has been announced for Saturday 3 May 2025. If you’re an Australian citizen overseas on the day of the election, you can still have your say by voting at on overseas voting centre or by postal vote.

In-Person Voting

The list of overseas voting centres for the election are available on the AEC website.

Postal Voting

If you are overseas and are unable to vote in-person, you can visit the AEC website to apply for a postal vote.

Postal vote packs will be sent to you by international courier from Australia commencing three weeks before polling day. The latest date to request an overseas postal vote from the AEC is 6pm, Wednesday  30 April 2025. Please note this may be too late for your postal vote to reach you and you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. If you provided an email address or phone number when applying for a postal vote, you will receive an automatic notification when it is dispatched.

If you did not provide an email address or phone number and your postal vote does not arrive within 10 days from the date you submitted your application, call the AEC on +61 2 6160 2600.

You can mail your completed postal vote to the closest overseas voting centre – the list is available on the AEC website. Please note the Australian Embassy in Moscow is unable to accept postal votes.

You can also return your postal vote directly to the AEC in Australia. The cost to return your postal vote by courier or mail to the overseas voting centres or to the AEC in Australia is your responsibility.

For your postal vote to be counted it must be completed before 6pm AWST time 3 May 2025, and received by the AEC in Australia by 6pm Friday 16 May 2025 AEST.

Further information

You must be enrolled to vote. You can enrol, update your details or check your details on the AEC website.

If you can't vote because you are overseas, you need to advise the AEC by completing an Overseas Notification Form.

Find additional information on the election and voting at these websites:

aec.gov.au

Smartraveller.gov.au.

 

If you are an Australian citizen requiring emergency assistance in Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan, depending on your location, please contact the Australian Embassy in Moscow, Australian Consulate in St Petersburg or Australian Consulate in Almaty.

For emergency consular assistance outside of regular working hours, please contact the Australian Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305.

In some circumstances, our assistance may be limited. Please read our Consular Services Charter for information about services we can provide.

 

COVID-19-RELATED BORDER RESTRICTIONS LIFTED
 

The Australian Government has removed COVID-19-related border restrictions.

From  6 July 2022, you no longer need to:

• fill out a Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration when entering Australia
• declare or prove your vaccination status
• seek exemptions to enter Australia.

Remember that destinations, airlines and cruise ships may have their own COVID-19 vaccination, testing and masking requirements you must meet. You'll still need to comply with requirements of the state and territory you arrive in. Read more about current state and territory travel restrictions here. For ongoing travel advice updates, please subscribe to and monitor our official travel advice on Smartraveller.

 

If you are an Australian citizen intending on,  or are currently travelling or residing overseas, we encourage you to read our travel advice on Smartraveller website.

Smartraveller has the latest, authoritative travel advice so you can be informed and prepared about overseas travel.

Subscribe to receive travel advice updates - by simply supplying your name and email address – straight to your inbox.

You can now also subscribe to the new SMS service - by supplying your mobile number – to receive critical alerts in the event of a crisis overseas.

In a crisis, Smartraveller will activate a crisis page on its website. It will make it easier for you or someone you know to contact the Australian Government if you need help. It will supplement the consular emergency hotline.

Visit www.smartraveller.gov.au to subscribe or connect with Smartraveller on Facebook and Twitter.

See our passports page for information about Australian passports, including how to apply online, or report a lost or stolen passport.

For information on Australian notarial services, click here. Australian consulates in St Petersburg and Almaty (Kazakhstan) headed by Honorary Consuls are not permitted to provide the services above (unless it is in relation to an Australian passport application).

• All passport and notarial services at the Australian Embassy in Moscow are provided by appointment only.
• Payments must be made at the time of the appointment.  In certain instances, payment can be made using a remote payment service.
• Security screening is in operation at the Australian Embassy in Moscow and is similar to airport screening.
• All visitors must present their passports to the guards to be able to enter the premises.
• Mobile phones must be switched off at all times while at the premises.
• The Australian Embassy in Moscow does not have public restrooms or baby changing facilities.