If you are afraid the other parent will take your children out of Australia, get legal advice.
You may be able to apply to the Courts for a Family Law Watchlist Order – this is an order that stops children being taken out of the country.
- If you are worried the other parent will apply for a passport without your signature you can do a Child Alert Request with the Australian Passports Office.
- This warns the Australian Passport Office that there may be a problem if someone applies for a passport for your children, and they may contact you if they receive an application.
- This does not put your children on the Family Law Watchlist.
- If you think the other parent will take your children overseas, get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA about the Family Law Watchlist.
- You need to apply to court for Parenting Orders that include orders to put your children on the Family Law Watchlist.
- Once your children’s names are on the Watchlist, if a parent tries to take them out of Australia by boat or plane, they will be stopped.
- For more information on the Family Law Watchlist, see resources.
- If there is a real risk that your children may be taken out of the country and it is not during business hours, you can call the Family Courts out-of-hours service (for urgent emergencies only).
- Call 1300 352 000 (excluding WA) or 1800 199 008 (WA only).
If your children have been taken out of Australia or kept overseas without your agreement, get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA.
- Australia has agreements with some countries who will work with the Australian Government to return your children. These are called Hague Convention Countries.
- For a list of Hague Convention countries, see resources.
- If you think your children may have been taken out of Australia, contact the International Social Service on 1300 657 843 for free legal advice and support.
If your children have been taken out of Australia or kept overseas without your agreement, get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA.
- Australia has agreements with some countries who will work with the Australian Government to return your children. These are called Hague Convention Countries.
- For a list of Hague Convention countries, see resources.
- If you think your children may have been taken out of Australia, contact the International Social Service on 1300 657 843 for free legal advice and support.