If you are afraid the other parent will take your children out of Australia, get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA.
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.
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- 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.
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- 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).
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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.
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- Family Court Website – Children and International Travel after Family Separation
- AFP – Family Law Kit – Family Law Watchlist Orders
- Attorney-General’s Department – Hague Convention Countries
- Attorney-General’s Department – International Child Abduction
- Passports Office – Child Alert Requests
- Legal Aid NSW – My Ex-Partner Has Taken our Children Without My Permission. What can I do? – available in English, Vietnamese, Arabic, Chinese (traditional)
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