Consular Fees Act 1955

This Act may be cited as the Consular Fees Act 1955.

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

Australian Consular Officer means a person appointed to hold or act in any of the following offices of the Commonwealth in a country or place outside Australia:

Consul‑General;

Consul;

Vice‑Consul;

Trade Representative; and

Consular Agent.

Australian Diplomatic Officer means a person appointed to hold or act in any of the following offices of the Commonwealth in a country or place outside Australia:

Ambassador;

High Commissioner;

Minister;

Head of a Mission;

Commissioner;

Chargé d’Affaires; and

Counsellor, Secretary or Attaché at an Embassy, High Commissioner’s office, Legation or other post.

consular act means an act specified in the regulations as being a consular act for the purposes of this Act.

The regulations may provide for the imposition of fees, to be collected on behalf of the Commonwealth, for the performance, whether in Australia or elsewhere, of consular acts by:

an Australian Diplomatic Officer or an Australian Consular Officer; or

the person holding or acting in the office of Secretary of the Department or an officer of the Department acting with the authority of the Secretary; or

an employee of the Commonwealth authorised, in writing, by the Secretary of the Department; or

an employee of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission authorised, in writing, by the Secretary of the Department.

An Australian Diplomatic Officer or an Australian Consular Officer who performs consular acts shall cause to be displayed in his or her office, in a position where it may readily be inspected by persons seeking the performance of consular acts, a list of the consular acts for which fees are chargeable under this Act, and of other acts that may be performed by him or her for which fees are chargeable under any other Act, showing the respective fees chargeable.

A fee under this Act is not chargeable in respect of an act for which a fee is chargeable under another Act (whether passed before or after the commencement of this Act).

The Governor‑General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act, and, in particular, providing that the prescribed fees are not payable in such cases as are prescribed.