Outside of consular, passport and notarial services, which are provided by the Australian Consulate-General, we are unable to provide further information than is outlined below.
Please also note the Australian Consulate-General does not manage enquiries relating to visas or entry-exit requirements to Australia, New Caledonia or Wallis-and-Futuna, or Canada and we are unable to escalate applications or issues with the authorities in Australia, New Caledonia or Wallis-and-Futuna, or Canada.
Please read carefully all the information provided below and contact relevant authorities directly.
2023 VOICE REFERENDUM - HOW TO VOTE IN NEW CALEDONIA AND FROM WALLIS AND FUTUNA
On 14 October 2023, Australians will be asked to vote in a referendum to alter the Constitution.
The Australian Consulate-General in Noumea will be an in-person voting centre and a postal vote collection centre.
All eligible Australians living in or visiting New Caledonia will be able to vote.
To be eligible to vote, you must be enrolled. Please ensure your enrolment details are up to date at the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website.
It is not compulsory to vote if you are not in Australia at the time of the referendum. If you will be overseas at the time and unable to vote, you can advise the AEC by completing and returning the Overseas Notification Form.
Additional information on the referendum and voting is available from the AEC website and Smartraveller.
In-person voting
In-person voting will be held at the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea on weekdays from Tuesday 3 October to Friday 13 October between 1pm and 4pm. The Australian Consulate-General is closed on weekends.
Postal votes
If you are overseas and are unable to vote in-person, you can apply for a postal vote. Postal vote packs will be sent to you from Australia by courier, so you are encouraged to apply as early as possible. The latest date to request a postal vote is 6pm, Wednesday 11 October 2023 local time.
If you are overseas, go to www.aec.gov.au/overseas to find the correct address to return your postal vote to the AEC.
In New Caledonia, you can return your postal vote directly to the AEC in Australia or you can drop it off at the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea no later than Friday 13 October 4pm.
Australians in Wallis and Futuna are encouraged to vote by postal vote and to return their postal votes directly to the AEC.
Federal Elections and Overseas Voting
Australia’s electoral laws do not allow for online voting.
Voting while overseas
Each election has an enrolment deadline that occurs approximately a week after an election is announced. If you are not correctly enrolled by this deadline, you may not be able to vote.
You cannot enrol with an overseas address. You must enrol in the electoral division you were entitled to enrol in before you left Australia.
Please visit the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website for information and procedures for overseas voting eligibility and forms. The AEC's Twitter account @AusElectoralCom provides regular updates on the administration of federal elections. Voters can also check their current electoral enrolment online.
Registering as an overseas voter
If you are already enrolled to vote and are living overseas or plan to be overseas at the time of an election, you may register as an overseas voter.
You will receive a postal voting pack that includes all the information you need to complete your ballot papers and return them to the AEC.
Once you receive your postal voting pack, complete and return your ballot papers as soon as possible. The AEC can only legally accept ballot papers into the count up to 13 days after election day – the sooner you complete and send your postal vote, the more likely it can be counted.
If you are unable to vote
Voting in a federal election is not compulsory for Australians overseas.
If you are unable to vote, you should complete and submit an overseas notification form.
If you do not inform the AEC, the AEC will write to you asking you to explain why you did not vote.
State and Territory Elections
Please contact your state or territory electoral authority for information about registering and voting in a state/territory elections while overseas.
- Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
- New South Wales (NSW)
- Northern Territory (NT)
- Queensland (QLD)
- South Australia (SA)
- Tasmania (TAS)
- Victoria (VIC)
- Western Australia (WA)
Voting at the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea
In the event, the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea is open for in-person votes or for the collection of postal votes, information will be posted at the top of this page.