Australia has acted to boost its national security to release a new passport with added features to thwart potential fraudsters.

The P series passport that will be issued to new applicants is designed to also combat terrorism and organized crime.

The Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop on Wednesday said the Australian passport was internationally recognized as one of the most trusted and secure travel documents in the world.

"These new security features build on our reputation as part of our commitment to stronger borders," she said.

The P series is printed using the same technologies as Australia's banknotes.

The traditional blue and embossed gold cover remains but new features include a security laminate with the world's first color floating image.

Bishop said the M and N series passports still in circulation would continue to be highly secure documents for the remainder of their validity.

"I urge Australians to protect their passport and their identity at all times, and to report theft or loss of their passport immediately," she said.

In Australia, a face-to-face interview is required before an adult passport may be issued.

The release of the new passport coincides with the Abbott government's admission that it is powerless to strip Australian nationals fighting with jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq of their citizenship.

Such a move would render them stateless, which is regarded as legally and diplomatically impossible.

About 150 people allegedly involved with extremist groups in the Middle East are believed to be Australians citizens without dual citizenship in another country.

This means it will be effectively impossible to stop them returning to Australia despite the prime minister's declaration last week to stop the jihadists re-entering the country.