Australians are now paying the highest price globally for their passports, with the cost of a 10-year adult passport rising to $412 from 1 January 2025. This follows a 3.5% indexation increase, adding to a mid-2024 hike that saw passport fees jump by $50.
The steep price puts Australia at the top of the global list for passport expenses, ahead of Mexico ($353.90), the United States ($252.72), and New Zealand ($193).
The price hike, announced by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), is attributed to the annual indexation in line with the Consumer Price Index and the production costs of Australia’s high-security R series passports. These advanced passports, praised for their technological sophistication and fraud prevention measures, ensure visa-free access to over 180 countries, including new additions like China.
However, Australians aren’t the only ones paying more. Passports from other nations also reflect hefty costs, with the Mexican 10-year passport, once the most expensive, now sitting in second place. The United States ranks third, while New Zealand comes in fourth.
Despite the significant expense, DFAT emphasised the quality and global respect afforded to the Australian passport, citing its robust security features and the prestige it holds internationally. Yet, the rising costs have drawn criticism, with Opposition Senate Leader Simon Birmingham labelling the hikes as a “backdoor tax grab.”
For those looking to expedite their passport applications, additional fees apply. A fast-track option costs $100, while a priority service will set travellers back $252, on top of the standard fee.
The new R series passports come with cutting-edge features such as UV-reactive designs, enhanced security elements, and tributes to Australia’s natural beauty. But for everyday Australians, the steep costs add another challenge to the cost-of-living pressures already being felt nationwide.
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