Australian travellers already lay claim to one of the most powerful passports on the planet, but we also carry the weight of having the second most expensive. If your passport is due for renewal soon, then you’ll want to lodge that application quick, as prices are set to soar even higher.
From July 1, 2024, Aussies will have to shell out almost $400 for the ten-year travel document, with a planned 15 per cent increase on the current cost of $346. Annoyingly, this is the second increase in passport prices for Australian travellers this year. The cost was indexed to the consumer price index on January 1, as it is every year, rising from $325 in 2023.
The unenviable right to the world’s most expensive passport currently belongs to Liechtenstein – one of Europe’s smallest countries tucked between Switzerland and Austria – at $444 for the ten-year travel book. However, Australia is slowly creeping closer, with the new price of $373.75 starting in July.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers assured residents that this increase was a “one-off” and that it is set to raise $349 million over the next three years, with additional revenue going towards covering the rising cost of producing a passport.
To put things into perspective, it’ll cost the average Australian less than $40 per year for the freedom to travel (almost) anywhere in the world – we think that's still a pretty worthwhile investment. And, you’ll just have to travel more to get better bang for your buck! Start with our ultimate guide to the 25 most incredible places in Australia.