The cost of obtaining an Australian passport has increased significantly over the past couple of years.
As of July 1, 2019, the fee for the 10-year travel document has gone up by 15 percent, reaching almost $400.
In January, the fee was also increased per inflation-indexed year. This year’s fee hike supports the government’s efforts to modernize the country’s passport system.
An Australian passport is highly sophisticated and has high levels of security measures, which help prevent it from being used for fraud.
It also provides visa-free travel to over a hundred countries. According to a study conducted by Compare the Market, the cost of acquiring an Australian passport has become the most expensive in the world.
The study looked into various factors such as the price, years of validity, and power to determine the second-least expensive passport in the world. Despite its high ranking in the rankings of Henley Index, Australia still ranks second-least expensive when it comes to visa-free countries.
Prior to the fee hike, Mexico was the most expensive country when it came to acquiring a passport, with the six-year, three-year, and 10-year documents all being among the most expensive.
The cheapest passports in the world were those issued by India, Hungary, and the United Arab Emirates. Adrian Taylor, the head of general insurance for Compare Market, said that the study highlights the importance of securing travel documents when traveling.
According to Mr Taylor, traveling documents can be stolen, damaged, or lost. It is crucial to ensure that one is always vigilant about their passports, as even a minor issue could prevent one from entering a certain country. The cost of acquiring an emergency passport from Australia is $250.
Valid for up to twelve months, the Australian passport does not have a chip, which means it can’t be used in certain countries. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises travelers to check the visa requirements of the nations they plan to visit. Australians can also fast-track their passports for $100, which is equivalent to five business days processing time.
This new fee is on top of what the 10-year passport costs. The government announced the new option during the May budget, which is expected to generate around $27.4 million in revenue over the next few years. The funds will be used to reinvest in the department.
Australians have an expedited processing option that allows them to get their passports in just two business days. The fee has increased to $290 from $252. This is on top of the base fee of $398.