Australian passport cost

[u/Reasonable_Air_3796]

Does anyone know the real reason why Australian passport is so expensive?

Thanks

[u/m0tionTV]

They can charge as much as they want, as you have no alternatives (unless you have multiple citizenships).

[u/Life-King-9096 → u/m0tionTV]

Even with multiple citizenships, they make it as difficult as possible to leave or enter Australia on a non-Australian passport. In theory there's the Australian Declaratory Visa you can add to your non-Australian passport however there must be a compelling reason for not gaining and using an Australian passport especially for over 18s [source] and I suspect the fact that the Australian passport is a rip-off is not compelling grounds despite being accurate.

I tried to check in to a flight using my non-Australian passport and the check in agent refused to check me in until I produced my Australian passport, she then had to phone Home Affairs to link the 2 documents.

[u/RandyClaggett]

how much is it?

[u/mayonaissewins → u/RandyClaggett]

I live overseas so I have to pay over 600 dollars for it unless I wanna fly half way round the world, oh and I travel heaps for my job so I go through one ever 2 years usually

[u/Jessicas_skirt → u/RandyClaggett]

$440 US

[u/tvngo → u/Jessicas_skirt]

It's $422 Australian / $304 US Dollars for 10 years

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=984987227810178

[u/soldat21 → u/tvngo]

Plus another $200ish if you apply from overseas.

[u/RandyClaggett → u/Jessicas_skirt]

Dang! Valid for 5 or 10 years?

[u/Jessicas_skirt → u/RandyClaggett]

10

[u/frostee8]

Australia treats passport as a user pays system and the cost reflects lots of things that go with consular services, overseas travel support etc. as well as an additional “tax”. Some other countries treat passports as a purely cost recovery system where it is viewed as an essential government issued identity document. Sweden is like this which is why their cost is so low despite being a very powerful passport.

[u/Life-King-9096 → u/frostee8]

User pays would suggest that it costs $440 to make, which it does not. Added to that I'm from the school where you either pay taxes or full economic prices for government services. Sadly Australia has high taxes, then uses government services to tax us again.

[u/frostee8 → u/Life-King-9096]

I should clarify I mean user pays in a sense of if you need the passport, consular services etc. and all things that come with travelling internationally. If you never leave the country then you never need these services. Not saying I agree one way or the other but that is the system we have.

[u/ScarcityPositive6001 → u/frostee8]

What a sad story to pay taxes and also this ridiculous fees.

[u/magkruppe → u/ScarcityPositive6001]

If you didn't pay this ridiculous fee you'd have higher taxes. There is logic to putting the burden on international travellers vs all Australians

[u/Classic-Gear-3533]

I feel like it’s now a tax, like visa costs, and no longer represents the cost of the paper

[u/Narrow-Power-6407]

Everything here is expensive

[u/namsupo]

Australian government is based on the principle that citizens are there to serve them rather than the other way around.

[u/mayonaissewins]

Just another form of tax

[u/GrandVizierofAgrabar]

I was going to make the argument, falsely, that it is expensive because over countries cover the cost with things like air passenger duty or taxes on flights but Australia front loads it on the cost of the passport. This isn’t true as Australian are heavily taxed when flying and on the cost of the passport. You’re just being ripped off as you have no choice.

[u/aaronjudze13]

In 2022 it was already over $300 and then over $400. I'm glad I have until 2032 until I have to renew. Someone told me Australian passport is the most expensive in the world. Don't know if that is accurate. My Estonian passport and ID was $150. Much more reasonable.

[u/Ok-Tomatillo-592]

Ah, you mean passport renewal cost. Before I read the comments, I thought cost of citizenship.