Travellers applying for a new Australian passport in 2026 will pay more than ever after the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade indexed fees to inflation at 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Day. A standard ten-year adult passport now costs AUD 422—up AUD 10—while a five-year document for children or seniors rises to AUD 213.
With the adjustment, Australia cements its status as the world’s most expensive travel document. Express processing adds a further AUD 241, taking the price of a two-day turnaround adult passport to AUD 663. DFAT says the increase keeps the programme fully cost-recovered, but consumer groups argue the hike is out of step with peer nations and hits low-income travellers hardest.
Demand, however, remains robust: more than 2.1 million passports were issued in 2025, and the agency expects the usual January surge as holiday-makers discover six-month-validity rules jeopardise mid-year trips. Mobility managers should remind relocating staff to check expiry dates and budget extra lead-time; Australia Post appointment slots are already filling fast.
![Australian Passport Fee Rises to World-Leading AUD 422]()
Travellers grappling with the new fees and tight timelines may find relief in using VisaHQ, an online passport and visa concierge. Its dedicated Australian portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) provides up-to-date guidance on forms, fees and appointment availability, helping both individuals and corporate mobility teams streamline applications, avoid errors and secure documents quickly.
Companies that reimburse travel-document costs will need to revise internal policy ceilings, while global mobility teams should factor higher replacement charges into assignment cost forecasts. For travellers on tight timelines, renewing early may avoid costly express surcharges later in the year.
DFAT has commissioned a review into long-term passport funding, due mid-2026, raising the possibility of a broader fee overhaul—or further rises—next year.
With the adjustment, Australia cements its status as the world’s most expensive travel document. Express processing adds a further AUD 241, taking the price of a two-day turnaround adult passport to AUD 663. DFAT says the increase keeps the programme fully cost-recovered, but consumer groups argue the hike is out of step with peer nations and hits low-income travellers hardest.
Demand, however, remains robust: more than 2.1 million passports were issued in 2025, and the agency expects the usual January surge as holiday-makers discover six-month-validity rules jeopardise mid-year trips. Mobility managers should remind relocating staff to check expiry dates and budget extra lead-time; Australia Post appointment slots are already filling fast.
Travellers grappling with the new fees and tight timelines may find relief in using VisaHQ, an online passport and visa concierge. Its dedicated Australian portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) provides up-to-date guidance on forms, fees and appointment availability, helping both individuals and corporate mobility teams streamline applications, avoid errors and secure documents quickly.
Companies that reimburse travel-document costs will need to revise internal policy ceilings, while global mobility teams should factor higher replacement charges into assignment cost forecasts. For travellers on tight timelines, renewing early may avoid costly express surcharges later in the year.
DFAT has commissioned a review into long-term passport funding, due mid-2026, raising the possibility of a broader fee overhaul—or further rises—next year.
