The Burrow
Apr 10, 2024
Most people who have travelled internationally at some point in their lives will either have – or previously have had – a passport. These unassuming little booklets contain our identity and nationality information vital for travel, identification, and verification abroad (and sometimes even domestically).
Most countries issue their own passports (with some exceptions for autonomous territories and countries such as Gibraltar or Greenland) which citizens can apply for – usually for a cost.
Given its importance, it makes sense that some people might choose to take out travel insurance to cover the cost of replacing a passport if it is lost, stolen or damaged while overseas. If you are going on a cruise, your cruise travel insurance might cover this cost too.
As experts in travel insurance comparisons, we decided to compare the cost of a passport in various countries to find out who has the most valuable passport in the world!
We compared 29 passports using three metrics:
These are the results for the passports we examined.
Of the nations we studied, Mexico, Australia and the United States had the highest passport costs at AUD$353.90, $346.00 and $252.72 respectively.
It was Mexico’s 10-year passport specifically that took the top spot, while the six-year and three-year passports were fourth and ninth most expensive respectively.
On the other hand, the United Arab Emirates, India, and Hungary’s five-year passport were the three cheapest on our list at AUD$27.13, $27.70 and $31.78 respectively.
| Rank | Nation | Valid for (years) | Visa free countries | Cost of passport (AUD) |
| 1 | UAE | 5 | 183 | $27.13 |
| 2 | India | 10 | 62 | $27.70 |
| 3 | Hungary (5-year-passport) | 5 | 188 | $31.78 |
| 4 | South Africa | 10 | 108 | $48.44 |
| 5 | Kenya | 10 | 76 | $49.28 |
| 6 | Spain (for over 30-year-olds) | 10 | 194 | $49.49 |
| 6 | Spain (for under 30-year-olds) | 5 | 194 | $49.49 |
| 8 | Poland | 10 | 189 | $53.38 |
| 9 | Brazil | 10 | 173 | $55.59 |
| 10 | Sweden | 5 | 193 | $58.88 |
| 11 | Hungary (10-year-passport) | 10 | 188 | $59.31 |
| 12 | Germany (for under 24-year-olds) | 6 | 194 | $61.87 |
| 13 | Malaysia | 5 | 183 | $63.97 |
| 14 | Finland | 5 | 193 | $72.58 |
| 15 | Singapore | 10 | 194 | $79.69 |
| 16 | Germany (for over 24-year-olds) | 10 | 194 | $115.48 |
| 17 | Saudi Arabia | 5 | 89 | $122.61 |
| 18 | Austria | 10 | 192 | $125.37 |
| 19 | France | 10 | 194 | $141.88 |
| 20 | Fiji | 10 | 90 | $142.88 |
| 21 | Mexico (3-year-passport) | 3 | 162 | $148.65 |
| 22 | UK | 10 | 192 | $159.04 |
| 23 | Canada | 10 | 189 | $181.41 |
| 24 | Italy | 10 | 194 | $191.36 |
| 25 | New Zealand | 10 | 190 | $193.72 |
| 26 | Mexico (6-year-passport) | 6 | 162 | $202.10 |
| 27 | USA | 10 | 189 | $252.72 |
| 28 | Australia | 10 | 190 | $346.00 |
| 29 | Mexico (10-year-passport) | 10 | 162 | $353.90 |
When we take the time of validity into account, the rankings change.
Looking at the cost per years valid of a first-time passport applicant, Mexico’s three and 10-year passports take the most expensive two spots (AUD$49.55 and $35.39 annually respectively), followed by Australia’s 10-year passport ($34.60), Mexico’s six-year passport ($33.68) and the United States’ 10-year passport ($25.27).
India turned out to be the cheapest in this category, with an average cost of only AUD$2.77 per year. South Africa ($4.84) and Kenya ($4.93) were second and third cheapest in this regard.
It is important to note that renewal fees may differ from first-time application fees. This means that the cost per year of a shorter-validity passport is not necessarily directly comparable to the cost per year of a passport that is initially valid for longer.
By incorporating figures from the Henley Passport Index, we can calculate a new score – the cost per number of countries a passport holder can travel to without the need for a visa.
The 10-year Mexican passport is once again the most expensive in this regard. Holders of this passport are paying AUD$2.18 per country they can travel to without a visa. While 162 countries may seem like a lot, it is actually on the lower end compared to the other passports on this list!
The Australian (AUD$1.82 per visa free country) and Fijian ($1.59) passports pose the second and third lowest value proposition on this list.
On the other hand, the UAE passport, Hungarian five-year passport and both Spanish passports round out the best value passports for travelling without a visa, at AUD$0.15, $0.17 and $0.26 respectively.
While it is undoubtedly powerful, the Aussie passport is also undoubtedly expensive – at least in comparison to most other passports on this list.
It is second most expensive overall, third most expensive per year (behind two variations of the Mexican passport), and also received the second-lowest value per visa-free country – despite its relatively high ranking in the Henley Index.
It is also slated to become 15% more expensive as of 1 July 2024, according to the mid-year 2023-24 economic and fiscal outlook.2 This would put the cost of the 10-year validity passport for people aged 16 years and over close to AUD$400.
Compare the Market’s Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor, said travel insurance may be able to help if something happens to your passport overseas.
“Nobody wants to be stressed out on their holidays. Damage, loss or theft of your important documents is an unfortunate risk many people face while overseas,” Mr Taylor said.
“Depending on your policy, travel insurance may be able to help cover the cost of a replacement if you need to apply for one.
“It pays to have peace of mind, so you know you are covered in case something bad happens to your important travel documents.”
If your passport is lost, damaged or stolen while overseas, contact the Australian Passport Office or your nearest Australian diplomatic or consular mission as soon as possible to figure out the best next steps.
If you are in Australia and are considering purchasing domestic travel insurance, make sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) to help you to understand the limits, exclusions or restrictions of any given policy.
| Nation | Cost of passport (local currency) | Source | Valid for (years) | Source |
| Australia | 346 | https://www.passports.gov.au/getting-passport-how-it-works/passport-fees | 10 | https://www.passports.gov.au/getting-passport-how-it-works/passport-fees |
| Austria | 76 | https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/austrian-embassy-canberra/citizen-services/consular-fees | 10 | https://www.consilium.europa.eu/prado/en/AUT-AO-03001/index.html |
| Brazil | 180 | https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/consulado-montreal/brazilian-passport | 10 | https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/consulado-montreal/brazilian-passport |
| Canada | 160 | https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/fees/passport-canada.html | 10 | https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/fees/passport-canada.html |
| Fiji | 211.05 | https://immigration.gov.fj/fiji-passports/ | 10 | https://immigration.gov.fj/fiji-passports/ |
| Finland | 44 | https://poliisi.fi/en/payment-table | 5 | https://poliisi.fi/en/passport |
| France | 86 | https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F35154/0_0_0_0?lang=en | 10 | https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F35154/0_0_0_0?lang=en |
| Germany (over 24) | 70 | https://www.iamexpat.de/expat-info/official-issues/german-passport-deutscher-reisepass | 10 | https://australien.diplo.de/au-en/service/00-faq-pass/2098858?openAccordionId=item-2098836-4-panel |
| Germany (under 24) | 37.5 | https://www.iamexpat.de/expat-info/official-issues/german-passport-deutscher-reisepass | 6 | https://australien.diplo.de/au-en/service/00-faq-pass/2098858?openAccordionId=item-2098836-4-panel |
| Hungary (10 years) | 14000 | https://nyilvantarto.hu/archiv_honlap_2016/en/passport | 10 | https://nyilvantarto.hu/archiv_honlap_2016/en/passport |
| Hungary (5 years) | 7500 | https://nyilvantarto.hu/archiv_honlap_2016/en/passport | 5 | https://nyilvantarto.hu/archiv_honlap_2016/en/passport |
| India | 1500 | https://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/feeDocument.html | 10 | https://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/feeDocument.html |
| Italy | 116 | https://www.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/italiani-all-estero/documenti_di_viaggio/passaporto/ | 10 | https://www.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/italiani-all-estero/documenti_di_viaggio/passaporto/ |
| Kenya | 4550 | https://immigration.go.ke/passport-section/applicable-fees/ | 10 | https://immigration.go.ke/passport-section/ |
| Malaysia | 200 | https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/passport/malaysian-international-passport/ | 5 | https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/passport/malaysian-international-passport/ |
| Mexico | 1,655 | https://www.gob.mx/tramites/ficha/renovacion-de-pasaporte-a-personas-mayores-de-edad/SRE113 | 3 | https://www.gob.mx/tramites/ficha/renovacion-de-pasaporte-a-personas-mayores-de-edad/SRE113 |
| Mexico | 2,250 | https://www.gob.mx/tramites/ficha/renovacion-de-pasaporte-a-personas-mayores-de-edad/SRE113 | 6 | https://www.gob.mx/tramites/ficha/renovacion-de-pasaporte-a-personas-mayores-de-edad/SRE113 |
| Mexico | 3,940 | https://www.gob.mx/tramites/ficha/renovacion-de-pasaporte-a-personas-mayores-de-edad/SRE113 | 10 | https://www.gob.mx/tramites/ficha/renovacion-de-pasaporte-a-personas-mayores-de-edad/SRE113 |
| New Zealand | 206 | https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/get-or-renew-a-new-zealand-passport/apply-for-a-new-adult-passport/ | 10 | https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/get-or-renew-a-new-zealand-passport/apply-for-a-new-adult-passport/ |
| Poland | 140 | https://www.gov.pl/web/gov/paszport-informacje-o-dokumencie | 10 | https://www.gov.pl/web/gov/paszport-informacje-o-dokumencie |
| Saudi Arabia | 300 | https://www.my.gov.sa/wps/portal/snp/servicesDirectory/servicedetails/9212 | 5 | https://www.moi.gov.sa/wps/portal/!ut/p/z0/fY69DoIwFIVfpQvzvVVCwsjgD2piooPYpbmRilVoS1vUxxd4ALfz8-XkgIAKhKG3bihqa6gd_VVkEss03fJ0sT8uixUW2fqQn3LkJUc4KwM7EP-hcUU_-14UIG7WRPWNUHVWs1p_yCQ4yYftFJtLExn5BKcgQa-aoZ3PzJgMNNSaOQrBWR9lre40tFGSB_faXH5pLJ-4/ |
| Singapore | 70 | https://www.ica.gov.sg/documents/passport/apply#:~:text=A%20S%2470%20fee%20is%20payable,or%20at%20Singapore%20Overseas%20Mission. | 10 | https://www.ica.gov.sg/documents/passport/apply#:~:text=A%20S%2470%20fee%20is%20payable,or%20at%20Singapore%20Overseas%20Mission. |
| South Africa | 600 | http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/fees | 10 | http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/civic-services/travel-documents |
| Spain (over 30) | 30 | https://www.dnielectronico.es/PortalDNIe/PRF1_Cons02.action?pag=REF_1086 | 10 | https://www.dnielectronico.es/PortalDNIe/PRF1_Cons02.action?pag=REF_1085&id_menu=53 |
| Spain (under 30) | 30 | https://www.dnielectronico.es/PortalDNIe/PRF1_Cons02.action?pag=REF_1086 | 5 | https://www.dnielectronico.es/PortalDNIe/PRF1_Cons02.action?pag=REF_1085&id_menu=53 |
| Sweden | 400 | https://polisen.se/en/services-and-permits/passport-and-national-id-card/ | 5 | https://www.consilium.europa.eu/prado/en/SWE-AO-05001/index.html |
| UAE | 115 | https://www.government.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/do-you-need-an-emirates-id/residents-of-the-uae | 5 | https://www.government.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/do-you-need-an-emirates-id/residents-of-the-uae |
| UK | 82.5 | https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees | 10 | https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport#:~:text=An%20adult%20passport%20is%20valid%20for%2010%20years. |
| USA | 165 | https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html | 10 | https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/forms.html |