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Australia’s 10-year passport remains the most expensive in the world in 2025, according to the latest ranking from Compare the Market. After two price increases within less than a year, Australians must now pay USD $412 for the standard 10-year document — a rise from about $346 in early 2024.
Compare the Market’s 2025 Passport Price Index reviewed the cost of passports in 23 countries and found that only nine of them increased their fees this year — Australia being among them. Mexico, for instance, raised its passport price by MX $180 (≈ USD 14.68) on 1 January 2025, while the United Kingdom increased theirs by £12 (≈ USD 24.61) in April.
A Look at the Price Rankings
For passports valid 10 years, the top 10 most expensive in 2025 are:
By contrast, some of the least expensive passports come from countries like India (USD $26.63 for 10 years), Brazil (about USD $49.19), South Africa (USD $50.85), Spain (USD $53.33), and Poland (USD $58.29).
Cost per Visa-Free Country
The comparison isn’t just about the headline price — the “price per visa-free country” metric adds more context. Australia leads here too, at approximately USD $2.23 per visa-free destination, with its passport granting access to 185 countries without a visa. By contrast, a UK passport — offering access to 186 visa-free countries — costs just USD $1.04 per country. Countries like Spain, Brazil, Poland, and Malaysia have much more favourable ratios — around USD $0.40 or less per visa-free country.
The Hidden Cost in Travel Budgets
The high price of the Australian passport is more than just a figure — it has real implications for travellers. In Australia, roughly 30,000 passports are reported lost or stolen each year, a nontrivial number. Losing or damaging a passport can be stressful — and expensive, especially when you need a replacement quickly.
Some travel insurance policies may cover the cost of replacing a lost or damaged passport. As Adrian Taylor, General Manager at General Insurance, notes, travellers should scrutinise their policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and check if such coverage is included. He also emphasises reporting a lost or damaged passport immediately to the Australian Passport Office or the nearest diplomatic mission.
