Australian Passport Remains World’s Most Expensive in 2026
Australians planning an overseas trip in 2026 could be set for a rude shock, with the cost of a getting a new passport creeping up once again.
Australia already held the unfortunate crown as the most expensive passport in the world and since the turn of the New Year, the cost has increased to $422, rising $10 from 2025.
But how much more is Australia’s passport compared to the rest of the world? The travel insurance comparison experts compared the cost of passports around the world, to see which nation’s citizens get the greatest bang for buck.
Analysing updated 2026 costings from government sources and the Henley Passport Index, Compare the Market determined the world’s most expensive and most powerful passports.
According to their research, Mexico is the only other country that’s upped its passport’s price in 2026, rising from AU$335.95 (MX$4,120) in 2025 to AU$355.76 ($MX4,280) this year.
The most expensive passports in 2026
| Rank | Nation | Cost of passport 2026 (AUD) | Valid for (years) | AUD/year |
| 1 | 🇦🇺 Australia | $422.00 | 10 | $42.20 |
| 2 | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $355.67 | 10 | $35.57 |
| 3 | 🇺🇸 USA | $290.26 | 10 | $29.03 |
| 4 | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | $213.16 | 10 | $21.32 |
| 5 | 🇮🇹 Italy | $202.47 | 10 | $20.25 |
| 6 | 🇦🇹 Austria | $195.48 | 10 | $19.55 |
| 7 | 🇬🇧 UK | $190.50 | 10 | $19.05 |
| 8 | 🇨🇦 Canada | $172.96 | 10 | $17.30 |
| 9 | 🇫🇷 France | $150.07 | 10 | $15.01 |
| 10 | 🇩🇪 Germany | $122.16 | 10 | $12.22 |
Cheapest passports in 2026
On the other end of the spectrum, Brazilians were found to have the best deal, with a 10-year passport costing AU$16.38 (R$180.00). However, it is important to note that the cost of the Brazilian passport in the local currency is the same as 2025. Its promotion to world’s cheapest passport in Australian Dollars is primarily due to the recent depreciation of the Brazilian Real.
India, the United Arab of Emirates, Spain and South Africa are also among the cheapest, with each costing less than AU$55.00 for passports with 10-years’ validity.
The cheapest passports in 2026
| Rank | Nation | Cost of passport 2026 (AUD) | Valid for (years) | AUD/year |
| 1 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | $16.38 | 10 | $1.64 |
| 2 | 🇮🇳 India | $24.72 | 10 | $2.47 |
| 3 | 🇦🇪 UAE | $40.39 | 10 | $4.04 |
| 4 | 🇪🇸 Spain | $52.35 | 10 | $5.24 |
| 5 | 🇿🇦 South Africa | $54.60 | 10 | $5.46 |
| 6 | 🇫🇯 Fiji | $55.89 | 10 | $5.59 |
| 7 | 🇵🇱 Poland | $57.97 | 10 | $5.80 |
| 8 | 🇰🇷 South Korea | $69.74 | 10 | $6.97 |
| 9 | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | $73.34 | 5 | $14.67 |
| 10 | 🇸🇪 Sweden | $81.20 | 5 | $16.24 |
World’s most powerful passports
The findings also outlined the power of each nation’s passport, looking at the number of countries a passport holder can travel to without needing a visa.
The most powerful passport in the world is Singapore, with Singaporeans able to access a total of 193 countries around the world without a visa. South Korea is a close second, with 190 nations accessible visa-free.
Behind the two Asian nations lies a series of European countries. European Union passports holders in nations such as Italy, France, Germany, Finland and Spain can access 187 countries visa-free, tied with Fiji.
While Australians enjoy visa-free access to 184 countries worldwide, the cost per visa-free country is AU$2.29, the most expensive in the world.
The best value passports around the world are Brazil, the United Arab Emirates and Spain, with each country’s cost per visa-free country AU$0.10, AU$0.22 and AU$0.28 respectively.
Most powerful passports in 2026
| Rank | Nation | Number of countries accessible visa-free | Cost per visa-free country (AUD) |
| 1 | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 193 | $0.42 |
| 2 | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 190 | $0.37 |
| 3 | 🇮🇹 Italy | 187 | $1.08 |
| 4 | 🇫🇷 France | 187 | $0.80 |
| 5 | 🇩🇪 Germany | 187 | $0.65 |
| 6 | 🇫🇮 Finland | 187 | $0.45 |
| 7 | 🇫🇯 Fiji | 187 | $0.30 |
| 8 | 🇪🇸 Spain | 187 | $0.28 |
| 9 | 🇦🇹 Austria | 186 | $1.05 |
| 10 | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 186 | $0.44 |
Globally, the value of passports around the world is generally decreasing. Compare the Market found that in 17 of the 25 countries researched, the number of countries passport holders can travel to without a visa had fallen since 2025.
