The Henley Passport Index 2026 is out, and Australia has slipped to equal seventh place globally for passport power, down from equal sixth last year. At the same time, Australians are paying more than ever to hold that passport, following a fee increase that quietly took effect over the holiday period.
In raw terms, Australia now has 29 countries ranked ahead of it for passport power, up from 20 last year. At the very top sits Singapore, followed closely by Japan and South Korea. Behind them is a dense cluster of European countries including Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland and France.
Even New Zealand is beating us, sitting in equal sixth place, despite also dropping in rank compared to last year.
The Henley Index ranks passports by how many destinations their holders can enter visa free or with visa on arrival. The more doors that open without paperwork, the higher the ranking.
Coming in at 7 isn’t bad. Our access score remains just under 190 destinations. It still clears borders with ease across Europe, the Americas and much of Asia.
Where we do come out on top
Australia may not sit at the very top of the access table, but it still leads one category outright: cost. A standard 10-year adult Australian passport costs more than any other in the world. More than the UK. More than the US. More than New Zealand.
As of January 1, 2026, a new 10-year adult Australian passport costs $422 AUD, while a 5-year child passport (for individuals under 16) or an optional senior passport (for individuals aged 75 and above) costs $213 AUD. Additional fees apply for urgent processing or overseas applications.
And over the Christmas and New Year period, our passport fees increased.
So Australians are now paying the global premium for a passport that sits behind several of its closest peers on access.
What the fees actually pay for
Australia’s passport fees are set on a full cost‑recovery basis. Applicants fund the entire system: document production, security and anti‑fraud measures, processing staff, overseas posts and the technology that keeps the passport internationally trusted.
There is no subsidy buffer. When costs rise across that system, the fee moves with it. That is the policy reality, and it has been consistent for years.
Where the cost lands in real life
The issue is not whether the fees are defensible. It is how they land.
For a family renewing passports at the same time, the hit is immediate and unavoidable. A family of four could end paying more than $1,600 to the cost of a holiday before flights, accommodation or insurance are even considered.
For frequent travellers, the increase is absorbed as friction. For infrequent travellers and families, it is a budget recalculation. It still works. It simply arrives with a much larger bill attached.
Why the trade should care
For advisers, passports remain the first gate in the booking journey. That gate now carries a higher penalty for late discovery.
Expired documents, urgent replacements and compressed timelines cost more than they used to. The margin for error has narrowed.
The Henley Index shows Australia still travels well. The fee schedule shows it pays a premium to do so.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Australia’s passport access remains high, but a slipping Henley rank paired with the world’s highest fees makes early passport checks and renewal timing a sharper operational issue for the trade.
