Overpriced Australian Passport $277 AUD !!!

xiuhan83 on 02/10/2017 - 21:18
Last edited 03/10/2017 - 22:23 by 2 other users

Hi does anyone think the Australian passport is way overpriced for whats its worth?

Sure you can argue its one of the most powerful passport in the world however if you like to compare a passport from Germany which can get me to more countries visa free and it only cost 60 euros.

and to be honest it is not the most powerful passport compared to the west european countries where they have more visa free countries also apparently their the visa fee to get into certain countries are also cheaper for different passport holder.

example to go to uzbekistan an Australian have to pay 75 usd where a japanese only pay 15usd.

so is there any way we can lodge a complain to lower the overprice passport

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Comments

      • snipeymcsnipesnipe on 05/10/2017 - 14:37
        +1

        They stopped issuing them in those little plastic passport holders so this is common prpblem in winter now.

        • [Deactivated] on 05/10/2017 - 19:59

          New, collected myself (not mailed), never exposed to water - and I can separate lamination with my fingernail. The passport should be tamper proof.

        • snipeymcsnipesnipe on 06/10/2017 - 02:11

          @Occam Razor:
          Ah yes i agree with that, they are quite easy, the nz ones despite being laminated are probably easier plus because the bio page is solid when lifted apart and put back together it looks as though nothing happened, much less secure from fraud.
          sorry I wasnt clear my previous comment I was meaning about the first one you mentioned that got damaged

    • citybargainhunter on 04/10/2017 - 16:13
      +1

      Only if the government learns to spend their money wisely they wouldn't need to be taxing people so much.

      • jlogic on 05/10/2017 - 00:34

        Bob is that you? Fraser is asking.

    • adante on 07/10/2017 - 01:15

      I'm not entirely convinced this answers the question though. I mean, I nod at what you say - on reflection, if passports cost $10k you could give the same answer but this time I would probably disagree.

      Obviously there is more at stake than simply maximising profits. While I doubt we will come up with a satisfactory number unless it's less than an eneloop 4-pack, I'd be more interesting in seeing what people think those factors are.

      • mskeggs on 07/10/2017 - 01:23

        Well, yes, but a daily auction of government service prices is likely to be cumbersome and leave many users of the services cranky.
        We are running at record number of foreign trips, or close, so the passport fee isn't yet discouraging many. And by definition, a good tax is one that raises the most money without impacting the volume of taxed articles - implying it captures the excess value neither the buyer or seller had captured.

        I agree the passport cost is too high, but the government seems to have no appetite to tax capital gains flowing to real estate investors any more highly, who should certainly be the next cab off the rank to look at for taxes, so where are they going to raise tax revenue that is less painful?

  • Halo375 on 03/10/2017 - 07:53

    If you work overseas your company will pay for it.

  • driver33b on 03/10/2017 - 08:04
    +2

    Don't suppose you want to know that they are NOT valid for 10 years…a lot countries want at least 3 months validity on the return date into Australia…most Travel agents/carriers want 6 months…basically making it a nine and a half year passport.

    • CLoSeR on 03/10/2017 - 09:16
      +1

      Australian Passport is valid for entry into Australia up until the date it expires, the validity requirements for entry into other countries cannot be controlled.

      • driver33b on 03/10/2017 - 10:07

        Not always, you cannot travel out of Australia unless there is 6 months left on your Passport….you cannot fly or cruise unless you have 6 months left on your Passport when returning to Australia.

        "Passport Requirements
        A valid passport is a requirement for all international sailings and air travel. Ensure sufficient blank visa pages within the passport for visa stamps. For your protection, we recommend that your passport expiry date not occur within six (6) months following the voyage termination date."

        I have seen people not allowed to board their ship because their passport did not meet Royal Carribeans T&Cs

        • CLoSeR on 03/10/2017 - 10:14
          +1

          This is a requirement of the specific carrier, you can definately travel with less than 6 months.

        • ilikeradiohead on 04/10/2017 - 12:41
          +2

          It literally says recommend.

  • Baysew on 03/10/2017 - 09:02
    +2

    so is there any way we can lodge a complain to lower the overprice passport

    Yes, contact Peter Dutton. I'm sure he will give you the sympathy that you are entitled to.

    • juventino on 04/10/2017 - 00:21
      +2

      Please dont. with username like OP, he/she will get deported right away.

      • Baysew on 05/10/2017 - 10:07

        I think that is called a win/win.

  • DarkOz on 03/10/2017 - 09:05

    I agree that it is expensive but that's one thing I don't mind paying!

  • Aussie Smurfette on 03/10/2017 - 09:06
    +2

    Australia is the most expensive country to live in, why would you think our passports would be cheaper than elsewhere?

  • CLoSeR on 03/10/2017 - 09:17

    If feels expensive when paying it but if you calculate cost over 10 years it's cheaper than a NSW drivers license.

  • Seraphin7 on 03/10/2017 - 10:47
    +22

    I agree with others that this is perhaps not the biggest issue going around, but I do agree that the cost seems exorbitantly high.

    What is it about the Australian Passport that justifies it being the most (or close to most) expensive in the world?

    Simply claiming it's an additional tax on "those that can afford international travel" is a lazy argument. There are plenty of other taxes already levied on international travelers … various entry/exit charges, etc. … that are actually a better proxy for a tax "on those that can afford it" in any event. These taxes are levied on the basis of the number of trips … more travel, more tax. The passport charge disproportionately slugs those who travel infrequently and are actually likely, on average, to be those who can afford it less than frequent travelers.

    The passport has simply become another vehicle through which governments can raise revenues not only through their monopoly power, but free from any form of review or regulation on pricing (other than those they implement themselves).

    • movieman on 04/10/2017 - 19:24
      +1

      After doing my current tax return, and seeing Australia's debt at over $500 million…

      I can understand why they wish to rip us off.

      If the government was run like ozbargain / Aldi / Air Asia, they would work on decreasing expenses, not increasing the costs of items.

    • Roman Sandstorm on 05/10/2017 - 14:02
      +1

      Well, one intelligent comment out of hundreds.

      Probably a reasonable hit rate for OZB.

  • altomic on 03/10/2017 - 11:42
    +5

    it's not the passport that is expensive - it's all the inexpensive airfares on ozbargain, that when combined, which are expensive.

    thanks to ozbargain (and having a passport) in the last 18 months I've taken the family to - Hawaii, Japan (twice), India, Vietnam/Cambodia, China, and have just booked LA for March 2018.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/10/2017 - 12:44

    Since you're at it, can you write in to lower my tax? It's a ripoff. I pay half my earnings yet all I get is HECS.

    If I didn't pay this much tax, I would get so many concessions.

    Please piggy back my complain. Tyvm

  • HeWhoKnows on 03/10/2017 - 13:26
    +1

    The price is not negotiable.
    Hence waste of time even commenting.
    Simple answer: Put up or dont go overseas.

  • HeWhoKnows on 03/10/2017 - 13:29
    -3

    Maybe you can buy one on eBay.
    Im sure it will be very cheap.
    Cant guarantee it will get you in and out of Australia though.

  • Craigie on 03/10/2017 - 17:03
    +1

    It's not too bad compared with other overpriced Australian things.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/10/2017 - 18:40
    +4

    Maybe best that you get your German passport and move to Uzbekistan then as Australia has a cost of living which is clearly too high for you

  • kolorijo on 03/10/2017 - 18:49
    +1

    If you can't afford the passport, you shouldn't be going overseas.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/10/2017 - 19:35

    Joke. That is like less than 1 week of centrelink.

  • Hardlyworkin on 03/10/2017 - 19:56
    +1

    If you factor in average hourly wage in Australia then it's probably not that expensive compared to other countries. It's just over a days work for the majority.

    How much do you think a citizen of a developing country would pay for an Aussie passport? A kidney perhaps.

  • JelIyfish on 03/10/2017 - 19:56
    +2

    Wait until the June EOFYS

    • dbun1 on 05/10/2017 - 00:03

      I thought waiting for an eBay 20% code would be better?

  • lainey13 on 03/10/2017 - 20:17
    +14

    It's like the boiling frog analogy. When you live here, you get used to the prices and you think it's great. Then you go elsewhere and you realise Australia is very bloody expensive for most things. Including passports! Yet people think it's perfectly fine. Shrug.

    • nomoneynoproblems on 03/10/2017 - 23:21
      +1

      I honestly think it's great. When travelling overseas most things are surprisingly cheaper compared to back home. Kinda puts a smile on my face.

    • [Deactivated] on 03/10/2017 - 23:43
      +1

      Or you live elsewhere where most people (including yourself) think its fine or have to live it anyway and then you come to Australia and realize it is quite a great deal cheaper for the things that matter.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 03/10/2017 - 20:25
    -4

    If anything they should charge more. Just having a passport from the best country in the world is worth a fortune.

  • Pratty on 03/10/2017 - 21:09
    +3

    All those who wish we could downvote forum contributions say 'I'?

  • nowlan on 03/10/2017 - 21:11
    +2

    Wait til you lose one, pay a penalty, then full price all over again.

  • Randxyz123 on 03/10/2017 - 21:14
    +5

    My god that post was painful to read…

    • titan0r on 03/10/2017 - 21:36

      Tell me about it!

  • vinster55 on 03/10/2017 - 21:15

    A mate of mine handed in his indian passport to cancel it.
    Its $300 dollars. So, comparing with that this is cheap.

  • dbun1 on 03/10/2017 - 21:25
    +1

    Travel for work - work paid for my 'frequent traveler' passport - $407

    Having said that - given the 10 year validity (or 9.5 years given you have to have 6 months validity on your passport), we are talking about ~$30 per year over the 10 years.

    I'm sure you can OzB some other items to get the dollars back.

  • PleasureMe on 03/10/2017 - 21:53
    +4

    OP, please stop worrying about such unimportant issues and instead focus your time on more important things. For example, you could spend more time to improve your English.

    Let me start you off. You wrote the word "overprice" 3 times. What you meant to write is "overpriced". Please don't forget the d.
    Also, you want to "lodge a complain", but what you actually need to do is "lodge a complaint". Please don't forget the t.

  • vlaaad on 03/10/2017 - 22:04
    -4

    My friend would say "your face is overprice." No offense.

  • dufflover on 03/10/2017 - 22:04
    +1

    Do I whinge enough to bother contesting or complaining much about the price? Not really.

    Do I think it's justified like some people are trying so hard to? Nope.
    What next? Justifying stamp duty? Cos that's IMO what it is amounting to - just because something is useful does not mean it's expensive. It's pure marketing/competition(lack of)/bureaucracy.

  • wombok2 on 03/10/2017 - 23:01
    -4

    I usually don't say this but if you don't love it, then leave. There's plenty of people who would love to have an Australian Passport.

    You're quite privileged to be in Australia, if you're complaining about this then you shouldn't have taken up Australian citizenship and should've just kept your old passport.

    rant over.

  • MITM on 03/10/2017 - 23:03
    +1

    Passport fee increases coincide with Federal budgets in order to balance the books. Presumably the increase would be attributed to the relative portfolio but more likely roll into consolidated revenue. Therefore it is a tax increase.
    Same happens to licence and rego fee increases with State govt budgets.

  • everypenny on 03/10/2017 - 23:25

    NO - Just get it

  • frewer on 04/10/2017 - 00:58

    Keksistant is cheaper perhaps ? You can be attack Apache too

  • SydStrand on 04/10/2017 - 02:50
    +2

    Sure you can argue its one of the most powerful passport in the world however if you like to compare a passport from Germany which can get me to more countries visa free and it only cost 60 euros.

    Get a German one then.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/10/2017 - 03:11
    +2

    $27/year, who cares… lol

  • vetopower on 04/10/2017 - 07:56
    -6

    Can we please ban the OP? Posting a stupid thread likely to inflame people and then never returning to respond to replies is a blatant exercise in trolling.

  • tassiemays on 04/10/2017 - 08:46
    +4

    What gripes me is that you are not credited with any remaining months left on your passport when you renew. That is a hell of a whole lot of gravy in renewal fees for the Govt. That does not happen with any other type of licence or contract.

  • lddv04 on 04/10/2017 - 09:17
    +7

    As a migrant and new Australian, my Australian passport is priceless!

    • FW190 on 04/10/2017 - 14:37

      ^^^^^
      this

      many people risked their lives trying to get here, others spend millions of dollars to buy their way into this country, and the OP is complaining about $277………

  • ronnknee on 04/10/2017 - 09:44
    -1

    I'm sure someone would pay more for YOUR passport.

  • infinite on 04/10/2017 - 09:48
    +1

    OP doesn't seem to understand that we don't have a high-end passport for it's value overseas, we have a high-end passport for it's value in managing those who enter OUR country.

  • myusername on 04/10/2017 - 10:32
    +1

    that's the price of freedom and democracy yo!!!!

  • Japius on 04/10/2017 - 10:34
    +1

    How much is the AU passport worth on the black market? If its more than $277 you can make a profit

    • lgacb08 on 04/10/2017 - 11:44

      About $5000 probably

  • imahapyboy on 04/10/2017 - 10:45

    welcome to Australia

  • MISIEK on 04/10/2017 - 10:48
    +9

    Should be higher to stop bogans going overseas haha.

  • JUSTINO on 04/10/2017 - 11:18
    +2

    Live somewhere else where it is cheaper for passport

  • Hirolol on 04/10/2017 - 11:21
    -1

    These topics are so pointless.
    The question was answered in the first few comments, so no point in people commenting further but they do so it ends up on the hot discussions.
    Also OP has not replied to anyone so who knows if he is even reading any comments.
    It's been a while since there has been a really good and interesting hot discussion to read.

  • spock on 04/10/2017 - 11:38
    +1

    Thanks to Joe hockey hes the one that put passport prices, Divorce fees and a lot more in the big cash grab on the low income people of Australia .
    did my nzd passport online got it in less than 2 days in my had and cost about $135nzd my wife just renewed her Australian one had to run around and
    wait 3 weeks & cost $277 .

  • PaperplaneXXX on 04/10/2017 - 11:48
    -3

    such a spoiled people creating topics like that!
    You better work, bitch!
    I am sure you can afford 277 for passport.
    Look how people in the rest of the world live and what they earn.

    shall be grateful, for what you have got!!!
    all this anyway going to roads, spending, infrastructure or other needs.
    Corruption in Australia still low.
    Nobody puts those money into the pocket!!!

  • justwii on 04/10/2017 - 13:08

    Yes, vote!

    • Dr Techno on 04/10/2017 - 13:18

      No, but I prefer maybe..

  • Dr Techno on 04/10/2017 - 13:13
    +1

    better hold off on the smash avos for awhile then :P

  • moonleaf on 04/10/2017 - 13:32
    +4

    Obviously not many think it's expensive as working people in this country are really well paid.

    Australia passport cost AU$277 with expiration 10 years after issuance, which is approx $28 per year, lowest paid workers get a minimum $18+ per hour.

    Compared to one of the most powerful passports in the world for example:

    Singapore passport cost AU$75 with expiration 5 years after issuance, which is approx $15 per year but the lowest paid workers in Singapore received only half than Australians in an hour even if Singapore passport's expiration is 10 years. Looks like it's all relative.

  • ChatCPT on 04/10/2017 - 13:51
    +3

    /thread closed
    reason: #ozwhinge

  • Aniseed Steed on 04/10/2017 - 14:08
    +3

    The cost of an Australian passport has doubled since 2002 because it is a very effective way for the government to collect revenue. The Australian Federation of Travel Agents has estimated passports will deliver the Government $100 million more than its costs this financial year, and that was before the $20 increase to $277 on the 1st of January.

    Why, then, is it un-Australian to discuss this when it's not to complain about the NBN, for example?

    • ChatCPT on 04/10/2017 - 14:16

      cos you pay this once, every 10 years
      vs once a month

    • moonleaf on 04/10/2017 - 14:18

      Australian visas have since almost cost tripled - the most expensive in the world, yet still don't lose it's appeal to those who want to migrate here.

      • Aniseed Steed on 04/10/2017 - 14:29

        don't* lose it's appeal to those who want to migrate here

        *doesn't

        That's irrelevant. We're not debating it's appeal or desirability.

        cos you pay this once, every 10 years
        vs once a month

        That's not the point either. I'm referring to the combination of the cash grab, and a highly cost-inefficient public sector that has resulted in the exorbitant price of the Australian passport.

        • moonleaf on 04/10/2017 - 15:07

          Ok then, so in answer to your question, I think maybe passport is considered a privilege and NBN maybe considered one of basic public rights?

  • payless69 on 04/10/2017 - 14:27

    At airports your credit card holds more information about you than a passport. Arrived in Qatar, the dude did not even wanted to see my passport. He swipes my cc reads the chip and fumbles a minute at his computer, takes a photo of me and matches it up with my card. He then opened the passport near the middle and put a stamp into it.

    Went to Dubai and bought the air ticket on a different card I never used to buy air tickets. There was the usual long hammering on the keyboard with immi staff marrying the card to my passport. Upon leaving Dubai we were told there was a problem and we had to see the chick around the corner. She wanted to see my old credit card and connected the two and all was fine, we were cleared to pass thru immigration in no time.

    • dbun1 on 04/10/2017 - 15:45

      I travel often through the Middle East and haven’t experienced this at all. Not once have I had to present a CC in an airport.

    • Cluster on 04/10/2017 - 17:26
      -1

      "At airports your credit card holds more information about you than a passport"

      Incorrect. A credit card does not contain your place of birth, your photo, and neither does it have a full record of where you have traveled over the past up to 10 years.

      You were paying your visa fee.
      https://dohahamadairport.com/airport-guide/at-the-airport/vi…

      • moonleaf on 04/10/2017 - 22:48

        Never been asked by an immigration officer overseas, so far only once was asked to produce the credit card used to purchase tickets by the airline's check-in staff at an Australian airport.

  • OzBestDeal on 04/10/2017 - 15:18
    +4

    And you think $277 is expensive for 10 years passport?

    I'm about to apply for my child passport today, it cost:
    $139 for a passport (need a birth certificate)
    $190 for "evidence" of Australian citizenship (if both parents are PR) WTF… isn't birth certificate also an evidence of citizenship)

    Sounds like another money hogging tactic from AU govt

    • Bunnyburger on 04/10/2017 - 15:20

      Yea sounds like a ripoff. The cost to print and keep records surely can't be that high!

      • OzBestDeal on 04/10/2017 - 15:33
        +1

        Yes and ironically, they need birth certificate anyway to print "evidence of Australian citizenship" certificate.
        $190 for a printed paper… big profit there!!!

    • moonleaf on 04/10/2017 - 15:24
      -1

      All about CASH GRAB these days, the money used for what don't know as in not much to show!

  • petry on 04/10/2017 - 15:28
    -4

    Grumbling about paying for your security- what next….
    Of course if we could all buy guns and silencers like our closest friends the yanks - we'd all sleep safer.
    Malcolm why not because everything American is so wonderful heh?
    Looking forward to the flooding and the 50 degree days everyone?

  • [Deactivated] on 04/10/2017 - 15:50

    Save money by being a Stowaway! Countries HATE him.

  • yoonibear on 04/10/2017 - 16:28

    Have you tried haggling when you pay?

  • FW190 on 04/10/2017 - 16:41
    +1

    on a side note, why would you want to go to Uzbekistan anyway? The Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan is the best country in the world, all other countries are run by little girls :)

  • glustar24 on 04/10/2017 - 17:00
    +1

    $27 a year for a passport. meh. It's probably less than I pay for eneloop batteries each year

    • dufflover on 04/10/2017 - 21:53

      Hand in your OzB badge please. That's a packet of eneloops right there you could've bought instead.

  • JimmyF on 04/10/2017 - 17:15

    You could always just travel on your HOME passport xiuhan83, as I'm sure that isn't Australian!

    • El Grande on 05/10/2017 - 00:59

      Shots Fired!

      • JimmyF on 06/10/2017 - 00:39

        when a spade is a spade….

  • Cluster on 04/10/2017 - 17:23
    +4

    Why does it cost so much? Because it's an easy revenue raiser. The federal government knows Australians like to travel overseas, and a new passport is a once a decade purchase, so raising the price doesn't cause people to kick up a fuss.

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