Losing two years of travel due to the pandemic won’t mean a cheaper passport renewal

Despite most Australians being unable to use their passport for the past two years there are no plans to cut the cost of renewing out-of-date documents.

Despite most Australians being unable to use their passport for the past two years, there are no plans to cut the cost of renewing out-of-date documents when international borders reopen.

The federal government is not considering waiving or reducing the $301 fee to renew a 10-year adult passport of $152 for a five-year child or elderly persons passport as compensation for the travel opportunities lost due to Covid-19 restrictions.

TTF chief executive Margy Osmond says passenger movement charges should be waived. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmund said while it might be “difficult” to cut passport fees, travellers still deserved a break and suggested other charges could be waived.

“The passenger movement charge, which is a fee of about $60 slapped onto every ticket out of the country, should be waived for at least two years,” she said.

“The government collects more than $1.5 billion in fees in a normal international travel situation and removing something like that would have a very significant impact.”

Ms Osmund said slashing fees for outbound Australian and international travellers would save more people money as it wouldn’t just be limited to those who needed to renew a local passport.

“Reducing the price of a passport might be vexxed but this is a simple exercise that could help people save on travel,” she said.

Australia is expected to gradually open up for international travel from the end of 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

More than 750,000 Australian passports are due to expire by March 2022, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade data shows.

Anyone hoping to travel abroad will have to get a renewal even if borders open before then as most countries require international travellers with at least six months remaining on their passport.

More than 750,000 Australian passports are due to expire. Picture: iStock

The government has insisted that because passport fees are levied as application fees, and as the pandemic has not reduced processing costs, there will be no discount on renewals.

Legally passport fees must go to covering the costs associated with the travel system, including Australia’s secure biometrically enabled ePassport system.

Once issued, there is no full or partial refund available for any limited, reduced or unused passport validity.

From where you’d rather be: relaxing in the Maldives will still require a passport paid for in full. Picture: Coco Collection

DFAT has received more than 165,000 passport applications since July 1, a rise of at least 45,000 when compared with the same period last year.

The federal government’s national reopening plan notes international borders will reopen once 80 per cent of adults aged 16 and over have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Current jab rates suggest that this could occur by Christmas.

Vaccine passports will be key to a reopening of international travel, with a system expected to be in place within weeks.
It will allow Australians to upload proof of vaccination via MyGov to a QR code linked to their passport.