Australia raises passenger movement charge to $80 in 2027 — Tourism
Australia will raise the passenger movement charge to $80 from 1 January 2027, increasing the exit fee that applies to tourism travellers and Australians leaving the country. The change lifts the charge by $10 from $70 and applies to anyone departing after that date, even if they booked earlier.
The federal budget introduced the increase on Tuesday night. The government expects the higher charge to raise an additional $755 million over five years.
Passenger movement charge increase
The passenger movement charge is an exit tax levied on every person leaving Australia, whether by air or sea, except in special circumstances. It is typically included in international airfare at the point of sale and often appears on the receipt after purchase.
From 1 January 2027, the fee will rise by 14.29 per cent. That will take it to $80 from $70.
The change comes as airlines face rapidly rising aviation fuel costs. The price of oil has climbed 60 per cent over the past year, and it spiked 12 per cent in March alone after the outbreak of the war in the Middle East. Qantas and Virgin have previously said those higher fuel costs will have to be passed on to consumers.
Australia departure tax history
Australia introduced the departure tax under the Keating government. It was an updated version of the departure tax brought in in 1978 to recoup costs linked to passenger processing at Australia’s air and sea ports.
The charge has climbed steadily over time. It was $27 in 1995 and is already one of the highest departure taxes in the world.
Travellers under the age of 11, foreign military, airline staff and people who unintentionally arrive in Australia for reasons beyond their control are exempt. Passengers are also entitled to a refund if their departure does not occur for a variety of reasons.
For travellers, the practical effect is simple: departures after 1 January 2027 will carry the higher fee, regardless of when the ticket was booked. For airlines and passengers already dealing with higher fuel costs, the extra charge adds another cost to international travel from Australia.
