I can’t access live updates directly right now, but here’s the latest I can confirm:
- Australia is set to increase the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) for departures, with reports indicating an increase from $70 to $80 per passenger from January 1 next year, as part of the 2026-27 budget. This means higher costs for Australians and visitors leaving the country by air or sea.[1][2]
- The change is tied to funding for border processing and biosecurity, and comes with a transitional arrangement for tickets already purchased. Budget coverage suggests the government aims to raise hundreds of millions over five years from the PMC increase.[2][1]
- Some travel-industry groups and media outlets criticized the move, arguing it raises travel costs at a time when the sector is already facing higher operating costs, and called for freezes or better reinvestment of PMC revenue into border infrastructure.[7][2]
- In addition to the PMC change, several other travel-related fee and visa‑related adjustments have been reported in recent years (e.g., visa application charges for various categories) which collectively affect overseas travel costs, though specifics vary by visa type and year.[5][8]
If you’d like, I can translate these into concrete cost estimates for your travel plans from New York City to typical Australian routes, or pull the latest official sources and summarize them with exact figures. Would you prefer a quick summary of how much the PMC would add per person for a round trip, or a broader overview of other related travel costs Australians and visitors might face?
Note: The information above reflects reported updates around mid-May 2026. If you want the most current figures, I can guide you to official sources to verify the exact PMC rate and transition details.[9][1][2]
Sources
Aussies travellers heading overseas can expect to cough up a hefty exit fee after the Federal government hiked the cost of leaving Australia — a move that has left the travel industry fuming.
thenightly.com.auCharges for international travellers leaving the country were raised to $70 on 1 July to support Australia's biosecurity systems.
www.sbs.com.auNew travel rules and fee hikes will affect travelers in Australia. EU introduces biometric registration, and fees for travel authorisations increase.
www.travelandtourworld.comDON’T CHARGE AUSSIES MORE TO TRAVEL OVERSEAS! Attention, all Australians who love to travel! Holidays could soon cost more! Three leading industry groups have sent an urgent letter to the Prime Minister, demanding the Federal Government not increase the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) in next week’s federal budget or risk damaging tourism. The Tourism & […]
ttf.org.auThe latest news updates and changes.
www.servicesaustralia.gov.auThe federal budget contains application fee hikes for a number of visas, while another change means the cost of an overseas holiday will increase.
www.sbs.com.auAnyone leaving Australia will have to pay even more, after the Albanese government announced a new exit fee in Tuesday’s budget.
www.perthnow.com.au