Latest News About Australia Passenger Movement Charge Increase

Updated 2026-05-23 05:04

Here’s what I could gather about the latest developments on Australia’s Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) and how it’s evolving.

Direct answer

The PMC is planned to rise from A$70 to A$80 for all departures from Australia, effective 1 January 2027. This represents a further increase on top of prior changes and is part of the federal budget measures.[1][2]

Context and what’s changed

Previous increases: The PMC was raised to A$70 per passenger starting 1 July 2024, and that rate had been in place since 2017. The 2024 rise was described as broadly in line with inflation.[3][5]
Current proposal: The upcoming January 2027 increase to A$80 applies to all travelers departing Australia, including Australians and international visitors, regardless of when the travel was booked. The government has framed this as part of budget measures to fund border processing and related activities.[2]
Industry reaction: Tourism and travel industry bodies have expressed concern that higher exit charges could dampen travel demand and impact tourism revenue, noting a lack of consultation around the change.[2]

What this means for travelers

Cost impact: If you’re departing Australia from 1 January 2027 onward, you’ll pay an extra A$10 per passenger (PMC rising from A$70 to A$80). For families or groups, the incremental cost scales with the number of travelers.[2]
Timing and applicability: The increase applies to departures on or after the effective date, and is not tied to when the ticket was booked. This means even if you purchased a ticket before the announcement, the higher PMC could apply if you’re departing after the date.[2]

Helpful notes

The PMC is a tax/levy specifically tied to international departures from Australia and is separate from other travel taxes or airline fees.[3]
Budget papers project the revenue impact over multiple years, which is part of broader fiscal measures. If you’re planning travel, it’s prudent to budget for the higher PMC amount for departures in 2027 and beyond.[2]

Would you like a quick comparison of PMC history and a short forecast of how this interacts with typical travel costs, or a concise checklist to verify PMC inclusion when you’re booking flights? I can also pull the exact budget papers or official government pages for you if you’d like links.[3][2]

Sources

| Passenger Movement Charge increase will see an extra $520M ...

Budget announcement of $10 hike in Passenger Movement Charge(PMC) disappointing given Travel still on cusp of recovery Increased PMC at $70 for everyone leaving Australia means $1.3Bn generated in total PMC revenue in 24/25 ($420M of which to be spent on Border Management) Growing tax receipts through increased travelling and traveller numbers would have been a better and fairer outcome

atia.travel

Travel Daily | TD breaking news - Government raises Passenger Movement Charge to $70

Tax on travel and tourism increases 16%, boosting overall revenue to almost $1.4 billion annually. Federal...

traveldaily.com.au

A travel charge most Australians don't know they pay is rising again

The budget included a further increase on a long-standing hidden tax affecting Australian travellers.

www.sbs.com.au

You'll Soon Pay More to Leave Australia

The Australian government will increase the Passenger Movement Charge payable when departing Australia to $70 from 1 July 2024.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Australia Passenger Movement Charge Increase lifts exit fee to $80 in 2027 — Mogaz

Australians and overseas visitors leaving the country will pay $80 in exit fees from 1 January 2027, after the federal government lifted the passenger movement charge by $10 in Tuesday night’s budget. The charge, which applies to departures by air or sea, is paid by almost everyone leaving Australia. The increase means the levy will rise from $70 to $80, an extra 14.29 per cent on top of the current fee. For a family heading overseas after the new rate takes effect, the cost will be immediate:...

www.mogazmasr.com

Passenger movement charge to increase from $70 to $80 in January ...

Effective from January 1, 2027, the passenger movement charge (PMC) for individuals departing Australia will see a significant increase from $70 to $80. This

news.ssbcrack.com

Increasing the Passenger Movement Charge

Improve the administration of the Passenger Movement Charge. The Government will increase the Passenger Movement Charge from 1 July 2024 by $10 from $60 to $70 per passenger. The Passenger Movement Charge is a charge levied on passengers departing Australia on international flights or sea transport, irrespective of a passenger's intention to return to Australia. The Passenger Movement Charge was last increased in 2017, and the increase is broadly in line with inflation.

structure.gov.au