Travel Expenses: The Cheapest And Most Expensive Passports And Visas

No matter how much you budget, some costs are inevitable when it comes to travel. The most basic of these are charges for essential travel documentation – your passport, which you’ll need to renew usually every decade (depending on the country), and visas for tourism, work or study, if the country you’re visiting enforces them.

Collating the costs of passports and visas from OECD member countries around the world, William Russell has crunched the numbers to rank countries based on how much they charge for official documents.

The cheapest and most expensive passports

First up, we’re looking at passport costs with prices based on a standard adult passport in US dollars bought in that country, as fees can be much higher in embassies and consulates if you’re buying while abroad.

Research shows the country with the most expensive passport is Australia, which charges citizens $230 for a new passport, valid for ten years. Second spot is taken by Mexico, charging $170 and third is Switzerland where a new passport costs $140 – both also valid for a decade.

The United States comes in with the fifth most expensive passport for its citizens, charging $130 with the UK seven spots below with the 12th most expensive passport, costing $100.

At the other end of the scale, the country with the cheapest passport is the Czech Republic, which charges just $27 for a new ten-year travel pass. This is followed closely by Latvia charging $29 and Spain charging $33, again both for a ten year document.

The cheapest and most expensive tourist visas

Tourist visas are used for a variety of travel reasons like holidays, visiting family or friends, volunteer work or if you’re visiting for a medical procedure.

Topping the list of countries with the most expensive tourist visa is the United States, with an average country-to-country fee of $127. Alongside the standard requirements for the tourist visa, you may also be quizzed on the purpose of your trip and asked to provide evidence of employment, family in the country and that you can cover the costs of your visit.

New Zealand comes a close second, charging an average of $106 for a tourist visa, but you can include your partner and any dependent children younger than 19 on the same application. Neighboring Australia is just behind NZ with an average charge of $90 for its tourist visa – though you’ll also need to pass its “character requirements” before you can visit. This will include a check to see if you have a criminal record with a focus on offenses relating to domestic violence, people smuggling or trafficking, and harassment.

Canada takes fifth spot with an average $57 visa fee and just behind it in sixth is the UK, charging an average $47 to visit its shores.

At the other end of the scale sits South Korea, which charges a tiny average of $3 for a tourist visa. Not much more expensive is Turkey, which charges an average $13 for its tourist visa. Not all countries require a visa to enter Turkey – in fact, 91 countries don’t need one including the United Kingdom, though your stay is still restricted to between 30 and 90 days depending on your home nation.

Only $2 more expensive is Israel’s visa, coming in at an average cost of $15. Bear in mind though that alongside your visa you’ll need to submit either proof of your hotel reservation or an invitation letter if you’re visiting friends or family.

The cheapest and most expensive work visas

Unlike special case digital nomad visas, traditional work visas are offered to people working for a fixed period of time in the country of choice, often with the option of extending while still there.

The country with the highest country-to-country cost for a work visa is Colombia, averaging $297. To work in Colombia you’ll need a TP-4 visa which acts as an entry visa and work permit valid for three years initially with the option to renew indefinitely.

Mexico comes in second with an average work visa charge of $246. You’ll need a temporary resident visa alongside your work visa, but you can’t apply as an individual. Instead your employer will need to apply for the work visa on your behalf but first must be registered with the National Migration Institute.

Third most expensive is Australia with an average charge of $226 for a work visa. Before you apply, make sure you know which you need as there are no fewer than eight different types of Australian working visas! They are: temporary skill shortage visa; employer nomination scheme visa; skilled employer-sponsored regional visa; designated area migration agreement visa; working holiday visa; training visa; work and holiday visa; and temporary work visa.

The country with the lowest work visa cost is Israel, charging an average of just $47. If you’re working for less than 30 days, you’ll need a B/1 work visa, but if you’re planning to stay longer you’ll need to apply for a full work permit, which you can apply for at the same time as the visa.

Only a few dollars more, Switzerland’s average work visa fee is just $55. Renowned as one of the most expensive countries to live in but also with some of the highest wages, Switzerland operates an open door policy where you can visit for six months to search for a job without needing a visa for the first three. After that you can get a short term residence permit valid for another three months as long as you can prove you have the funds to support yourself.

The country with the third cheapest work visa is Spain, with an average fee of $57. You can only apply for a working visa with an official job offer already in place; the employer being the one responsible for requesting your visa.

You can see the full rankings of all 38 surveyed OECD member countries across all categories, as well as the methodology behind the survey, here.