Exit fee sting: how much more you'll pay to leave Australia in 2027

That quick getaway to Bali or the family trip to Disneyland is about to cost you more before you even reach the boarding gate.

Aussie travellers heading overseas will need to dig further into their holiday savings as the passenger movement card (PMC) is set to climb in price.

The cost is scheduled to jump almost 15 per cent from $70 to $80 on January 1, 2027, as set out in the Federal Budget on May 12.

Graeme Hughes, an Adjunct Associate Professor at Griffith University, said for a family of four eying off an overseas trip, "that is another $40 gone before they even find their passports".

"While a ten dollar bump might not break the bank on its own it is the speed of the change that stings," Hughes told Explore.

"We only just saw the rate climb from $60 to $70 in July 2024 so we are looking at a 33 per cent jump in the cost of leaving the country in under three years."

The PMC, often referred to as the "departure tax", is usually automatically included in the price of an airline ticket.

Airlines collect this fee on behalf of the Australian Government so travellers don't have to pay it at the airport.

A spokesperson for the Australian Border Force told Explore in February that the PMC "contributes directly to consolidated revenue which is used to fund a variety of government measures and border protection services, including customs, immigration and biosecurity."

But Hughes said the big question for travellers is whether they are getting "any extra bang for their buck" with the extra $10 they will be paying to leave the country.

"At the moment that money tends to disappear into the general budget bucket rather than being used to shorten the queues at the airport or fix up the self-service kiosks," he said.

And when you look at Australia's neighbouring countries, "we are starting to look like a very expensive place to depart".

"The United States only asks for about $35 and New Zealand keeps their border fees between $20 and $40. Even the United Kingdom which is famous for its travel taxes gives their short-distance economy travellers a much better deal at around $30," Hughes said.

Regarding other measures to help travellers, Hughes said there is "not a lot of new money in the budget" for this.

Unfortunately, there has been no extra money put aside for travel infrastructure to help bring flight prices down or makes regional trips easier, "which is where the real relief for consumers is needed", Hughes said.

"The pressure is also coming from the fuel pump and the jet engine. Middle East tensions have kept jet fuel prices high and airlines like Qantas have to pass those costs on to keep the planes in the air," Hughes continued.

"For those sticking to a classic Aussie road trip the story is much the same. Petrol prices are staying high and while families are still determined to get away they are often spending less at the local bakery or the beachside cafe because the car has already eaten a massive chunk of the holiday fund."