{"id":769125,"date":"2024-04-27T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-27T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=769125"},"modified":"2024-04-26T15:57:47","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T13:57:47","slug":"the-cost-of-a-south-african-passport-vs-australia-usa-new-zealand-uae-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/769125\/the-cost-of-a-south-african-passport-vs-australia-usa-new-zealand-uae-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"The cost of a South African passport vs Australia, USA, New Zealand, UAE and more"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

South Africa has one of the cheapest passports in the world, but drops down the global rankings when visa costs are factored in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a new study by Compare the Market Australia<\/a>, the United Arab Emirates has the cheapest passport in the world at AU$27.13 (R336.52)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India and Hungary (five-year passports) are second and third at $27.70 (R343.59) and $31.78 (R394.19), respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Africa comes in fourth, with a passport cost of $48.44 (R600.00). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other end of the scale, Mexico’s 10-year passport was the most expensive at $353.90 (R4389.73). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Africa’s passport is far cheaper than New Zealand ($193.72 or R2402.88), the USA ($252.72 or R3134.70) and Australia ($346.00 or R4291.74)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank<\/strong><\/td>Country<\/strong><\/td>Valid for (years)<\/strong><\/td>Visa-free countries<\/strong><\/td> Cost of passport<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
1<\/td>UAE<\/td>5<\/td>183<\/td>$27.13 (R336.52)<\/td><\/tr>
2<\/td>India<\/td>10<\/td>62<\/td> $27.70 (R343.59)<\/td><\/tr>
3<\/td>Hungary (5-year-passport)<\/td>5<\/td>188<\/td> $31.78 (R394.19)<\/td><\/tr>
4<\/td>South Africa<\/strong><\/td>10<\/strong><\/td>108<\/strong><\/td> $48.44 (R600.00)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
5<\/td>Kenya<\/td>10<\/td>76<\/td>$49.28 (R611.26)<\/td><\/tr>
–<\/td>–<\/td>–<\/td>–<\/td>–<\/td><\/tr>
25<\/td>New Zealand<\/td>10<\/td>190<\/td> $193.72 (R2402.88)<\/td><\/tr>
26<\/td>Mexico (6-year-passport)<\/td>6<\/td>162<\/td> $202.10 (R2506.8)<\/td><\/tr>
27<\/td>USA<\/td>10<\/td>189<\/td>$252.72 (R3134.70)<\/td><\/tr>
28<\/td>Australia<\/td>10<\/td>190<\/td> $346.00 (R4291.74)<\/td><\/tr>
29<\/td>Mexico (10-year-passport)<\/td>10<\/td>162<\/td> $353.90 (R4389.73)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When taking validity into account, South Africa climbs the rankings even further. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

India is the cheapest country in this category, with an average annual cost of only AUD$2.77 (R34.36).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Africa comes in second with a yearly cost of $4.84 (R60.00), followed by Kenya <\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Africa ($4.84) and Kenya ($4.93) were second and third cheapest in this regard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mexico’s three and 10-year passports again took the most expensive spots at $35.39 (R438.97) and $49.95 (R619.57), respectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It is important to note that renewal fees may differ from first-time application fees. This means that the cost per year of a shorter-validity passport is not necessarily directly comparable to the cost per year of a passport that is initially valid for longer,” said Compare the Market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank<\/strong><\/td>Nation<\/strong><\/td>Cost per <\/strong>valid year<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
1<\/td>India<\/td>$2.77 (R34.36)<\/td><\/tr>
2<\/strong><\/td>South Africa<\/strong><\/td>$4.84 (R60.00)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
3<\/td>Kenya<\/td>$4.93 (R61.15)<\/td><\/tr>
4<\/td>Spain (for under 30-year-olds)<\/td>$4.95 (R61.40)<\/td><\/tr>
5<\/td>Poland<\/td>$5.43 (R67.35)<\/td><\/tr>
–<\/td>–<\/td>–<\/td><\/tr>
25<\/td>USA<\/td>$25.77 (R319.65)<\/td><\/tr>
26<\/td>Mexico (6-year-passport)<\/td>$33.68 (R417.76)<\/td><\/tr>
27<\/td>Australia<\/td>$34.60 (R429.17)<\/td><\/tr>
28<\/td>Mexico (10-year-passport)<\/td>$35.39 (R438.97)<\/td><\/tr>
29<\/td>Mexico (3-year-passport)<\/td>$49.95 (R619.57)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Source: Compare the Market Australia<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Not as strong <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, when incorporating passport figures from the Henly Passport Index, South Africa drops down the rankings when considering the cost per number of countries a passport holder can travel to without the need for a visa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Africans can visit 108 countries visa-free – far below the 194 for France, Germany, Italy, Singapore and Japan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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South Africans can now visit 108 countries visa-free \u2013 with one new destination added<\/a><\/blockquote>