Australians will soon be slugged with an $80 exit fee when they leave the country under new measures announced in the Federal Budget.

The fee is applied to all passengers departing by air or sea from Australia, regardless of whether they are citizens or non-citizens intending to return. 

The passenger movement charge will be increased by $10, from $70 to $80, from January 1, 2027.

The Albanese Government expects the fee will save a total of $755million over the next five years.

It comes as aviation industry experts say they expect airlines will pass on the extra $10 in the form of increased airfares.

Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond described the changes as ‘literally outrageous.’

‘You’re looking at an environment where the tourism industry is wearing an impossibly uncertain global aviation marketplace,’ Osmond said. 

‘You’ve got a decimated domestic driving market, which would have been the fallback for a lot of operators, because of the fuel situation [that is making driving holidays less attractive].’

Australians will be slugged with an $80 exit fee when they fly out of the country under new measures announced in the Federal Budget

Osmond added: ‘There is absolutely no need to increase this charge. All of the money would just go to consolidated revenue.’

More to come.