A recent study has revealed that the Indian passport ranks as the second cheapest passport to obtain worldwide. It holds the distinction of being the most cost-effective in terms of "cost per year" of validity.
Notably, an Indian passport holder can travel to 62 nations visa-free.
The UAE passport clinches the top spot as the most affordable passport globally, surpassing all others in terms of both acquisition cost and the number of countries offering visa-free access.
In its study, Australian firm Compare the Market AU conducted comparison of passport acquisition costs across various countries. It evaluated their cost-effectiveness per year of validity and their value based on the number of nations offering visa-free access.
According to a press statement from the Australian firm, the Indian passport incurs a cost of $18.07 for a validity period of 10 years, whereas the UAE passport requires a fee of $17.70 for a 5-year validity period.
While the Indian passport boasts a lower cost, its visa-free access is comparatively limited. This stands in contrast to countries like Australia, the USA, and Canada, where passports come at a higher expense but offer greater passport power with broader visa-free access.
The travel insurance comparison experts compiled a list of passport fees, evaluating them based on price, validity period, and passport power. Their findings revealed that while some nations offer significant passport power, it often comes with a higher price tag.
When considering the cost per year of validity, India emerged as the most economical passport option, with a mere $1.81 expenditure per year. Following closely behind are South Africa and Kenya, with charges of $3.05 and $3.09 respectively.
No, the United States' passport is not the most expensive passport in the world. According to the study, Mexico has the most expensive passport in the world followed by Australia.
A Mexican passport, according to the study, costs $231.05 for 10 years, while the Australian passport costs $225.78.
