Departure tax

A departure tax is a fee charged by a country when a traveler leaves its borders. Depending on the country and its rules, the fee may be included in an airline ticket’s price or paid separately at the airport or immigration desk. Governments collect departure taxes to generate revenue and fund airport infrastructure or tourism programs. 

Depending on the country, mode of transportation, travel class, and flight distance (short-haul vs. long-haul), departure taxes can range from as low as $1.90 to over $176 per person. You are exempt from paying the tax if 

• your flight is canceled;
• you did not travel after purchasing your ticket; or
• you transited through a country without meeting the minimum stay duration that triggers the tax.

Some countries waive the tax for children below 12 years old, emergency passengers, and diplomats.

A departure tax is just one of many fees travelers pay. There’s also an arrival tax, which is collected at a country’s port of entry, and tourist taxes, which are often gathered by accommodations during a visitor’s stay