The cost of a new or replacement passport is set to rise from next month, with some people having to pay as much as £222 for the essential travel document
The price of a new or replacement passport is set to rise, with some Brits having to shell out as much as £222 for the vital travel document.
Every UK citizen needs a passport for international travel. In the past two years the cost of getting one has risen by 25% following the latest price rise announcement. Here is everything you need to know:
How much will a passport now cost?
Most people will have to cough up a fee to renew an existing passport or to apply for a new one, including those for children. At present, a standard adult passport, for those aged 16 and over, costs £88.50 when applying online, or £100 when applying using the paper form – but these prices are set to jump to £94.50 and £107, respectively.
Other price hikes coming into effect include the fee for a standard child’s passport going up from £57.50 to £61.50, or from £69 to £74 for a postal application. The fee for a Premium Service (one day) application will also climb from £207.50 to £222 for adults and £176.50 to £189 for children.
The cost of applying for a UK passport from abroad is set to rise by £7, taking the price from £101 to £108 for adults, and by £4.50, from £65.50 to £70 for a child’s passport. The fee for overseas standard paper applications will also see an increase, going from £112.50 to £120.50 for adults and £77 to £82.50 for children.
When will the prices rise?
The new price list comes into force on April 10, which is just three weeks from when the Government announced the price rises on March 19.
How long does getting a new passport take to arrive?
HM Passport Office offers a guideline waiting time of three weeks, which is down from ten weeks at the end of the Covid lockdowns when there was a huge surge of demand as the cooped-up British population rushed to get away.
In reality, at the moment a renewed adult passport takes ten days, according to the unofficial but generally accurate passportwaitingtimes.co.uk. The website also details other passport type renewal times, which vary a little. It is likely that the waiting time will increase in the coming weeks as people rush to renew their passport before the new prices kick in.
Is it possible to avoid paying?
For some people, yes. There are some who can secure a passport without having to pay a penny. If you were born on or before September 2, 1929, you’re eligible to apply for a new British passport or renew your old one free of charge.
Additionally, the Post Office Check and Send service can be used at no cost, and you’ll also receive free secure delivery. But bear in mind, the government has stated that fees must be paid if you need to get a passport urgently or if you want a frequent traveller passport (one with more pages than standard).
How do I apply for a passport?
It is possible to apply for, renew, replace or update your passport and pay for it online on the Government’s website.
You can also pick up a paper passport application form from your local Post Office and apply by post. It takes longer to apply by post than online. If you need help, Post Office staff can check you’ve filled in the form correctly – but you’ll need to provide your own photos. This service costs extra. Find out more about the paper Check and Send service.
What has the Government said?
The Government has said the price rise is necessary so that HMPO no longer relies on funding from general taxation. “The new fees will help the Home Office to continue to move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation,” a Government statement reads.
“The government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications. The fees contribute to the cost of processing passport applications, consular support overseas, including for lost or stolen passports, and the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders.”
When did prices last go up?
It has been a busy few years when it comes to passport price rises. In barely two years the cumulative rise has hit 25 per cent. There was a 9 per cent increase in February 2023, and a further 7 per cent rise in April 2024.