Brits heading on holiday this summer have been warned over a ‘likely surge’ in applications after the cost of a UK passport is slated to increase for the third time in just over two years
The cost of a UK passport is expected to increase for the third time in just over two years, in yet another blow to cash-strapped Brits. Proposals, which are subject to approval by Parliament, will see renewals of the essential travel document jump by around seven per cent.
This would see the standard fee for online passport applications jump from £88.50 to £94.50 for adults and from £57.50 to £61.50 for children. Postal applications will also increase by £7 to £107 for adults and by £5 to £74 for those under the age of 16 – while getting a premium one-day-turn around service will set you back a staggering £222 (from £207.50) for adults and £189 for children (from £176.50).
The fee for a standard online application when applying for a UK passport while overseas will increase by £7 to £108 for adults and up to £70 for children, while overseas standard paper applications will increase from £112.50 to £120.50 for adults and £77 to £82.50 for children. It would see a family of two parents and two children see their passport renewal cost up to an additional £24 for postal applications – and even heftier up-charges for those needing an emergency passport.
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The Sun reports the incoming price hike, which it says has already been green-lighted by Ministers and will come into effect on April 10, will ‘likely spark a surge in applications of passengers whose passport is nearing expiry and [who] want to beat the increase. The standard processing time for a UK passport is around three weeks – but it can take longer, especially for first-time adult applications or during peak periods.
If you’re going away this summer and need a new passport – now seems like the best time to send off your application. GOV.UK states Brits should allow up to six weeks for new passports and renewals, but do offer a Fast Track service for a higher fee.
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“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,” GOV UK added. “The government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications.”
The Home Office added that the fees help contribute towards the cost of ‘processing passport applications’ as well as ‘consular support overseas. This includes dealing with lost or stolen passports, and the ‘cost of processing British citizens at UK borders’.
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