Getting your hands on a shiny new passport is about to get a tad pricier as the government has just announced that (subject to parliamentary approval) the cost of applying for a UK passport will be going up. Again.
So, how much will it cost to apply for a UK passport if all goes to plan?
Make yourselves comfy, folks. Here we go…
- The fee for a standard online application made from within the UK will increase from £88.50 to £94.50 for adults (aged 16 and over) and from £57.50 to £61.50 for children
- The cost of postal applications will rise from £100 to £107 for adults and from £69 to £74 for children
- Premium Service (one day) applications made from within in the UK will increase from £207.50 to £222 for adults and £176.50 to £189 for children
- The cost of a standard online application for a UK passport when applying from overseas will rise from £101 to £108 for adults and from £65.50 to £70 for children
- The fee for an overseas standard paper application will rise from £112.50 to £120.50 for adults and £77 to £82.50 for children
This proposed price increase means that UK passport fees will have risen a rather hefty 25% over the past two years, following a 9% increase in February 2023 and a further 7% rise in April 2024.
When will passport application fees be increasing?
If given the green light from Parliament, the new UK passport fees will come into effect on April 10. Yes, that is indeed in just three weeks time. So, if your passport is hurtling towards its expiry date, you might want to think about getting a move on with your application.
Why are passport application fees increasing?
According to the government, the inflation in passport fees will help the Home Office continue in the direction of ensuring that the system’s costs are met by those who actually use it, rather than relying on general taxation funding. The increased fees will contribute towards the likes of processing passport applications, processing British citizens at UK borders, and consular support overseas (including lost and stolen passports). The government has confirmed that it doesn’t make any profit from passport application costs.
You can find out more here.
