Bad news for holidaymakers – the price of obtaining a new passport is about to go up as the government is implementing new charges.
With the proposed adjustments, a regular online application from within the UK will increase to £88.50 for adults and £57.50 for children.
Previously, an online application cost £82.50 for adults and £53.50 for children.
Meanwhile, the price of a postal application for a standard passport has increased by £7 for adults to £100. For children, a postal application will now be priced at £69, up from £64.
Fees are even higher for applications from abroad, where an online application will go up to £101.00 for adults and £65.50 for children.
For those opting for a postal application from abroad, the cost will be £112.50 for adults and £77.00 for children.
The new fees will come into effect on April 11.
The prices are consistent for all applications, regardless of whether the applicant is obtaining their initial passport or renewing an existing one.
However, if you’re over 95, you’re in luck – anyone born before September 2, 1929, receives their passport for free.
What is the reason for the government increasing passport fees?
The government stated that the new fees will help cover the expenses of processing applications.
They also mentioned that the fees will contribute to overseas support for individuals who have misplaced their passports or had them stolen, as well as the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders.
The government does not generate profit from passport applications.
How to renew a UK passport
You can renew your passport online. You’ll need a new digital photo, your old passport, and a credit or debit card.
Alternatively, you can renew your passport by a paper application at a Post Office with a Check and Send service.
If you’re applying for a passport for the first time, you’ll need additional documents, including your full birth or adoption certificate.
An adult passport remains valid for ten years, but certain countries require at least six months remaining before the passport’s expiry date for entry.
What are the passport photo requirements?
If you’re applying for a passport online, you’ll need to utilize a digital photo, which you can obtain from a photo booth or shop.
Alternatively, you can take one yourself using your own device.
If capturing a digital photo, it must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall.
You should be facing directly towards the camera with a neutral expression.
In the photo, your eyes need to be open and mouth closed, with your hair away from your face.
Head coverings are not permitted unless they are for religious or medical purposes.
Glasses should not be worn in your passport photo unless specifically advised.
The background should be plain and light-colored with no other individuals or objects.
If you’re applying by mail, you’ll need a printed photo. The photo must be printed professionally, and you can have them taken in a photo booth or a shop.
How much time does it take to receive a UK passport?
Most passport requests are handled within three weeks, but it may take longer if the Passport Office requires more information about you.
The three-week processing period begins when the Passport Office receives your documents.
Over the past two years, delays at the Passport Office have resulted in extended waiting times.
In 2022, a surge in passport requests after the lifting of coronavirus pandemic travel restrictions led to delays of over ten weeks for applicants.
Last April, more than 4000 Passport Office employees went on strike for five weeks due to a disagreement over jobs, pay and conditions, which further contributed to the delays.
However, in the past year, the Passport Office has reduced passport waiting times.
Once you’ve submitted an application, you can monitor your application online using your application reference code that starts with ‘PEX’.
Is it possible to obtain a same-day passport in the UK?
If you need a passport more urgently, you can utilize a Fast Track service – but you will have to pay an additional fee.
The one-week Fast Track service costs £155 for adults and £126 for children, and you must attend an appointment at a passport office.
There is also a Premium one-day service, which is priced at £193.50 for adults.
This service cannot be used to renew children’s passports and it cannot be used for first-time passport applications.
What should you do with an old passport?
It’s best not to discard old passports.
If you want to retain an old passport, be sure to store it in a secure location.
Expired passports can be sent to the UK Passport Office, where they are destroyed by burning.
