The cost of a passport is set to increase later this week
People have less than three days left to apply for a UK passport if they want to avoid being hit with a price hike. Passport costs are set to soar from April 10, as announced by the Government.
The impending changes mean that some passport applications could see fees reaching up to £222. The Home Office has stated on GOV.UK that the increase is intended to “help” cover operational costs.
According to the 2021 census data, there are 50.3 million residents in England and Wales who possess at least one passport, while an additional 1.26 million people have more than one.
Following a nine per cent rise in February 2023 and a previous seven per cent increase in April of the last year, the latest surge will also represent a seven per cent uptick—more than double the current inflation rate. As per GOV.UK: “The Government will introduce new fees for passport applications on 10 April 2025.”
For standard online applications made within the UK, adults will see an increase from £88.50 to £94.50, and children’s fees will go up from £57.50 to £61.50. Postal application costs will jump from £100 to £107 for adults and from £69 to £74 for children.
Those opting for the premium service (one day) within the UK will face fees rising from £207.50 to £222 for adults and from £176.50 to £189 for children. For standard online applications from abroad for a UK passport, adults will pay £108 instead of £101, and children’s fees will increase from £65.50 to £70.
The cost of getting a passport is set to rise for Brits applying from overseas, with adult standard paper applications increasing from £112.50 to £120.50 and children’s fees going up from £77 to £82.50. The Government explained the hike, saying: “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.
“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.”
UK citizens are urged to apply for their travel documents well in advance of their trips. Some destinations require your passport to have at least six months of validity for entry.
It’s essential to renew your passport before travelling if it has expired or doesn’t have the required validity left for your destination country. The necessary duration varies by country.
Travellers should always verify the specific entry requirements for the countries they plan to visit. Data from GOV.UK indicates that last year, 99.7 per cent of standard passport applications from within the UK were processed within three weeks.
Passport fees are periodically reviewed following HM Treasury guidelines. For passport applications or renewals, visit gov.uk/apply-renew-passport.