Millions of UK tourists preparing for holidays will face a new cost as the HM Passport Office plans to raise the fees for passport applications from April 8. This change aims to help cover the costs of processing applications and reduce reliance on taxpayers.
The price for adult passports in the UK will increase from £94.50 to £102, while children’s passport fees will rise from £61.50 to £66.50. These changes, subject to parliamentary approval, reflect an overall 8% fee increase.
For postal applications within the UK, adults can expect fees to jump from £107 to £115.50, and children’s fees will increase from £74 to £80. The popular one-day premium service will also see a price hike, moving from £222 to £239.50.
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Overseas applicants applying online will pay £116.50 for adults, up from £108, and £75.50 for children, rising from £70. Paper applications abroad will cost £130 for adults, up from £120.50, and £89 for children, up from £82.50.
According to the Home Office, these fees help fund processing passport applications, consular support overseas—including assistance with lost or stolen passports—and the processing of British citizens at UK borders.
Additionally, travellers should be aware of new passport validity rules for EU travel post-Brexit. Previously, up to nine months left on an old passport could be transferred to a new one, allowing passports to be valid for over ten years. However, since Brexit, most EU countries require passports to have been issued within the past 10 years. This “10-year rule” means passports older than a decade may no longer be accepted for travel to EU countries.