The UK government has announced that passport application fees are set to rise once more, with the new rates scheduled to take effect from April onwards.
This increase of £6 (€7) marks the second hike in just over a year, following the initial rise in February 2023, which was the first in five years.
Under the revised fee structure, the cost of a standard online passport application made within the UK will see an increase from £82.50 to £88.50 for adults and from £53.50 to £57.50 for children. Meanwhile, postal applications will rise from £93 to £100 for adults and from £64 to £69 for children.
These adjustments aim to reduce reliance on taxpayer funds to support passport services and improve overall efficiency. Additionally, they contribute to funding consular services overseas, including passport replacements for lost or stolen documents, and facilitating British citizens' processing at UK borders.
The government has emphasized that the increased fees will apply to both new passport applications and renewals, offering options for regular-sized passports of 34 pages or jumbo passports of 54 pages, particularly useful for frequent travelers.
In comparison to other European countries, the UK's passport fees remain competitive. For instance, in France, the adult fee for a passport application stands at €86, while Italy's adult passport fee is €73.50, with an additional stamp duty abolished in 2014.
Amidst Brexit-related changes, UK citizens are advised to be mindful of passport expiration dates, with EU regulations now requiring validity for at least three months beyond the planned departure date from visited countries.
Regarding application timelines, waiting periods for passport renewals have been significantly reduced from the pandemic-induced peak of 10 weeks to approximately three weeks. As such, applicants planning summer holiday travel in July are advised to submit applications by early June.
For urgent cases, expedited services such as the Online Premium and Fast Track options are available at additional costs. However, it remains uncertain whether priority service fees will also see an increase alongside the general fee adjustments set to come into effect in April.
