If you are planning a holiday abroad, you will want to double check your passport is valid
If you’re looking to save money, it’s worth knowing that it’s £12.50 cheaper to apply for a passport online than by post(Image: Getty)
If you’re planning a trip overseas soon, it’s crucial to ensure your passport is valid for travel. This means, depending on your destination, you might need to renew it earlier than anticipated.
For example, if you’re jetting off to Spain, the Foreign Office warns travellers that the country adheres to Schengen area rules. This means your passport must have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive.
If you renewed your passport before October 1, 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago. The rules also mean that you should have an ‘expiry date’ at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area – the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue.
In other places, like Cyprus, you need to have “at least one blank page for stamping”. So if you need to get a new passport, here’s what you need to know before you’re set to travel abroad.
How long did it take me to get my new blue UK passport?
I submitted an application for a new passport on July 13 last year and posted my old passport, as directed, on July 14. The Passport Office received my old one on July 15 – this step is necessary as you cannot possess two passports.
I received my next update on July 23, informing me that my passport application had been approved. This was followed by an email on July 24 letting me know my new passport had been printed.
The next day, I received my blue passport with a new photo I had taken myself at home. So it took me less than two weeks to get my new travel document – and I didn’t pay for fast track.
So I was pleasantly surprised at how swift and straightforward the entire process was. You can check how long it will take to get a passport before you apply.
And if you need a passport urgently, you can opt for their Online Premium or 1 week Fast Track services. They warn: “Do not book travel until you have a valid passport – your new passport will not have the same number as your old one.”
How to apply for a new UK passport?
You can submit an application via the GOV.UK website. It caters for various needs, whether you need to apply for, renew, replace or update your passport, and you can also pay for it online.
How much does a UK passport cost?
If you’re looking to save money, it’s worth knowing that it’s £12.50 cheaper to apply for a passport online than by post. It’s worth noting that prices increase on April 8, 2026.
Apply Online
- Adult (16 and over) standard 34-page passport – £94.50
- Adult (16 and over) 54-page frequent traveller passport – £107.50
- Child (under 16) standard 34-page passport – £61.50
- Child (under 16) 54-page frequent traveller passport – £74.50
- Passport for people born on or before 2 September 1929 – Free
Apply by paper form
- Adult (16 and over) standard 34-page passport – £107
- Adult (16 and over) 54-page frequent traveller passport – £120
- Child (under 16) standard 34-page passport – £74
- Child (under 16) 54-page frequent traveller passport -£87
- Passport for people born on or before 2 September 1929 – Free
Can I get my passport quicker?
If you’re due to travel abroad soon and are concerned it won’t arrive in time, you can opt for a premium service. Again, prices rise on April 8.
- When you’ll get your passport: Usually within 3 weeks (delivered securely to your home)
- Cost: £94.50 (or £107.50 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport)
- Needs an appointment: No
- When you’ll get your passport: Delivered by courier to your home 1 week after the appointment
- Cost: £178 (or £191 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport)
- Needs an appointment: Yes
- When you’ll get your passport: Collect it 4 hours after your appointment
- Cost: £222 (or £235 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport)
- Needs an appointment: Yes
How can I get a free passport?
If you were born on or before September 2, 1929, you can get or renew a British passport for free if you’re a British national. You can also utilise the Post Office Check and Send service for free and receive free secure delivery.
You must pay a fee if you need a passport urgently or want a frequent traveller passport, which provides 54 pages instead of 34.