Ahead of the busy Easter and summer holidays, the cost of a UK passport application, online and postal, are set to increase, with prices soaring above £100 for the first time
Cost of UK passport to exceed £100 for first time(Image: Getty )
The cost of all passports will significantly increase from next month as the Home Office confirms proposed plans.
The Home Office has proposed an 8 per cent increase in UK passport prices, which could see an adult pay out over £100 for the first time. The price of a child’s and a pensioner’s passport will also increase, with the changes set to be implemented from Wednesday, 8 April.
The Home Office said it will “move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation”. The fee increases are subject to Parliamentary approval.
The Home Office said in a statement: “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.”
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How much is an adult passport?
From April 8, the cost of a UK adult passport, for standard online applications, will rise from £94.50 to £102. Meanwhile, postal passport applications could rise from £107 to £115.50 for adults.
How much is a passport for children?
The standard fee for a child’s passport, for online applications, could increase from £61.50 to £66.50, while a postal application could rise from £74 to £80 for children.
How much is a pensioner’s passport?
A standard, 32-page concessionary passport is available free of charge for those who were born on or before 2 September 1929 and at the time of their application, hold any British nationality.
The government said: “Customers who naturalised or registered as British nationals will still qualify regardless when they naturalised or registered.”
While the passport is free, there may be some delivery charges to return the passport or to send any supporting documents.
Will next-day services increase?
While it’s always advisable to apply for a new or replacement passport as early as possible, a next-day premium service is available in the UK. However, the new fees from 8 April could see this rise from £222 to £239.50.
How much will overseas UK passports cost?
Those applying overseas for a UK passport online can expect a rise from £108 to £116.50 for adults and from £70 to £75.50 for children. Meanwhile, overseas paper applications will increase from £120.50 to £130 for adults and from £82.50 to £89 for children.
The last time the price of a UK passport increased was on April 10, 2025, when they rose by around 7 per cent. An adult passport soared from £88.50 to £94.50, while a child’s online application increased from £57.50 to £61.50.
Before 2025, there were increases in April 2024 and February 2023.. However, the price surge in 2023 was the first increase in five years.
The government advised that anyone needing a new passport should apply well in advance, as the renewal process can take up to three weeks in the UK or longer during peak travel periods. For more information or to apply for a new or replacement UK passport, you can visit the government website.
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