UK Passport Prices – A Second Rise in 14 Months

The cost of obtaining a UK passport is set to increase for the second time in a span of 14 months. This week, the price for applying online for a new or renewed adult passport will rise from £82.50 to £88.50, marking a 7% increase. This comes on the heels of a 9% rise that took place in February of the previous year.

Prior to these increases, the cost of a passport had remained stable for five years, with an online application for an adult passport costing £75.50. However, the recent changes have not only affected adult passports. The cost of applying for a child’s passport online is also set to increase, moving from £53.50 to £57.50.

Those opting to apply by post will face the steepest increase, with the price for an adult passport rising from £93 to £100, and the cost for a child’s passport increasing from £64 to £69. Applications made from overseas, whether online or via paper, will incur even higher costs.

In a statement released when the price rises were proposed in March, the Home Office clarified that the government does not profit from the cost of passport applications. The new fees, it explained, will ensure that the income from these applications better meets the cost of delivering passport and associated operations, thereby reducing reliance on funding from general taxation.

The fees contribute to the cost of processing passport applications, providing consular support overseas (including for lost or stolen passports), and processing British citizens at UK borders. The increase in fees will also enable the government to continue improving its services.

As such, while the price hikes may be unwelcome news for those planning to apply for or renew their passports, they are part of the government’s strategy to ensure the sustainability and improvement of passport services.

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