From 11 April, UK passport fees are set to increase for the second time in just over a year, with online applications for adult passports rising from £82.50 to £88.50.
This 7% increase follows a 9% hike in February 2023, marking a significant rise in costs within a short span. Consumer watchdog Which? has expressed concern that this sudden increase will surprise many travellers planning to renew their passports.
The Home Office, however, maintains that the application fees are not profit-generating, stating the increase is necessary to enhance service quality.
The fee for children's passports will also increase, moving from £53.50 to £57.50 for online applications and from £64 to £69 for postal submissions. Adults opting for the postal application method will now face a fee of £100, up from £93. Applying from overseas or for urgent passport issuance will incur additional charges. Individuals born on or before 2 September 1929 are entitled to a free passport.
This fee adjustment comes after a period of stability, during which passport fees had remained unchanged for five years, with a standard adult passport costing £75.50. Despite these increases, the UK's passport fees are among the highest in Europe, trailing only behind Switzerland, Denmark, and Italy, yet they remain comparable to the US passport fee of £103.
The UK has experienced significant passport processing delays post-COVID, affecting hundreds of thousands with travel disruptions. The Home Office argues that the increased fees are essential for improving passport delivery services and reducing the taxpayer burden.
Additionally, UK holidaymakers heading to the EU are advised to be mindful of the "passport 10-year rule" post-Brexit, which could potentially impact millions who renewed their passports under the previous system allowing up to nine months of overlap from their old passports.
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