Passport fee increase
The government introduced new passport fees for all applications from 2 February 2023, the first time in 5 years that the cost of applying for a passport has increased.
The new fees include the following changes:
- the fee for a standard online application made from within the UK increased from £75.50 to £82.50 for adults and £49 to £53.50 for children;
- postal applications increased from £85 to £93 for adults and £58.50 to £64 for children;
- priority service fees have been aligned so all customers now pay the same;
- the fee for a standard online application when applying from overseas for a UK passport increased from £86.00 to £94.00 for adults and £56 to £61.00 for children; and
- overseas standard paper applications increased from £95.50 to £104.50 for adults and £65.50 to £71.50 for children.
The new fees will help the Home Office 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 will also 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. The increase will also help enable the government to continue improving its services.
The new fees apply to those newly applying or renewing their passport.
Since January last year, over 95% of standard applications have been processed within 10 weeks and customers are advised that they should apply in good time before travelling.
