Just a few weeks before the start of the summer holiday season, it has been announced that the cost of UK passports will rise by 7%, with the price increase taking effect as soon as next month. The Home Office announced that the cost of a British passport would rise again, with ministers approving a 7% increase in the price of the essential travel document, following a similar hike last year. The fee for a standard online application made within the UK will increase from £88.50 to £94.50 for adults and from £57.50 to £61.50 for children.
The new passport application fees will take effect on April 10, 2025. The Government announcement reads: “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.”
The Government has announced that postal applications will also see an increase, rising from £100 to £107 for adults and from £69 to £74 for children.
Additionally, the fee for the Premium Service application made within the UK will go up from £207.50 to £222 for adults and from £176.50 to £189 for children.
For those applying from overseas, the fee for a standard online application will increase from £101 to £108 for adults and from £65.50 to £70 for children.
Overseas standard paper applications will increase from £112.50 to £120.50 for adults and £77 to £82.50 for children.
This marks the third price increase in just over two years, following similar hikes in 2023 and 2024.
The price of a passport has increased by 25% in the last two years, following a 9% hike in February 2023 and another 7% rise in April 2024.