Renewing your passport before jetting off on your summer holidaymight seem like a costly inconvenience, but did you know there’s a trick to shave £12.50 off the final price?
According to official Government advice, the cost of your travel document can often be reduced depending on how you apply for it, with some methods proving pricier than others.
Usually, anyone aged 16 and over can secure a standard 34-page passport for £107 or a 54-page frequent flyer passport for £120, when applying by paper. For children (those under 16), the 34-page document also costs £74, while the 54-page pass is priced at £87 when applying through the same method.
However, when submitting an application online, Brits can trim £12.50 off that final price. For adults seeking the regular 34-page passport, this equates to roughly an 11% discount – and for children, it’s just over a 16% saving.
Here are the full price differences:
Adult (16 and over) standard 34-page passport:
- Online application – £94.50
- Paper form application: £107
Adult (16 and over) 54-page frequent traveller passport:
- Online application: £107.50
- Paper form application: £120
Child (under 16) standard 34-page passport:
- Online application: £61.50
- Paper form application: £74
Child (under 16) 54-page frequent traveller passport:
- Online application: £74.50
- Paper form application: £87
However, it’s important to remember that people born on or before September 2, 1929, are eligible for a free passport, whether they apply online or via paper form. Furthermore, those applying from abroad will be subject to different fees, and anyone requiring an urgent passport will need to pay extra.
How can I urgently obtain a passport?
Option 1: One-day premium service
Adults renewing their passports can opt for the one-day premium service, which costs £222 for a standard passport or £235 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport. After submitting your application online, you’ll be given an appointment, with the earliest available slot being two days later.
The Government explains: “You’ll need to hand in your old passport at your appointment. Your new passport will be ready to collect from the passport office four hours after your appointment.”
Option 2: One-week fast track service
This option is available for adults renewing their passports, as well as in the following circumstances:
- You need to replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport
- You need to change the personal details on a passport (your name, place of birth or gender)
- You need to get a child’s passport
The fast track option provides better value, costing £178 for an adult passport (£191 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport) and £145 for a child passport (£158 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport). You can book an appointment as soon as the day after submitting your application, and typically, the passport is received about a week later.
However, you cannot apply for either service if you are currently outside the UK or applying for your first adult passport. The Government also adds: “If you’ve already applied for a passport and have not received it yet, do not pay for an urgent passport.
“You will not get your passport sooner and you will be charged a £32 admin fee for each additional application.” For more information, visit GOV.UK.
