There’s been a lot in the news for those who hold the older UK “marron” style passports, and their validity in Europe (specifically the 10 years + 9-month carryover). However, we’re going into the one thing most articles have glossed over – the price of passports, and that they’re on the way up.
Again.
It doesn’t matter if it’s black or blue it’s still going to cost you an arm and a leg. And a kidney if you want a passport in a rush.
Passport prices currently start at £82.50 to renew or replace your passport if you do it online. If you want to use a paper form, it’s £93. These go up if you want faster services.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the new prices will be
- a standard online application made from within the UK will rise to £88.50 for adults and £57.50 for children
- a standard postal application will increase to £100.00 for adults and £69.00 for children
- a standard online application when applying from overseas will rise to £101.00 for adults and £65.50 for children
- a standard paper application when applying from overseas will increase to £112.50 for adults and £77.00 for children
Prices for faster applications, as well as the jumbo (54-page passports), have not been disclosed, but it’s a safe assumption that the prices will rise too.
What are you getting for the increased prices?
According to the statement, HM Government, the new fees will help ensure that income from these applications better meets the cost of delivering passport and associated operations, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation.
As well as funding the passport office, 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.
They go at pains to state that the government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications.
The new fees include those newly applying for or renewing their passport.
When should you apply?
If your passport was issued in 2015 or before (9 years or so) and you’re considering Europe in your travel plans, you should start thinking about renewing your passport sooner rather than later. Those with passports issued in 2016/2017/2018 and beyond have validity still, but you should be aware of the entry requirements for the territory you wish to enter, as well as other requirements (such as time left to enter, passport pages required and so on.
You can use the https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to check the entry requirements if you are a British Citizen.
Currently, passports will usually be issued within 3 weeks if they are applied from within the UK – however, depending on the pressures, you should apply a lot sooner than that before your planned departure in case of delays.
If you need to apply, head to https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport. Those who need a passport in a hurry should head to https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently for those who need Online Premium or 1 week Fast Track services.
Just don’t leave it too late to apply.
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