- The United Kingdom government announced a fee increase for passport applications, effective April 2025
- New rates included a rise in both online and paper applications for adults and children
- Applications from abroad will face fee hikes as well, both for online and paper submissions
The United Kingdom government has confirmed that new passport application fees would take effect from April 10, 2025, pending parliamentary approval. The fee increases will affect both online and paper applications for adults and children, both domestically and abroad.
The revised fees, announced by the UK Home Office, were part of an effort to ensure that the passport system remains financially self-sustaining and reduces reliance on taxpayer funding.
UK passport fees rise to cover costs
The Home Office emphasised that the government does not profit from these fees.
“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 Home Office stated.
The adult passport fee will rise from £88.50 to £94.50, while the child passport fee will go up from £57.50 to £61.50. Postal applications will also see higher fees, with the adult passport fee increasing from £100 to £107, and the child passport fee rising from £69 to £74.
The Premium Service, which allows passport issuance within a day, will also become more expensive. The adult fee will increase from £207.50 to £222, and the child fee will rise from £176.50 to £189. This service remains available for those requiring a passport urgently within the UK.
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For applications submitted from abroad, standard online fees will also rise. The adult fee will go up from £101 to £108, while the child fee will increase from £65.50 to £70. Paper applications from overseas will see the adult fee rise from £112.50 to £120.50, and the child fee will increase from £77 to £82.50.
The Home Office explained that these increases are necessary to sustain the passport service and maintain its efficiency.
The fees help cover essential services, including processing applications, providing consular support to UK citizens overseas, and managing UK border operations.
In 2024, 99.7% of standard UK passport applications were processed within three weeks, provided no additional information was required. The government urged applicants to submit their applications well in advance of their travel plans to avoid delays.
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Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the United Kingdom government revealed new financial criteria for individuals applying for student, tourist, and work visas in 2025.
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