People are urged to check their passport now ahead of the price increase
Martin Lewis’ team at MoneySavingExpert (MSE) are urging UK passport holders to ‘check theirs now’ ahead of a major change taking place April 8, 2026. Next month, the price of a regular UK passport will go over £100 for the first time, as fees are rising by 8%, the Home Office has said.
For online applications from people aged 16 and older in the UK, the cost will rise from £94.50 to £102. For kids under 16, passports will now cost £66.50, up from £61.50.
There will also be similar percentage increases for postal applications and those submitted from other countries. These changes need to be approved by Parliament and are set to start on April 8. This follows fee increases of 7% in each of the last two years and a 9% increase in 2023.
In a new alert on the MSE website, it said: “Passport fees rising by up to £17.50, 8 April. Check NOW if yours is due for renewal, there’s still time to get the lower rate.” There are two weeks left before the prices go up from today (March 25).
It adds: “The only site you’ll ever need to go to is the Gov.uk website. It has options for getting your first passport, renewing an old one or getting one for your child. You can apply online, which is the cheapest option, or by paper at the Post Office. Last year, over seven million Brits saved by applying online.”
For anyone with a passport expiring soon, it may be worth renewing it now, before the price increase. It is important to check how long it will take to get a passport before you apply. If you need a passport urgently, you can find out more about the Online Premium or one-week Fast Track services on Gov.uk.
Do not book travel until you have a valid passport – your new passport will not have the same number as your old one. If you apply for a new passport online, you’ll need a debit or credit card. It’s £12.50 cheaper to apply for a passport online than by post.
What are the new passport fess from April 8?
- The standard online application submitted from within the UK will rise from £94.50 to £102 for adults.
- It will go up from £61.50 to £66.50 for children, too.
- Postal applications will increase from £107 to £115.50 for adults and £74 to £80 for children.
- The charge for a Premium Service (one-day) application submitted from within the UK will rise from £222 to £239.50.
- The charge for a standard online application for a UK adult passport when applying from overseas will rise from £108 to £116.50.
- It will also increase from £70 to £75.50 for children.
- Standard paper applications for overseas passports will see a rise from £120.50 to £130 for adults, and from £82.50 to £89 for children.
Commenting on the price hike, the Home Office said in a statement: “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.”
