Passport fees to rise by £7 this Thursday - renew now to avoid the extra cost

On Thursday 2 February, passport application fees will increase 9%. But there's still time to save money and pay the current rate - if you apply online by 11.59pm on Wednesday.

For adults who use an online form to update their passport, prices will go from £75.50 now to £82.50 from Thursday. 

Getting a new passport for a child will also increase from £49 now to £53.50 from Thursday.

It's the first time in five years that passport fees will rise, with the Home Office saying the new charges will help "move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it".

Here we explain everything you need to know about fee increases and when it makes sense to update your passport before 11.59pm on Wednesday.

How much will passport fees cost?

With a 9% rise in passport fees, here’s how much it will cost you from 2 February.

Online applications

Paper applications 

Fast track - one-week service 

Premium - same-day service 

Also, overseas standard paper applications will increase from £95.50 to £104.50 for adults and £65.50 to £71.50 for children

Note, it doesn’t matter why you are applying for a new passport, i.e. whether you are renewing, applying for a new one or replacing a lost passport, there’s only one cost per each service. 

Should I renew my passport early to save the £7 rise?

If you need to renew your passport in the next year or so, you will save up to £7 by doing so online up until 11.59pm this Wednesday (1 February).

Anyone whose passport expires up to 7 January 2024 will save money by renewing now, according to The Independent’s travel editor Simon Calder.

But postal applications will be more tricky: you will need to double-check that you will be charged at the lower rate on the day you go into the Post Office (Wednesday 1 February at the latest) to ensure you complete it before 11.59pm (on 1 February).

How to apply for a new passport

As a general rule, you should renew your passport if it has nine months or less validity left on your passport. Many countries, particularly in Africa and Asia won’t consider a passport valid for entry if it has less than six months of validity left on it. 

To avoid higher fees it might even be worthwhile renewing if you have a year or less left. 

If you’re looking for the cheapest way to apply for a passport, it’s online, whether you apply before or after the price increase. You can go on the gov.uk website and use their online service. 

If you rather apply through a paper application, here’s how. Go to your nearest post office that offers the service ‘Paper Check & Send’. You can also request a paper form by calling the Government’s passport advice line: 0300 222 0000.

The passport office advises you to allow up to 10 weeks to receive your new passport if you apply through a standard application online or via post.