UK Passport Fees Rise Again: How to Save Money on Your Renewal

The price of a British passport has gone up by 7 per cent, taking a straightforward online application to £94.50, an increase of £6. The change was announced by the Home Office only a few weeks before it took effect, leaving many travellers wondering whether to renew now and how the UK fee compares with elsewhere in Europe.

This is the latest in a series of above-inflation rises. There was a 9 per cent increase in February 2023 and a further 7 per cent the following year, taking the cumulative rise to around 25 per cent in barely two years.

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What has changed and why

The government says the higher fees help the Home Office move towards a system that meets its costs through the people who use it, reducing reliance on general taxation, and insists it makes no profit on passports. Part of the revenue also funds processing British citizens at the border and consular support overseas, such as help with lost or stolen passports.

On timing, the Home Office says most applications are quick: of every 1,000 straightforward applications, all but three are processed within three weeks. Independent tracking has put the average adult renewal at around 10 days, with a brand-new adult passport closer to 14 days.

When it pays to renew early or pay for extra pages

Renewing before a rise can save money, but only in specific circumstances. It is generally worth renewing the day before an increase if your passport will expire, or become invalid for travel, within the following months and you plan to travel before then. Frequent visitors to the EU may also consider a "jumbo" passport, which adds 20 extra pages for around £12 to £13, useful because countries outside Europe often demand clear pages for visas.

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Ireland and the wider border picture

The UK passport is now among the most expensive in Europe, close to Italy and Denmark, with only Switzerland significantly dearer. Irish passports cost noticeably less, roughly £25 below the UK price, and the republic also charges much less for children's passports, which are valid for five years rather than ten. A family of four can pay almost twice as much for British passports as for Irish ones.

An Irish passport carries practical travel benefits too, since Irish citizens are not subject to the EU's entry-exit red tape or the coming ETIAS. With post-Brexit rules continuing to evolve, it is worth checking the latest ETIAS eligibility rules so you know exactly what applies to your nationality before you travel.