UK Passport Fees Rise Again in April 2024: What Travellers Need to Budget For

Renewing a British passport became more expensive again in April 2024, as fees climbed for the second time in just 14 months. For families planning trips abroad, the increases are another cost to factor into the holiday budget – and they arrive alongside wider changes to how UK travellers reach Europe.

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The new passport prices

From 11 April 2024, a standard adult application made online rose by 7% to £88.50, up from £82.50. Applying by post costs more still, increasing to £100 for an adult. Children's passports also went up: an online application rose from £53.50 to £57.50, while a postal application climbed from £64 to £69.

The change followed a 9% increase in February 2023, when the adult online fee jumped to £82.50. Before that, fees had been unchanged for five years, with a standard adult online application costing £75.50 – £13 less than the 2024 price. Passports remain free for people born on or before 2 September 1929.

Why the cost is climbing

The Home Office said the higher charges would allow it to keep investing in passport services and maintain the quality of processing that British travellers expect. The increase also reflects the lingering pressure on the system after pandemic-era delays, when hundreds of thousands of applicants faced long waits for their documents.

Consumer group Which? warned that the rises could come as a shock to anyone due to renew, noting that the UK passport is now among the priciest in Europe. Its travel expert advised people who were already close to renewal to act before the deadline rather than after.

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Other changes for travellers to Europe

The passport fee is not the only cost on the horizon. From mid-2025, UK travellers were told they would need a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) permit to enter Europe's passport-free zone. Modelled on the US ESTA, ETIAS requires a short online form and a €7 fee (around £6) for travellers aged 18 to 70, and remains valid for multiple visits over three years, with approval usually granted within minutes.

Travellers were also reminded to check passport validity carefully. Since Brexit, a UK passport used for travel to the EU must have been issued within the previous 10 years on the date of entry and have at least three months remaining beyond the planned return date. Because passports issued before September 2018 could carry extra months, some documents that look in date no longer meet the rules. If a European trip is on the cards, it is worth understanding the ETIAS application steps well before you travel.