Britons who are in the process of renewing their passports will soon face revised fees, as the government is scheduled to implement updated application costs on April 8, 2026. The standard UK passport fee will surpass £100 for the first time next month, with an 8% increase as confirmed by the Home Office.
In the UK, the cost of online passport applications for individuals aged 16 and above will rise from £94.50 to £102. For children under 16, the new fee will be £66.50, up from the current £61.50.
Similar percentage hikes in fees will apply to postal applications and those submitted from overseas. The fee adjustments, pending parliamentary approval, are expected to take effect on April 8.
These changes follow consecutive annual increases of 7% in the past two years and 9% in 2023. The proposed fee modifications aim to support the Home Office in transitioning towards a self-sustaining system funded by users, thereby reducing reliance on general taxation.
The Home Office stated, “The new fee structure will enable the Home Office to cover the costs associated with processing passport applications, providing consular assistance abroad, including for lost or stolen passports, and facilitating the processing of British citizens at UK borders.”
The revised fees align with Gov.uk’s strategy for the Home Office to progressively shift towards a self-sustaining model funded by users, reducing the need for general taxpayer support. The government emphasizes that there is no profit generated from passport application fees, which are essential for managing application processing, overseas consular services, and border operations for British citizens.
Travelers are advised to apply for passports well in advance of their planned trips. In 2025, almost all standard passport applications from the UK (99.7%) were processed within three weeks when no additional information was needed.