UK’s Home Office and HM Passport Office announce new passport fees

According to a news story from the Home Office and HM Passport Office published on 11 January 2023, the UK government will be introducing new fees for passport applications and priority services on 2 February 2023.

The UK passport fees haven’t changed in the last 5 years. Now, the UK government wants to update them so that they can cover the cost of processing passport applications, the cost of consular support overseas (including for lost or stolen passports), and the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders.

Although new passport fees are still subject to Parliament scrutiny, the Home Office and HM Passport Office disclosed the proposed variations:

• Fees of standard online passport applications made from within the UK will increase from £75.50 to £82.50 for adults and £49 to £53.50 for children.
• Postal application fees will continue to be more expensive than online application fees. They will increase from £85 to £93 for adults and £58.50 to £64 for children.

The proposal also includes a standardization of the priority service’s fees, so that all applicants will pay the same price if they need their passport urgently. 

Over 95% of the standard online passport applications are processed within 10 weeks. The priority service allows people to obtain or renew their passport within 1 week.

The UK government clarified that it “does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications” and that the increase in the passport fees are intended to “reduce reliance on funding from general taxation”. The increase also aims at enhancing these services.

The passport fees are reviewed in line with His Majesty’s Treasury guidance for public funds management. If approved, they will be applied to both new applicants and people renewing their passports from 2 February 2023.