Just one year after UK passport fees were increased in 2025, the government has announced it plans to raise the cost of applying for a new passport again in 2026.
From 8 April 2026, the fee for a standard online application made from within the UK will rise from £94.50 to £102 for adults and from £61.50 to £66.50 for children.
The proposals are, at the time of writing (Friday 20 March 2026), subject to review by parliament, but are intended to come into effect in just a couple of weeks. A statement on the gov.uk website reads: “The new fees will help the Home Office to continue to move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation. The government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications.”
Here’s everything you need to know.
What are the new fees for UK passports in 2026?
- the fee for a standard online application made from within the UK will rise to £102 for adults and £66.50 for children
- postal applications will increase from to £115.50 for adults and to £80 for children
- the fee for a premium service (1-day) application made from within the UK will rise to £239.50
- the fee for a standard online application when applying from overseas for a UK passport will rise from to £116.50 for adults and £75.50 for children
- overseas standard paper applications will increase to £130 for adults and £89 for children
When will the new fees take effect?
Subject to parliamentary approval, the new fees will take effect from Wednesday 8 April 2026.
How does the government use the money generated from passport fees?
The fees British citizens pay to renew their passports go towards “the cost of processing passport applications, consular support overseas, including for lost or stolen passports, and the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders,” according to a government statement.
How long does it take for a passport application to be completed?
In 2025, 99.7 per cent of standard passport applications were processed within three weeks.
See gov.uk for more information.
When is a passport considered expired?
For travel to the EU, your passport must be less than 10 years old on the date of travel, regardless of the printed expiry date. That means if your passport was issued on 8 April 2016, it would expire on 8 April 2026 – even if the printed expiry date was 8 January 2027. Some countries, such as the USA, require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. Most countries also require at least two to four blank pages for immigration stamps and visa details.
