British passport holders told to act now or risk pricier travel fees
UK passport holders have been urged to take action in April as a costly change is set to come into effect. Whether you're planning a holiday now or further down the line, it's crucial you carry out the necessary checks if you want to avoid a heftier bill.A change coming into force from April 8 could have a significant impact on how much you shell out to travel. Acting before that date could mean securing a cheaper rate before boarding a plane, and it's welcome news at a time when the cost of virtually everything seems to be spiralling.It comes as the holiday season gets properly under way with the arrival of spring, and Brits have been advised to take note as the major passport change is due to take effect this month.The advice was recently highlighted by Simi, known as Miss Personal Finance on TikTok, who laid out exactly what people need to be aware of. She regularly shares a range of useful money saving tips with her online following.In the clip, Simi said: "From April 8, the cost of getting a passport in the UK is set to increase by 8%. This means that an adult online passport will be going over the value of £100 for the first time."The UK Home Office stated that the increase of these costs is to reduce reliance on taxation funding, while covering the cost to produce the passports."Following the video, many viewers claimed "everything is going up", and those who fail to act now and need to renew their passports will find themselves facing steeper travel costs.According to the UK Government website, there are several key points to be aware of.These include:The price 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 childrenAs well as this, postal applications will rise from £107 to £115.50 for adults and from £74 to £80 for childrenThe fee for a premium service (one day) application made from within the UK will jump from £222 to £239.50There will also be changes to prices for overseas applications which are detailed on the websiteWhy is it happening?The government website outlines a number of reasons behind the fee increases. It states: "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. The fees contribute to 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."Those needing to renew their passport have been urged to apply well in advance of any planned travel. This can be done online.In 2025, in cases where no further information was required, it's reported 99.7% of standard applications from the UK were processed within three weeks or less.
