New UK passport rule change coming Wednesday ‘for first time’ | UK

Cost of UK passport to exceed £100 for first time (Image: Getty)

Need to know: UK passport fees set to surge above £100 ‘for the first time’ on Wednesday.

British citizens renewing their passports will face a price hike from Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The cost of a standard UK passport will break the £100 barrier for the first time.
The Home Office has confirmed an 8% increase in charges, with online applications for adults rising from £94.50 to £102. Children’s passports will cost £66.50, up from £61.50, while postal applications will jump to £115.50 for adults and £80 for children.

Premium one-day services will surge to £239.50, with overseas applications also facing comparable increases. The rises follow previous hikes of 7% in each of the past two years and 9% in 2023.

The Home Office stated: « 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. »

Travel expert Tom Vaughan from Confused.com warned: « With prices of new passport applications rising above £100 for the first time, it’s more important than ever to check when your passport expires. » He advised travellers to factor higher costs into their budgets and renew early to avoid disruption.

The government says it makes no profit from passport fees, with charges covering processing costs, consular support overseas, and border operations. Emergency passports will now cost £239.50, making early renewal crucial for avoiding last-minute panic.

READ THE FULL STORY: Change to UK passport rule happening Wednesday April 8 ‘for first time’

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