Brits are rushing to apply for UK passports ahead of major new change
Brits are reportedly rushing to renew or apply for a new UK passport after receiving a fresh deadline when it comes to getting your travel document ready for your holidays.
It is a matter of fact that you need a valid passport to leave the United Kingdom through airports or international ferry terminals (that includes on cruise ships).
Verifying your identity and nationality, they allow you to travel in to another country that you are not a citizen of whether that be for tourism, studying abroad, going on a religious pilgrimage, or a business trip.
With processing times for a passport taking around three weeks when not in peak periods, it is something you don't want to leave to the last minute due to the how much more it costs you.
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And now, the costs of getting said passport in those scenarios is set to go up.
In what would be the third cost increase in two years, plans have been lodged with the UK Parliament about the cost of getting your hands on a valid passport.
If approved by politicians, the money you'll have to part with to get a passport is set to increase by roughly seven percent.
How much will a passport cost?
As it stands, the fee for a standard passport application in the UK is £88.50 for adults and £57.50 for children.
But under the new plans, these costs will increase to £94.50 and £61.50, respectively.
Postal applications are going up from £100 to £107 for adults and £69 to £74 for children.
Those wanting the one day premium service are looking at paying £222 up from £207.50 for adults. For children, that'll be £189 up from £176.50.
The fee for a standard online application when applying from overseas for a UK passport will rise from £101 to £108 for adults and £65.50 to £70 for children. And overseas standard paper applications will increase from £112.50 to £120.50 for adults and £77 to £82.50 for children.
What will the passport costs pay for?
According to the HM Passport Office, 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," it says.
"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."
When will the new passport prices come in?
According to national reports the prices have already been given the nod of approval by Ministers in Westminster.
They're not expected to come in to law from 10 April, meaning Brits only have a few weeks left to get their passport applications in before the new costs are implemented.
The Sun reports that the move will 'likely spark a surge in applications of passengers whose passport is nearing expiry and want to beat the increase'. So if you need to renew, make it quick.
Topics: UK News, Money, Travel, World News, Holiday, Cost of Living, Brexit
Tom Earnshaw