Brits warned to apply for passport now ahead of price hikes – or be left out of pocket
BRITS are being warned to apply for their new passports now - or risk being left out of pocket.
Passport application fees are set to rise next month - for the second year running.
Earlier today, the Home Office announced the seven per cent rise in passport fees, which will come into force on April 11.
It currently costs £82.50 for a standard online application for an adult passport.
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This is going up to £88.50 - an extra £6 per person.
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Kids' passport applications are going up by £4 from £53.50 to £57.50.
Postal applications, and applications made from overseas, which are more expensive than online, are also going to cost more.
Adult paper applications will go up from £93 to £100, while kids will go from £64 to £69.
The new costs will come into force from April 11.
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In a statement, the Home Office said: "The new fees will help ensure that income from these applications better meets the cost of delivering passport and associated operations, 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.
"The increase will also help enable the Government to continue improving its services."
Last year, passport fees rose by nine per cent, making it the first uptick in passport prices for five years.
New passport fees from April 11
- Online adult passport applications - £88.50 (was £82.50)
- Online kids passport applications - £57.50 (was £53.30)
- Postal adults passport applications - £100 (was £93)
- Postal kids passport applications - £69 (£64)
Even if your passport isn't ready to be renewed, it could be worth applying for a new one before the price hike comes into force.
This is because of a number of new rules in place for Brits travelling abroad.
For example, your passport cannot be more than 10 years old - any months previously rolled over are no longer accepted.
In recent years, several holidaymakers have been denied boarding because their passports were more than 10 years old.
Last year, Rosi Simpson, a teacher from Brighton, was prevented from boarding her flight to Paris to see her son because of the rule.
Brit holidaymakers also need to have at least three months left on their passport to travel to European destinations.
If there is any damage to the pages of your passport then you will also need to renew, as some holiday hotspots such as Bali will ban you from boarding.
Meanwhile, this lucky traveller managed to get a new passport within 12 hours after he was kicked off a flight.
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And people travelling with hand luggage always make this passport mistake.
And we've explained what to do if your passport doesn't arrive in time for your holiday.
