Best Time to Renew Passport to Cut Costs –
Price Hike for Passport Applications from April 11
The cost of renewing or applying for a new passport is set to increase from April 11, 2024. Adult passport fees will rise from £82.50 to £88.50 for online applications and £93 to £100 for postal applications. Similarly, children’s passport fees will jump from £53.50 to £57.50 (online) and £64 to £69 (postal).
“The fee increases are necessary to ensure passport services remain self-funded and cover processing costs, assisting citizens with lost/stolen passports, and managing people at UK borders,” stated a Home Office spokesperson.
Renewal Deadline to Save Money
Travel experts at Supermarket advise renewing passports before April 11 to avoid paying higher fees if your renewal date falls before December 17, 2024 (adults), or August 14, 2024 (children). However, those with valid passports beyond these dates need not renew early.
“Renewing early won’t extend your new passport’s validity period beyond 10 years from the issue date,” explained travel analyst Emma Coulthurst. “But for those requiring renewals soon, applying now could save over £10 per passport.”
Passport Validity Rules for Europe
The price hike comes amid confusion around post-Brexit passport validity rules for UK travelers to Europe. The BBC estimates 32 million British passport holders could face issues due to these rules.
EU nations prohibit entry on passports issued over 10 years ago. Additionally, the Schengen Area requires at least three months’ validity remaining on the passport’s expiry date when departing the EU zone.
“Inaccurate passport validity guidance persists, even from official sources like HM Passport Office, creating uncertainty for UK travelers to Europe,” remarked consumer advocate James Walker. “Checking requirements well before trips is crucial.”