UK tourists flying out of England will face higher passport charges from July 2026, as HM Passport Office confirms new fee structures. The cost for a standard adult passport applied online rises to £102, up from £94.50, while a standard child passport now costs £66.50, an increase from £61.50.
Postal and Premium Service Fee Hikes
Applying by post sees fees rise to £115.50 for a standard adult passport, up from £107, and £80 for a standard child passport, previously £74. The 54-page adult passport is now priced at £116 to renew or replace online, or £129.50 by post. The One Day Premium Service increased by £17.50, from £222 to £239.50, while overseas applications online for a standard adult UK passport rose from £108 to £116.50. The fee for children overseas rose from £70 to £75.50.
Government Justification
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." It added: "The Labour Party 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."
King Charles III Passports Rolled Out
The first British passports bearing His Majesty King Charles III’s Coat of Arms have now been rolled out. People should check their passport’s validity and apply in good time ahead of any planned travel. Passports issued with the Coat of Arms of Queen Elizabeth II remain valid until their expiry date.
Historical Context
The first modern-style British passport was introduced in 1915, with the first security feature, a watermark, added in 1972. Since then, HM Passport Office has added dozens of further security measures to ensure British passports stay ahead of criminals, including complex patterns that are hard to replicate and features only visible under UV light.
