Starting 2 Feb., the UK government will be increasing passport fees for all applications, the UK Home Office has announced.
The fee increase is also extended to those in the Cayman Islands applying for a UK passport, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson confirmed on Friday.
The UK Home Office, in a statement this week, announced the fee changes, saying it is the first time in five years that the cost of applying for a passport has increased.
“The new fees will help the Home Office 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,” the Home Office statement said.
The proposals, which are subject to parliamentary scrutiny, will include an increase in the overseas standard paper applications from £95.50 to £104.50 for adults and £65.50 to £71.50 for children.
For standard online applications made from within the UK, the fees will move from £75.50 to £82.50 for adults and £49 to £53.50 for children.
When it comes to postal applications, the current fee of £85 will increase to £93 for adults and £58.50 to £64 for children.
“Priority service fees are being aligned so all customers will pay the same fees for a standard online application when applying from overseas for a UK passport will rise from £86.00 to £94.00 for adults and £56 to £61.00 for children,” the statement added.
The new fees include those newly applying or renewing their passport.
“The fees will also 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,” the statement added.
The Home Office said since January last year, over 95% of standard applications were processed within 10 weeks and it has advised customers to apply in good time before travelling.
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“The Home Office said since January last year, over 95% of standard applications were processed within 10 weeks and it has advised customers to apply in good time before travelling.”
As against the 2 weeks it used to take pre covid.
Why so long? Because the UK passport service is still allowing its staff to work from home. That’s to say: watch Netflix, go to gym, prepare dinner, go shopping etc. Anything other than actually working.