Passport renewal prices go up today
Expat costs go up by inflation but postal applications cost much more in the UK
UK passport renewal prices increased today with renewals for residents in France costing 拢105.86, including secure courier delivery 鈥� a rise of just under 3% from the previous 拢102.86.
Despite the high cost, expats fare better than some UK residents where prices have risen by up to 27%.
With a move to encourage online use, passport pricing now varies with online applications cheaper than postal applications for the first time. It costs 拢75.50 for a UK online application 鈥� up from 拢72.50 鈥� and 拢85 if applying by post.
The online price has risen by just under 3% but the extra 拢12.50 for postal applications is a 17% rise, soaring to 27% for a children鈥檚 passport which goes up from 拢46 to 拢58.50 by post or 拢49 online.
can be made up to nine months ahead of the expiry date for the remaining months to be added to the new passport.
This means anyone wishing to retain the current burgundy passport can do so ahead of the switch to the old-style blue one next year.
Britons resident in France must pay a fee of 拢86 for the passport and 拢19.86 for the courier but applications can be done online and using a new self-photo service to take suitable photos for updating the passport. There is an extra cost for sending the old passport back to the Passport Office.
Connexion reader B.Adams in Charente wrote saying the new service was very quick and easy: 鈥淲e took a photograph against a blank background with our iPad and uploaded it on to the official site. If the photo is not acceptable they keep telling you until you upload one they think is suitable.
A simple and efficient process. The passport arrived within two weeks.鈥�
Readers who are in the UK can get a passport using the one-day Premium service or one-week Fast Track service by visiting a Passport Customer Service Centre in Belfast, Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport or Peterborough. The one-day service costs 拢177 and the one-week 拢142.
