World news story

Passport fees for British nationals overseas reduced by 35%

The fees for a UK passport for British citizens applying from overseas countries will fall by 35% from next month.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Passport fees for British nationals overseas reduced by 35%

James Brokenshire, Immigration and Security Minister, has announced that from 7th April the passport fee for customers applying for a UK passport from overseas will be reduced by £45 for adults and £28.50 for children.

The new fees are:

  • Adult 32 page passport £83.00
  • Child 32 page passport £53.00
  • Jumbo 48 page passport £91.00 (Adult / Child / Veteran)

The 35% decrease in passport fees is the result of efficiency savings made over the last three years by bringing back the processing and issuing of overseas passports to the UK.

Will Middleton from the Foreign Office’s Consular Department said:

This is good news for British citizens applying for a UK Passport from abroad. The repatriation of overseas passport centres means overseas applications can now be handled more efficiently and at significantly lower cost.

The new fees will benefit some four million Britons living overseas.

If you need a new or replacement passport, go to the Overseas British passport applications page on GOV.UK where you can make an overseas application. You need to apply and pay online and send your supporting documents direct to the UK (no longer to the nearest Consulate or Embassy). The turnaround time is four to six weeks, and applications are accepted up to nine months before the expiry of your current passport.

The new fees for overseas applications remain marginally higher than the equivalent fees for UK-based applicants because on average overseas applications take longer – and therefore cost slightly more - to process. This is because it is often less straightforward to establish whether or not an overseas applicant is entitled to a UK passport. Overseas customers will also continue to pay a courier charge in addition to the passport fee.

Published 17 March 2014