TL;DR
- From 11 April 2025, HM Passport Office fees rose roughly 7 percent and remain at those rates through 2026: adult online GBP 88.50, adult postal GBP 100, child online GBP 57.50, child postal GBP 69.
- The Premium 1-day service costs GBP 207.50 for an adult passport, the Fast Track 1-week service costs GBP 178, and the lost or stolen replacement is charged at the same fee as a new application.
- Anyone born on or before 2 September 1929 receives a free standard adult passport, under a long-standing concession that remains in force.
- Refunds are not available once the application has been accepted into processing. A refund of an aborted application is only possible before the case enters HMPO production.
- The GBP 11.50 differential between online and postal channels for adult applications is HMPO's incentive to push applicants to gov.uk/apply-renew-passport rather than the paper PD2 form.
The April 2025 fee rise and the headline 2026 figures
HM Passport Office last raised its fees on 11 April 2025, with the increases averaging around 7 percent across the schedule. The fees set on that date remain the published rate through 2026 and feed every figure below. The increases were laid before Parliament under the negative resolution procedure and apply uniformly to applicants in the UK and to most overseas applicants (overseas fees follow a parallel schedule with country surcharges).
The 2026 headline figures for UK-based applications are: adult online (16 and over) GBP 88.50, adult postal GBP 100, child online (under 16) GBP 57.50, child postal GBP 69. A first adult passport is charged at the same fee as a renewal: HMPO does not levy a separate first-time-applicant fee, although the supporting-documents requirement is heavier for a first adult passport (full birth certificate, parents' nationality documents, possibly a naturalisation certificate).
The April 2025 schedule is published at gov.uk/passport-fees and is the authoritative source. Where any discrepancy appears between third-party content and that page, the GOV.UK page rules.
Premium and Fast Track services: GBP 207.50 and GBP 178
HMPO operates two urgent services in 2026. The Premium 1-day service is an appointment-based service: the applicant attends one of seven HMPO regional offices in person, submits supporting documents, and walks out with the passport at the end of the appointment (or collects it within 4 hours). The Premium service fee is GBP 207.50 for an adult passport and GBP 174 for a child passport. The Premium service is not available for first adult passports or for first child passports, which must follow the standard route.
The Fast Track 1-week service is for renewals only and for some child applications. The applicant attends an HMPO appointment, submits documents, and receives the passport by courier within one week. The Fast Track fee is GBP 178 for an adult passport and GBP 145 for a child passport. Like the Premium service, Fast Track is unavailable for first adult applications.
Both urgent services moved entirely to appointment booking in late 2024, with no walk-ins accepted at HMPO offices. Appointments are booked at gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently. The seven regional offices are London, Liverpool, Newport, Peterborough, Glasgow, Belfast and Durham. Appointment availability is the limiting factor at peak season (March to July).
The lost or stolen passport replacement: same fee as new
HMPO charges the standard application fee for a replacement of a lost, stolen or damaged passport: GBP 88.50 online or GBP 100 postal for an adult, GBP 57.50 online or GBP 69 postal for a child. There is no surcharge for the replacement itself, but the applicant must report the loss or theft before applying for the replacement, by completing the LS01 lost or stolen passport form online. Once the LS01 is submitted, the original passport is cancelled and cannot be used for travel, even if it is later found.
A damaged passport that is still readable is charged at the standard renewal fee. A damaged passport that is unreadable (water damage, fire, defaced photo page) is treated as a replacement and follows the same fee schedule. The condition rules are published on the HMPO renewals page at gov.uk/renew-adult-passport.
Where a passport is lost overseas, the applicant uses the British consulate route for an emergency travel document, charged at GBP 100, and applies for a full replacement once back in the UK. The emergency travel document is a single-trip document valid only for the journey to the UK or to a specified onward destination.
The free passport concession for those born on or before 2 September 1929
A long-standing concession published by HMPO entitles anyone born on or before 2 September 1929 to a free standard adult passport. The concession applies to standard online and postal applications: it does not cover the Premium 1-day or Fast Track 1-week services, both of which are charged at the published urgent fees regardless of the applicant's age.
The concession sits alongside the older Veterans' free-passport scheme, which was wound up in 2009. The 1929 cut-off date was set when the scheme was last reviewed and remains in place through 2026. HMPO publishes the rule on the passport fees page and the online application form auto-detects eligibility from the date of birth entered.
The concession is not means-tested and is not contingent on the applicant having held a previous British passport. A first adult passport for a person born in or before September 1929 is also free under the concession, although the supporting-documents requirements for a first adult passport (birth certificate and proof of nationality) still apply.
The full 2026 fee table for HMPO services
The complete schedule of HMPO fees published at gov.uk/passport-fees for 2026 is set out below. All figures are in GBP and are inclusive of the secure delivery cost where applicable. Overseas application fees follow a parallel structure with a delivery surcharge that varies by country, published separately at gov.uk/overseas-passports.
Standard adult passport (16+): GBP 88.50 online, GBP 100 postal. Standard child passport (under 16): GBP 57.50 online, GBP 69 postal. Jumbo (50-page) adult passport: GBP 100.50 online, GBP 112 postal. Jumbo child passport: GBP 69.50 online, GBP 81 postal.
Fast Track 1-week (renewal only): GBP 178 adult, GBP 145 child. Premium 1-day (renewal only): GBP 207.50 adult, GBP 174 child (where available). LS01 lost or stolen replacement: same fee as a new application in the relevant channel. Overseas standard adult: GBP 101 online, GBP 112.50 postal, with the courier surcharge applied at country level.
Refunds, channel choice and the GBP 11.50 online discount
HMPO does not refund the application fee once the case has been accepted into processing. The point of no return is the system marking the application as in production, which usually happens within hours of submission online or within a few working days of postal receipt. Up to that point a withdrawal request submitted to HMPO can return the fee. After that point the fee is forfeit, even if the applicant withdraws the application or the supporting documents prove inadequate.
The channel-choice picture in 2026 is shaped by the GBP 11.50 differential between online (GBP 88.50) and postal (GBP 100) for an adult application. HMPO's explicit policy intent is to channel applicants to the online service, which is cheaper for HMPO to process and faster for the applicant. The online flow at gov.uk/apply-renew-passport supports digital photo upload, online payment and digital despatch of supporting documents instructions. The postal PD2 form remains available for applicants who cannot use the online service.
What this means in practice: a typical 2026 adult renewal at gov.uk/apply-renew-passport is GBP 88.50, completed online in 30 to 45 minutes, with the new passport delivered by tracked courier in around 3 weeks at standard channel times. The same applicant who chose paper would pay GBP 11.50 more and wait longer.
Related guides on kaeltripton.com
Part of the UK Visa hub - 228 primary-source guides.
How we verified this
Fees and concessions were cross-checked in May 2026 against the gov.uk/passport-fees page, the gov.uk/apply-renew-passport service flow, the HMPO Premium and Fast Track service pages, and the published HMPO fee uplift announcement of April 2025. The 2 September 1929 concession was confirmed on the GOV.UK fees page itself. Overseas surcharges were checked against the gov.uk/overseas-passports content. No third-party passport application services or commercial passport-courier sites were used as sources, since several such sites advertise unofficial concierge mark-ups.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational and educational purposes only. Kaeltripton.com is an independent UK editorial publisher, not authorised or regulated by the FCA or OISC. Nothing on this page constitutes immigration, legal or visa advice. Always verify with GOV.UK or an OISC-registered adviser before acting. ICO registered ZC135439.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a UK passport cost in 2026?
A standard adult passport in 2026 costs GBP 88.50 online or GBP 100 postal, and a standard child passport costs GBP 57.50 online or GBP 69 postal. The figures were set on 11 April 2025 and remain in force through 2026. The fees are published on the GOV.UK passport-fees page and the online application service auto-applies the correct fee at submission.
How much is the Premium 1-day passport service?
The Premium 1-day service costs GBP 207.50 for an adult passport and GBP 174 for a child passport in 2026. The service is appointment-based at one of seven HMPO regional offices, with no walk-ins accepted since late 2024. The Premium service is available for renewals only: a first adult passport must follow the standard channel because additional document checks are required.
How much is the Fast Track 1-week service?
Fast Track 1-week costs GBP 178 for an adult passport and GBP 145 for a child passport in 2026. The service is also appointment-based and is available for renewals and some child applications. The passport is delivered by tracked courier within one week of the appointment. Fast Track is not available for first adult applications.
Is the passport application fee refundable?
The fee is not refundable once HMPO has accepted the application into processing, which usually happens within hours of online submission. Before that point a withdrawal request can secure a refund. After production starts the fee is forfeit, even if the applicant withdraws the application or the supporting documents are insufficient to complete the case.
Who is entitled to a free passport in 2026?
Anyone born on or before 2 September 1929 is entitled to a free standard adult passport under a long-standing HMPO concession. The concession covers the standard online and postal channels but does not cover the Premium 1-day or Fast Track 1-week services, both of which are charged at the published urgent fees regardless of the applicant's age.
What is the cost of a lost or stolen passport replacement?
A lost or stolen passport replacement is charged at the standard application fee in the relevant channel: GBP 88.50 online or GBP 100 postal for an adult, GBP 57.50 online or GBP 69 postal for a child. There is no separate surcharge for the replacement, but the LS01 lost or stolen form must be submitted before the replacement application, which cancels the original passport.
