UK travelers should apply for new passports now if they want to save money
Passport costs will increase in the United Kingdom starting April 11, so apply for a new one now if you want to lock in the current cheaper price.
The cost of online passport applications in the U.K. will rise more than 7% from 82.50 British pounds ($104.54) to 88.50 pounds ($112.15) for people 16 and older; children's passports will increase from 53.50 pounds ($67.79) to 57.50 pounds ($72.86).
Related: Guide to the 6-month passport rule — what is it?
If you've been waiting to renew your passport, now is the time to make a move before the prices rise.
Despite the increase in price, the U.K. government said in March that it does not make any profit from application fees; the fees instead contribute to processing costs and consular support overseas.
Related: Passport expiring soon? Visit these countries within your 3-month renewal deadline
"The new fees will help ensure that income from these applications better meets the cost of delivering passports and associated operations, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation," the U.K. Home Office said in a statement. "The increase will also help enable the Government to continue improving its services."
While the price increase might annoy some U.K. residents, they can still rest assured that earlier this year, the U.K. passport was deemed one of the fourth most powerful passports in the world. The annual rankings were conducted by the Henley Passport Index — which compares 199 national passports, scoring them based on how many visa-free destinations they grant access to.
Bottom line
On April 11, the cost of U.K. passport applications will increase by 7%. If you're a U.K. resident who needs to renew, you must do so before this date to avoid the higher fees.
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