top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

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 £105.86, including secure courier delivery – a rise of just under 3% from the previous £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 £75.50 for a UK online application – up from £72.50 – and £85 if applying by post.

The online price has risen by just under 3% but the extra £12.50 for postal applications is a 17% rise, soaring to 27% for a children’s passport which goes up from £46 to £58.50 by post or £49 online.

Applications for renewals 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 £86 for the passport and £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: “We 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.”

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 £177 and the one-week £142.

Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Healthcare in France*
Featured Help Guide
- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Get news, views and information from France