The Government will soon increase the price of applying for a new British passport. Home Office bosses will introduce new passport fees for all applications on February 2, which will affect all those applying or renewing their passport.
The fee for a standard online application submitted from within the UK will rise from £75.50 to £82.50 for adults and £49 to £53.50 for children, as reported by The Mirror. Postal applications will also rise from £85 to £93 for adults and £58.50 to £64 for children.
The Government's webpage announcing the proposals said: "The new fees will help the Home Office move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation.
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"The Government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications. The fees will also contribute to the cost of processing passport applications, consular support overseas, including for lost or stolen passports, and the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders.
"The increase will also help enable the Government to continue improving its services." The proposed increases would be the first in five years that, the Home Office said, adding they will be subjected to parliamentary scrutiny.
The Mirror reported how Passports will continue to be issued in the Queen’s name despite her death. Travel documents being distributed months after the late monarch’s death will last up to 10 years.
It means passports could be the last documents to officially carry the authority of the last monarch. Those issued now will be valid up to 2031 when King Charles will be 84.
A spokesman said: “Passports referencing the King will be issued once operational changes have been implemented.” The famous message on the first page said: “Her Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely…”
But work has already started to change money and stamps. Coins featuring King Charles’s image are in production by the Royal Mint and images of new notes are expected from the Bank of England by the end of the year.
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