Applying for a new passport this summer? The big mistake that could cost YOU money

If you’re looking to renew your expired passport, there’s a simple mistake that could end up costing you more money.

How you apply for your passport is crucial as it can cost a family of four £40 more than it should.

Registering your passport online is cheaper than applying in person.

A standard 34 page pass for over 16s is £75.50 per person if you apply online.

However, if you apply via a physical form, you will be £10 short as the price is £85.

The government announced this week that the fee for a standard UK online application will rise

This applies to children’s passes, which cost £49 online but cost £58.80 when using a written application.

With the warmer seasons approaching, Britons are being forced to apply for passports now in anticipation of the spring rush of holidaymakers.

But if you’re ill-prepared, you could lose money, as an expedited passport renewal costs £142, which is almost double the standard application.

However, the Home Office announced this week that all prices will rise next month. So if you need a new passport, you should apply for it quickly to avoid the increased costs.

The fee for a standard UK online application rises from £75.50 to £82.50 for adults and £49 to £53.50 for children.

Postal applications will rise from £85 to £93 for adults and £58.50 to £64 for children.

These new prices will be introduced from 2 February this year.

We announced last month that Passport Office staff had handed out almost £1 million worth of grants over the past financial year as hundreds of thousands of Britons faced delays and travel chaos.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) response issued by the Home Office six months after the initial request showed that a total of £958,000 in unconsolidated bonuses was paid out in 2021-22.

Five senior officials shared £31,836, with the maximum reward £8,000.

Around 69 staff in sixth and seventh forms each received up to £1,500 from a pot of £126,000.