Passport applications to rise in price from next month for adults and children

dailyrecord.co.uk:

If you're going on holiday this year and need to apply for or renew a passport, it'll cost more than it usually does.From February 2, passport fees will rise for anyone who is applying for a new one, or renewing an out-of-date one.

The change applies to both adult and child passports, officials have revealed. The change was announced on the Government website, with all the new pricing information explained as well as why the change is going ahead.

The Mirror reports that the price of a standard online application made from within the UK will rise from £75.50 to £82.50 for adults and £49 to £53.50 for children.Postal applications will increase from £85 to £93 for adults and £58.50 to £64 for children.Proposals on the Government website explain: "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."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."It will be the first time in five years that the cost of applying for a passport has increased, the Home Office said, adding that the plans are subject to parliamentary scrutiny.We also recently reported how a little-known passport rule has been catching out holidaymakers, making them unable to reach their destinations.

Before travelling to countries in the Schengen area, your passport must be valid for at least three months prior to the travel date, but it