Are you going abroad for your next holiday and need a new passport? It's worth knowing how much applying for one will set you back.
Whether you’ve had a passport before or it’s your first time, you’ll need to make sure you follow the rules and check that it’s valid before travelling.
While prices for a new passport vary, some people can get theirs for free – here’s what we know about those eligible.
Who can get a free passport?
British passports can cost up to £120 currently, depending on how you apply – paper and online methods have different costs.
What is a GHIC?
In order to get a new British passport or renew your old one for free, you must have been born either on or before September 2, 1929.
If this applies to you, you can get a free passport by applying either by paper or online.
You can also use the Post Office Check and Send service for free and you’ll get secure delivery for free too.
Despite a passport being free for you if you were born on or before this date, you will still need to pay if you need a passport urgently.
A quick checklist for your digital passport photo:
Taken in the last month ✅
Against a plain background ✅
No objects or other people ✅
No red eye or shadows ✅
Still need some help? Check out our full guide at: https://t.co/vcNUuufQb8 #PassportPhotoReady pic.twitter.com/0eM8cZx9hk— His Majesty’s Passport Office (@HM_Passport) January 15, 2026
You will also need to pay if you would like to apply for a frequent traveller passport which has 54 pages instead of the usual 34.
Find out more about applying for a passport via the government website.
Martin Lewis' advice for anyone applying for a passport
Martin Lewis, known for helping the nation save money on bills, travel and more, shared advice for people applying for passports.
He urged people to apply for passports online rather than by post if they can to save some money.
In April last year, the Money Saving Expert website said: "If your passport is due for renewal, apply online if you can – it'll save you £12.50. More than 7 million Brits did just that last year – but over 360,000 missed out on savings by using a paper form instead, MoneySavingExpert.com can reveal."
Recommended reading:
- Can you still use a red passport for travelling in 2026? The rules you must follow
- UK government set to introduce new ‘no permission, no travel’ rule from 2026
- New feature set to be added to UK passports to herald in a 'new era'
Passport renewal prices
If you pay for passport renewals, you might be wondering how much one will cost you.
It's cheaper to apply for a new passport online than by post, but it’s up to you which method you want to use.
- Standard 34-page passport (apply online) - adults £94.50, children £61.50
- Standard 34-page passport (apply by post) - adults £107, children £74
- Frequent traveller passport (apply online) - adults £107.50, children £74.50
- Frequent traveller passport (apply by post) - adults £120, children £87
You can find out more about passports via the government website (a link to which can be found above).
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