HM Passport Office has issued an alert to holidaymakers needing a new passport urgently, warning that those who fail to check their documents now may face paying over £200 for a replacement. The agency highlighted its fast-track services, which can deliver a passport in as little as four hours.
The Premium service allows applicants to collect their new passport just four hours after a booked appointment, but costs £222 for a standard adult passport or £235 for a larger 54-page version. Appointments are available from two days after applying, and applicants must attend a passport office in person and hand in their old passport.
However, the Premium service is only available for adult renewals, excluding first-time applicants. For those with slightly more time, the one-week Fast Track service costs £166 for a standard adult passport, £181 for a 50-page version, and £126 for a child passport. This service covers renewals, replacements for lost or damaged passports, and new child passports, with documents delivered by courier within a week of the appointment.
Officials warn that paying for an urgent passport will not speed up an existing standard application, and doing so will incur a £32 admin charge for each additional request. There are also penalties for missing or changing appointments: cancelling within 24 hours or failing to attend results in loss of the fee, and rescheduling costs £48.
The fast-track routes are not open to everyone. Those who have already applied by post, need to change their name, or have a passport that has expired for more than 10 years cannot use these services. For emergencies such as medical treatment or bereavement, travellers are advised to call the Passport Adviceline.
