Planning a trip? Before you decide where to visit and start booking flights, make sure to check your UK passport renewal status. With new rules affecting Brits travelling to the EU, not having an up-to-date passport could leave you grounded.
We look at who needs to renew their passport, the best time to do it, how much it costs and how long the process takes, so that you’re fully prepared for your next adventure.
What are the UK passport renewal rules for EU travel?
Some British holidaymakers have recently been caught out by new rules that made their passports invalid for EU travel.
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Before Brexit, UK nationals could travel to the European Union if they had up to nine months left on their passport, making their passports valid for 10 years and nine months. But, since January 2021, the rules were changed and the EU now sees UK nationals as “third country” citizens. As a result of these changes, EU countries no longer accept passports issued 10 years before the date of travel, i.e., the nine-month window has been eliminated.
Now, if you wish to travel to any country in the EU, your UK passport must:
- Not have been issued more than 10 years before the date of travel.
- Be valid for at least three months after your planned return date to the UK.
These rules apply in all 27 countries in the EU and Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein which are part of the European Economic Area (EEA). The only exception to this rule is Ireland as it is part of the Common Travel Area.
Another change to travel rules since Brexit is that you can now only stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a six-month period (the Schengen area encompasses 29 European countries). Before Brexit, you could stay for as long as you wished.
You can check the GOV.UK website for more information about travelling to the EU and Schengen area, and entry requirements for each country.
How much does it cost to renew a UK passport?
It costs adults (16+) £88.50 to renew a UK passport if you apply online. It costs £100 for a postal application. For a child, a passport renewal costs £57.50 online, or £69 via post. If you were born before or on 2 September 1929, you can get a passport for free. It costs more if you apply for a UK passport from another country, or if you need a passport urgently.
Here is a breakdown of the passport renewal costs. All data from GOV.UK.
| UK passport type | Online form | Postal |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (16 and over) standard 34-page passport | £88.50 | £100 |
| Adult (16 and over) 54-page frequent traveller passport | £100.50 | £112 |
| Child (under 16) standard 34-page passport | £57.50 | £69 |
| Child (under 16) 54-page frequent traveller passport | £69.50 | £81 |
| Passport for people born on or before 2 September 1929 | Free | Free |
How to renew a UK passport
You can renew your UK passport online or by going to a Post Office with a Check and Send service. To do this, you will need your old passport and any valid passports from a different country.
If you’re filling out an online application, you will need to upload a digital photo. For paper applications, you need two recent (identical) printed photos of yourself. You can pay by either debit or credit card, or by a cheque to HM Passport Office.
The rules are slightly different if you are replacing a lost, stolen or damaged passport, or if you are getting a passport for your child.
How long does UK passport renewal take?
You will typically receive your passport within three weeks, but it can take longer during busy periods if you are applying from another country, or if you need to be interviewed.
If you need a passport urgently, you can pay and book an appointment at a passport office. There are two types of urgent services available:
- 1 day premium service, £207.50
- 1 week fast track service, £166.50 for an adult, and £135.50 for a child.
Note: You can’t apply for an urgent service if it’s your first adult passport or if you live outside the UK. If the latter is the case, then you can apply for an emergency travel document instead.
For more information, check the HM Passport Office website, or call the helpline at 0300 222 0000 between 8am-8pm GMT Monday to Friday.