V-Flyer

The cost of a British passport is to rise for the third time in less than two years, ministers have announced.


Charges for a standard 10-year adult passport, which until December 2005 cost £42, will increase from £66 to £72 in October meaning there will have been a 70% rise in just 22 months.

The latest boost was triggered by a steep rise in charges added to the passport fee to pay for consular services at British embassies around the world.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Lord Triesman said the additional charges would help fund services for Britons who get into trouble overseas.

The price of other types of passport will also rise, with the most costly being the adult's same-day "premium" service, which goes up £6 to £114.

A child's five-year passport will cost £46, up £1.

The fast-track adult passport - which is processed in a week - will cost £97, up £6.

The previous set of rises in October last year was to pay for new security measures, including a digital photograph in a microchip stored in the passport. They also funded enhanced background checks on applicants and new face-to-face interviews for first-time passport applicants.

We had to take advantage of the same day offer a few years ago while in Brussels en route to JNB. They processed the passport in question in an hour or so; it had expired, although this wasn't picked up at SOU[V]

45.

Originally posted by Mavrick
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Lord Triesman said the additional charges would help fund services for Britons who get into trouble overseas.

Is this guy on a wind-up? Get into trouble? So all those twats that think it might be clever to smuggle drugs and then ask for the consulate to help - we as the law abiding public have to fall in line and help pay for this. What a crock. And it's nto as if they help with medical emergencies as any insurance policy worth it's salt will cover this off, but we know that no insurance policy will cover legal fees because you shoved a number of packets of Bolivian up ones' arse.

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by RichardMannion

Originally posted by Mavrick
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Lord Triesman said the additional charges would help fund services for Britons who get into trouble overseas.

Is this guy on a wind-up? Get into trouble? So all those twats that think it might be clever to smuggle drugs and then ask for the consulate to help - we as the law abiding public have to fall in line and help pay for this. What a crock. And it's nto as if they help with medical emergencies as any insurance policy worth it's salt will cover this off, but we know that no insurance policy will cover legal fees because you shoved a number of packets of Bolivian up ones' arse.

Say it like it is, Richard! Please, don't hold back. Remind me to mention it when we next bump into each other. When you're right, you're right.

H

I think Richard must have had one or two too many diet cokes

Originally posted by RichardMannion

Originally posted by Mavrick
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Lord Triesman said the additional charges would help fund services for Britons who get into trouble overseas.

Is this guy on a wind-up? Get into trouble? So all those twats that think it might be clever to smuggle drugs and then ask for the consulate to help - we as the law abiding public have to fall in line and help pay for this. What a crock. And it's nto as if they help with medical emergencies as any insurance policy worth it's salt will cover this off, but we know that no insurance policy will cover legal fees because you shoved a number of packets of Bolivian up ones' arse.

Thanks,
Richard

LOL.....

Personally I can't get too worked up about the £7.20 per year cost of the new proposed charge or even the 25p per month increase that this equates to vs the Dec 2005 price

Jon B

Just FYI, you can also no longer request a 48 page passport when you return an expired/due-to-expire passport.

Only if you have lost/destroyed it.

Er Indoors tried last week and was told it's a new policy.

So you'll have to "lose" it or renew it more often!

Originally posted by AndyRabbit
Just FYI, you can also no longer request a 48 page passport when you return an expired/due-to-expire passport.

Only if you have lost/destroyed it.

Er Indoors tried last week and was told it's a new policy.

So you'll have to "lose" it or renew it more often!

Oh FFS. What a joke!

Thanks,
Richard

If you fill a passport up with stamps/visa's, do you have to pay for another?

Originally posted by NS
If you fill a passport up with stamps/visa's, do you have to pay for another?

Yup, if your passport has no room for new stamps/visa's, then you need to renew it .

Thanks,
Sarah