UK cuts costs on passports for ex-pats

(CNS): UK nationals applying for a new passport from overseas will now pay 35% less as a result of savings made following the repatriation of passport applications. All British nationals living overseas will be paying over a third less for new passports from 7 April. The price cut will benefit as many as four million Brits who are living overseas after the British government brought passport processing back to the UK and closed a number of offices around the world. From next month a 32-page adult passport will cost £83, reduced by £45, and a child’s 32-page passport will cost £53, a reduction of £28.50. Meanwhile the jumbo 48-page passports will cost £91.00, a saving of £63.50.

Overseas customers will continue to pay an additional courier charge in addition to the passport fee but the savings were welcomed by the Cayman Islands governor.

“I am delighted that the UK Passport Office has announced these new fees,” said Helen Kilpatrick. “The significant cost reduction will benefit expatriate British nationals that are resident in the Cayman Islands.”

UK Immigration and Security Minister, James Brokenshire, said the UK Passport Office was committed to delivering better value for money for our customers. He explained that the fee cut was down to efficiency savings made over the last three years by taking back the processing and issuing of overseas passports to the UK while still maintaining the highest levels of security and customer service.