Passport cost for average British family soars 'to pay for ID cards'

Published on Tuesday 7 July 2009 20:18

HOLIDAYMAKERS face inflation-busting increases in passport fees, it has been announced.

The cost of an adult passport will rise 5.50, or 7 per cent, to 77.50, the Home Office said.

Fewer people are going abroad as families tighten their belts in the recession, meaning applications for passports were down 400,000.

The price rises, which will come into force in September, will also see the price of a child passport increase 3 to 49.

That means an average family of four renewing their passports would have to pay 253. Fast-track adult applications, which take a week, will cost 15 per cent more, up 15.50 to 112.50.

Prices have shot up in the last decade. In 1997, a passport cost 18. In 2007, it cost 51 and by last year it was 72.

The increases are in part due to the inclusion of biometric technology to improve security.

The Home Office denied the increase was related to ID cards. But shadow home secretary, Chris Grayling, said: "This looks like a blatant attempt to bury part of the cost of the ID scheme in the price of a passport."

"The government admits it has no idea how many people will have to volunteer for ID cards before they cover their costs."

Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said British passports were a "gold standard" in identity documents.

"Since the last fee increase in 2007 the Identity and Passport Service has issued almost eight million first generation ePassports, containing secure chips holding an individual's passport details and facial biometric."