Explanatory note

This Order revokes and replaces the Consular Fees Order 1998.

The Order sets out the fees to be charged for consular services. The overall effect is to continue the drive towards full cost recovery for fee-bearing consular services by revising charges for passport services.

Overseas passport fees are raised from £31 to £43 (standard passport), and from £41 to £50 (48 page passport). The fee for amending an existing passport will be increased from £21 to £25. Children’s passports, valid for five years, will be issued at an increased cost of £25 rather than £21. The fee for an emergency passport will be increased from £10 to £20.

Fees 15, 16 and 17 previously referred to amendments to existing passports. Because the facility to add children to passports was withdrawn in October 1998 these fees have become absorbed into one—fee 15. A new fee 16 has been created to cover the administrative charge of £10 levied for personal applications made in the UK in connection with the extension of children’s passports issued for a 5 year period before 26th March 1998. Fee 17 has therefore been withdrawn but for administrative purposes the overall numbering of fees in the Order is preserved.

A separate fee of £10 is introduced for searches requested in the UK of the United Kingdom Passport Agency’s records.