Explanatory note

These Regulations set out the fees charged under powers set out in the Immigration Act 2016 for the administering of applications for passports. The fees were previously included in the Consular Fees Order 2012, the relevant part of which (Part 2 of the table in Schedule 1 (table of Consular Fees Relating to Passport Services)) is revoked by these regulations.

As explained below, the fees set out in the final column, with the exception of some fees for the delivery of documents, have been increased and a new service has been introduced, namely the “premium collect service”.

Fees for a standard passport application will rise by £12.50 for a postal application and by £3 for an online application. Fees for 50 page passports will be £10 above the relevant standard fee. Fees for the new “premium collect service” will be £177 for those who are 16 years of age or over and £151 for those who are under 16 years of age. The fee for an “adult fast track” application will rise by £39, for an “adult fast track collect” application it will rise by £41.50 and for an “adult premium” application it will rise by £49.

Regulation 3(4) provides that an applicant who is 15 years of age may pay the fee payable by an applicant over 16 years of age (but not the fee payable by an applicant born on or before 2nd September 1929). In these circumstances the application will be administered after the applicant’s 16th birthday as if they had applied after that date.

No fee or a reduced fee is charged for most functions where the applicant was born on or before 2nd September 1929.

For the first time a discretion to waive the fee is set out in regulation 4. Delivery fees are waived for certain members of the armed services or the diplomatic service in some circumstances. Fees specified in these Regulations may also be waived as a result of a crisis or Exceptional Assistance Measures having been activated overseas by the Government. The circumstances in which these might apply, as set out in regulation 4, are comparable to the Foreign and Commonwealth policy on providing assistance to British nationals overseas. Her Majesty’s Passport Office will publish guidance on the application of any such waivers at the time that they are announced, covering such factors such as time limits and persons who may benefit from such a waiver.

A full impact assessment has been produced for this instrument and is available alongside the Explanatory Memorandum at www.legislation.gov.uk.